As an NNP, your skills are in demand and you play an invaluable role in providing the best level of care for NICU patients. While many hospitals are facing budgetary constraints, they need staff like you to continue achieving optimal patient outcomes. To that end, you may be in a position to negotiate a competitive salary when you’re offered your next position. Here are some tips to consider.
1. Know your worth.
Be sure to stay up-to-date with industry trends so you know the average salary for NNPs in your area. However, keep in mind that online salary surveys for NNPs can be misleading since NNPs only make up about 0.5% of the certified nurse practitioners in the US and most surveys present salary data from the general nurse practitioner population. If you are curious about the average compensation in a specific part of the country, don’t hesitate to give Ensearch a call. Our recruiters work with hundreds of NNPs every year and have a good handle on the compensation trends in the United States. You should have a realistic set range in mind before beginning negotiations.
2. Wait for the offer.
If you mention your salary requirements first, you could lose out on a higher offer than you’d expected. Or worse, you could cite a figure which is too high, thereby removing your candidacy from consideration.It’s therefore best to have the other party discuss numbers first. If you’re asked what you’re currently earning, redirect the conversation by stating that you hope that an offer would be based on the value you’d bring to the organization.
3. Stay positive.
Once an offer is presented, keep your response kind and professional even if it’s lower than you’d hoped. Highlight the positive aspects about the job, but follow this up with the fact that the offer isn’t acceptable. Avoid playing “hard to get,” as this can sometimes backfire and be off-putting to organizations. Make it clear that they can get you, but under the right conditions.
4. Focus on your merits. .
It’s always helpful to highlight your skills and experience as well as past accomplishments when you are asking for a higher salary. If you have specific details to share about how you’ve improved patient outcomes or otherwise benefitted a previous employer, now is the time to share them.
5. Go beyond salary.
In many cases, an offer that’s lower than you’d hope isn’t personal. Hiring managers often have budgetary constraints that simply can’t budge, even for the most promising candidate. That doesn’t mean you have to settle, however. If the offer is still within a range that would be comfortable for you salary-wise, think about other perks that would make the offer more compelling, because it’s not just the salary you can negotiate, but the other parts of a compensation package. This includes benefits, so don’t overlook other important factors such as vacation time, personal time, and continuing education reimbursement .On the other hand, if the offer really is too low, you can walk away and pursue a different employer altogether.
Here at Ensearch, we know that applying and interviewing for a new position can be time-consuming, and salary negotiations can get particularly uncomfortable. We take the hassle out of the process by negotiating on your behalf to make sure no money is left on the table. We’ll also make sure that any opportunity you select to pursue fits your needs from a financial standpoint and meets your other must-have criteria. Get started by scheduling a free career consultation today.
