January 29th, 2008 → 8:34 am @ Jay // 2 Comments

For some, the topic of money is just like any other. For others, the discussion of money can become uncomfortable, especially if it can make us appear greedy.

The discomfort we feel when discussing money with employers is perfectly natural, yet we should endeavour to develop the tactics and confidence to approach conversations that revolve around money. After all, the most important role of a career is to trade our time for money.

We want to be appreciated for our work, and do not want to appear “greedy” in the process. This is a topic that I relate close to. In my early years as an office worker, in an effort to be “polite” I avoided the discussion of money with my employers. As a result, I became severely underpaid compared to colleagues who had the confidence to discuss money with upper management.

Money was never a taboo subject in my household, and yet I was incredibly hesitant to ask for more while in employment. Thanks to the teachings of sincere managers and personal experience, I have since learned many things about communication relating to compensation. This is a broad topic, so I have created a series of articles called “Money at Work”.

My aim is to give you the confidence to tactfully approach the subject of money in a range of occupational situations. The articles will cover salary negotiation in a job interview, asking for a pay increase, and approaching the topic of reimbursements for overtime. Wherever you are in your career, I would advise that you read through all of the articles. Perhaps you may be able to pass on the advice to somebody else in need of it.

Please share what you learn in the following with your children, especially if they are moving into a professional office environment. The skills that pertain to negotiating pay also transfer to other parts of our lives. By developing the confidence to rationally discuss money, you will be well equipped when other equally uncomfortable topics need to be discussed.

That said, the first part of this series is Discussing Money at Work – Part 1: Salary negotiation in a job interview. Thank you for reading. I look forward to your advice and feedback in the comments sections of the upcoming articles.

Discussing Money at Work – Part 1: Salary negotiation in a job interview

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• Discussing Money at Work – Part 1: Salary negotiation in a job interview
• Discussing Money at Work – Part 3: Payment for overtime
• Discussing Money at Work – Part 2: Negotiating a Pay Raise
• Confidence: An inside out approach
• The Art of Conversation: Stranger? No danger.
• Conflict: How to approach issues with Employers and Managers

Tags: employer, job interview, manager, money, negotiating, office, pay increase, pay raise, popular, salary, top, wealth, work