Remember that the negotiation is about more than money! Evaluate all aspects of an offer and prioritize those that are most important to you. These include:

• Organizational culture and values
• Paid vacation time
• Maternity/paternity leave
• Growth opportunities
• Career progression flexibility
• Frequency of performance reviews, performance standards/goals
• Geographic flexibility
• Office space
• Paid travel
• Ownership options
• Professional training

The following tactics can help you conduct productive negotiations.

• Speak with the hiring manager, if possible
• Express enthusiasm for job and company
• Don't negotiate at the time the initial job offer is made
• Know your bottom line in terms of salary, benefits, etc...
• Negotiate base pay first, then other points the employer would likely agree to
• Save other issues of conflict for last
• Seek to understand ("Is there any flexibility in...")
• Use a collaborative tone ("Can you think of anything else we can do to bring us closer together?")
• Share your professional and/or financial goals
• Keep a calm, business-like tone
• Avoid getting into a discussion of market rates with knowledgeable employers
• Keep HR informed
• NEVER STOP SELLING YOURSELF