Professional Development Blog Post #11: Benefits/Salary Negotiation

Money makes me uncomfortable. Now listen, I love getting paid, but at the same time, how in the world am I supposed to negotiate a salary? One thing you have to understand is how much you are worth. You have to take in account a multiple of things like your degree, experience and skills.

Tara Johnson Clement, a Walmart Corporate worker and a U of A alumnus, came to our professional development class and discussed the topic of benefits and salary negotiation. She has had some amazing internships, freelance jobs and corporate jobs as well.

Tara taught us that you really have to know what you are worth to a potential company whether that be a public or privately owned establishment.  I have experience with pricing cattle and of course this is silly analogy, but its pretty similar. Of course you don't want to sell yourself short, but you can't have unrealistic goals either.

Other things to keep in mind are cost of living. Of course it is going to be more expensive to live in California than Arkansas or even Texas and New York. You have to keep everything in perspective.