Tips For Negotiating A Higher Salary In Kenya.

By Juliah Karimi.

Most job seekers in Kenya tread carefully when it comes to asking for more pay. It’s understandable — after the relief of landing a job, negotiating a salary can be the last thing from your mind. I recently got an email question and frankly it has not been the first. So I thought about it and I have gone through the same where I felt I should be earning higher but I really didn’t know the steps.

It can even feel awkward as most Kenyan professionals not used to placing a value on the skills, knowledge and abilities we bring. Once in a while, asking for higher salary can even put you out of the running.

Still, delicately negotiating salary upon taking a job offer provides a significant boost in pay down the line and is well worth the complexities. Compiled over subsequent years a few thousand bob quickly adds up.
Considering a new role or job? Here’s how to excel in the art of negotiation:

Know your benchmark
Before you start speaking amounts with a Kenyan employer, it’s important to know how much others in similar positions earn. There are a variety of ways to find this information. Seek input from those in your network. When speaking to others casually bring up the topic and never put them on spot by asking for direct info.

One way to phrase the question is: “based on your experience, what kind of salary a person with my level of skill and knowledge would expect to make?’.

Set a minimum salary threshold
Before negotiating salary, it’s important to know the least amount you would feel comfortable earning. Setting a limit can help you negotiate a rate and be specific about your needs.

Don’t start too early
While some companies in Kenya inquire about salary on the first application, it’s best not to get into any negotiations until after the company is interested in hiring you. Stay somewhat flexible until you see real interest on behalf of a potential employer. Give them enough salary information so that they feel it’s not a waste of time to interview [you].

Then quit talking about it until you win the interview. If you’re pressed for a number early on, then it’s best to offer a range and stay flexible until the final negotiation.

Demonstrate your value
If you’re not switching jobs, it can be even more complex to negotiate a raise. The most surefire way is to convey your value to your supervisor is with specific examples. “Avoid terms like ‘I want’ and ‘I need’ — structure it like you would any deal: they give you a particular salary, and in return you’re prepared to do X, Y and Z. Give evidence of the value that you can provide, the more concrete the better, so that they can make a logical, dispassionate decision.”

Even if you have a great relationship with your boss, securing a raise involves a complex look into the quality of your work. Delving into how you can improve is a key step to moving up the pay scale. If you are doing the exact same thing you did six months ago, you don’t deserve a raise.

Be assertive
Rehearse what you’ll say beforehand and look out for some push back. Prepare and practice ways to address [objections]. This will make you feel more comfortable during the negotiation.

You may have a boss like mine who has an open door policy that is truly open door or you may have what I call the bosses from hell who value the silence in their employees but either way you will never know until you try it.

Happy Negotiating!

Juliah Karimi is A HR Officer  at Corporate Staffing Services: Email bettercv@staff-kenya.com Website www.staff-kenya.com

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