3 is right

Do your research and know what others are paying for comparable jobs.

And if you get offered it never accept the first offer. At that stage they want you, and you can ask for 10% more and will probably get 5% more, or a better package if the base salary really can't move.

Obviously, do this in an intelligent way, stressing how excited you are and how much you want to work for them, you've just got to make sure all the boxes are ticked at home, that kind of thing. Not some version of "call it 10% more and we've got a deal" (someone tried this with me once. It didn't work very well). The most important word in any salary negotiation is "because".

Incidentally, if you say you'll discuss at interview and they insist, though legally they can't ask you may as well tell them - standing your ground too much makes you look an arse, but they're cheeky to ask and you should make them work for the information.

Posted By: Old Man, Jul 1, 09:50:00