Fifty-eight percent of hiring managers say they leave some negotiating room
when extending initial offers, according to a recent survey by CareerBuilder.com.
The company conducted the online survey, which included more than 875 hiring
managers, from August 10 to August 22, 2005.
Nearly six-in-ten say they will extend a new offer once, and one-in-ten will
extend a new offer twice or more if they really want the candidate. Thirty percent
of hiring managers say the first offer is final.
"Attempting to negotiate a better offer is almost always in a candidate's
best interest," says Richard Castellini, vice president of consumer marketing
for CareerBuilder.com. "In fact, nearly one-in-ten hiring managers say
they think less of a candidate who accepts the first offer. Salary negotiations
demonstrate a candidate's determination, persistence, and recognition of the
value he/she brings to an employer."
Thirty-four percent of hiring managers say highlighting specific accomplishments
and results is the most convincing way for candidates to negotiate a better
offer, Castellini says. Nearly one-in-three hiring managers say they consider
a candidate's references first in salary negotiations.
