How Much Does The Job Pay - Salary Negotiation Tips

By Ryan Davis, MBA and Mark Deutsch, MBA

Even for the most talented and educated Registered Dietitians, when it comes to negotiating salary and talking money, they often become uncomfortable and say things that get them in trouble. As a Recruiter, I prefer to discuss it upfront so that no one wastes his or her time, including both the Dietitian and the potential employer. Compensation is a critical factor that should be addressed very early in the process. Once you have established your interest in an opportunity, it does not hurt to ask about the compensation, but consider the following Do's and Don'ts before you do.

Do avoid being offensive by communicating that all you care about is the money. Talking about the compensation early on can easily be incorporated into considering all the factors of the opportunity, such as location, job scope, size of the facility, management, etc.

Do your research. While it is important to look at current salary surveys (such as http://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Registered_Dietitian/Salary or http://www.nutritionist-world.com/nutritionist_salaries.html) and talk to other Registered Dietitians in the area with similar experience, the key here is comparing similar factors. The biggest mistake that is often made is looking at the information provided by a survey but not realizing you might be comparing apples to oranges in regards to experience, specialization, and geographic location.

Do talk about what you have done, or will do, for the facility. Those with more experience will usually earn more money. Remember to talk about the amount of experience you have if it will help you negotiate a higher salary. If you don't have a lot of experience, be realistic about the salary you are looking for.

Do Not talk about how much you NEED to earn and how badly you NEED it. NEED is not a good negotiation tool - and neither is desperation. We all have high bills, more house than we need (can you say subprime mortgage crisis?), kids in college, etc. Your future boss doesn't care - if anything, it indicates that you may be responsible enough to manage your money, so can you properly manage patients? This strategy never works. If you don't take away anything else from this article, remember not talk about what you need and why you need it.

Do be reasonable. When going through a salary negotiation you may not get how much you think you're worth. Determine how much you are willing to compromise and what you will do if you are not offered a salary you find acceptable. Just because you graduated from a great program with honors, doesn't mean you'll be pulling down $100k a year!

Do Not play tug of war. A great field day game when we were kids, but in the real world the reality is that most positions are budgeted and have very little flexibility. If necessary, one counter offer is more than enough.

Do Not lose a dream job over a few thousand dollars. If you find an opportunity that can enhance your experience, increase your responsibility, and potentially increase your salary down the road, do not lose it over a few shekels. Do the math - when you break it down to what the difference would be each week it could be less than a cappuccino at Starbucks.

Ryan Davis, MBA is the President & CEO of Dietitians On Demand. Mark Deutsch, MBA is the Director of Sales & Marketing for Dietitians On Demand. Dietitians On Demand was founded by a Registered Dietitian to match Registered Dietitians with hospitals, nursing homes, and other organizations who need their services. For more

information about Dietitians On Demand, visit www.dietitiansondemand.com.