Uncomfortable Negotiating Salary? You’re Not Alone International Poll Finds

An international poll conducted by Monster has found that less than one in five respondents (19%) are very comfortable with negotiating their salary upon accepting a job offer. Almost twice as many respondents (36%) answered that they are "not comfortable at all” with salary negotiation attempts.

Monster, the worldwide leader in successfully connecting people to job opportunities, asked visitors to their site the question, "When accepting a new job offer, how comfortable are you negotiating salary?” and received over 3,500 responses. International findings included:

• 19% of respondents answered "Very comfortable”
• 23% of respondents answered "Somewhat comfortable”
• 22% of respondents answered "Slightly comfortable”
• 36% of respondents answered "Not comfortable at all”

Breaking down the numbers by region, Indian respondents are the least troubled by salary negotiations- 55% answered that they are "very” or "somewhat” comfortable debating their future pay, and only 24% answered that they are "not comfortable at all” (the lowest response rate, internationally). Canada reported the highest level of discomfort- more than half of Canadian respondents¹ (51%) answered that they are completely uncomfortable with salary negotiations. Respondents from France and the Netherlands are also unlikely to debate their future wages, only 30% and 28% (respectively) answered that they are "very” or "somewhat” comfortable with attempting to negotiate pay. American respondents are also quite uneasy with salary negotiations, 40% are "not comfortable at all” and an additional 19% are only "slightly comfortable.”

"Landing a job offer is clearly the highlight of any job search, but don’t let the excitement cloud your judgment,” said Mary Ellen Slayter, Career Advice Expert for Monster. "You are about to enter a relationship with lasting repercussions, so it’s more important than ever to focus on your priorities. Go online and do competitive research -- have comprehensive knowledge of what is considered a fair salary for your new job.”

Slayter continues, "While it may be tempting to approach the negotiations in terms of what you want, employers aren't actually very interested in hearing about your personal lifestyle goals. The size of your mortgage or dream of taking a tropical vacation isn't their problem. Instead, keep the conversation focused on the value you'll bring to the role. But don't feel like you have to just accept an offer that doesn't meet your needs. Look for ways to compromise, such as on benefits, paid time off and other perks. If it doesn't work out, resume your search and focus on finding a position that pays fairly.”

The results of the current Monster International Poll are based on votes cast by Monster visitors from: April 7-21, 2014. Only one vote per user is counted toward the final tabulation. The Monster International poll, a product of Monster, the premier global online employment solution and flagship brand of Monster Worldwide, Inc., is a series of online polls that gauge users’ opinions on a variety of topics relating to careers, the economy and the workplace. These polls are not scientific and reflect the opinions of only those Internet users who have chosen to participate.

For tips on finding the right job with the right salary, please visit: MonsterWorking.com.

About Monster Worldwide
Monster Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE:MWW) is the global leader in successfully connecting job opportunities and people. Monster uses the world's most advanced technology to help people Find Better, matching job seekers to opportunities via digital, social and mobile solutions including monster.com^®, our flagship website, and employers to the best talent using a vast array of products and services. As an Internet pioneer, more than 200 million people have registered on the Monster Worldwide network. Today, with operations in more than 40 countries, Monster provides the broadest, most sophisticated job seeking, career management, recruitment and talent management capabilities globally. For more information visit about-monster.com.

¹ Canada reported lower than average response rate