Cheeky Logo
Ready To Get Hired?
Apply To Book A Free Call With Our Transition Specialist Team

I Was Desperate For A Job During My Negotiation And It Cost Me $10,000/Year

I remember the moment I got my first industry job offer.

It was incredible.

When I first started my job search, I really didn’t think anyone would want to hire me.

The stress and negativity of my PhD had worn down my self worth and I didn’t feel qualified for any industry position.

But, through the job search process, and with lots of hard work, I learned that I had skills that were desirable.

Apparently, I was good at things such as communication, writing, and team management — things that companies needed.

I found that there were industry positions available that were suited to my unique talents.

And eventually, I was offered a job where I could use my skills — and, when I saw the salary they were going to pay me, I was so excited!

How could they be willing to pay me that much?

I accepted the offer right away.

A while after I started working for the company, I found out that other people, doing the same job as I was, were making more money.

What the heck?

It turned out that these people had negotiated their initial salaries.

I hadn’t even realized this was something I should be doing.

Compared to academia, the salary I was making was high — but, in industry it wasn’t.

I was disappointed that I hadn’t negotiated and was now making less than what was possible.

It was a tough learning situation.

But next time, I will definitely be negotiating.

What PhDs Will Gain Through Salary Negotiations

Negotiating increases starting salary by an average of 13.3%, according to Glassdoor.

That means if your initial offer was $80,000, simply engaging in a basic negotiation could raise your salary to above $90,000.

All you have to say is, “Thank you so much for the offer. I am so excited to join the company. But, I was hoping for a high salary. What’s possible?”

That simple sentence can earn you $10,000.

But, the majority of people don’t negotiate.

A recent survey by the Robert Half staffing agency found that only 46% of men and 34% of women negotiate their salary.

The vast majority of people are completely missing out on the incredible salary bump that negotiation can bring.

Most people don’t negotiate because they are scared.

This fear of attempted negotiation leading to rejection is totally unfounded.

Inc reported that 89% of people who tried to negotiate their starting salary were successful.

So, if you ask one simple question about salary negotiation, you have an 89% chance of making $10,000 more per year.

Face your fear and negotiate your starting salary because the reward vastly outweighs the risk.

3 Negotiation Mistakes That Set PhDs Up For Failure

Negotiating is tough for PhDs.

It’s a new skill.

In academia, you are expected to just take the low stipend that you are offered.

But in industry, it is different.

You should be your own advocate and negotiate your salary.

But, you don’t want to do this the wrong way or you will end up burning bridges and missing out on opportunities.

Here are 3 common mistakes PhDs make after they receive a job offer…

1. Being too desperate or afraid to negotiate and losing out on massive amounts of money.

Not negotiating is a huge mistake that many, many PhDs make in their job searches.

The negative environment that exists in academia leaves PhDs feeling desperate to leave.

You may be tempted to take the very first job offer that comes your way because you are worried that you may never get another opportunity.

Don’t give in to this feeling.

As a PhD outside of academia, you have a great deal of value and, when your job search is executed properly, you will find multiple opportunities.

But, since the salary that PhD students and postdocs make is so very low, PhDs often have a skewed perception of their value.

For example, if you are being paid $30,000 a year it’s hard to imagine that you could actually be making more than $100,000 per year.

But, this is the reality.

The average salary for an industry scientist is $120,000 per year — meaning, many industry scientists make more than $120,000.

You have the skills to earn a high paying salary, but in order to be paid what you are worth, you must negotiate.

Many PhDs are afraid, or don’t know how, to negotiate.

But, negotiating is just a skill.

And, like any skill, it can be learned.

As a PhD, you are capable of learning anything, so put in the effort to learn the right way to negotiate so you can earn what you deserve.

2. Setting ultimatums and using “car salesman” techniques.

When you think about negotiating, you might envision a high-stress situation.

Two business people staring each other down, sweat rolling off their foreheads as they try to get the best deal possible.

Or, you might think of a car salesman who is trying to sell you a busted up car for way to high of a price.

In these situations, there is a clear winner and loser.

You either pay too much for the car, or you get a good deal.

But, in salary negotiations there is no loser — it is a win-win situation.

You will get the pay you want and the company will get a happy, high-quality employee.

When you negotiate your salary, you are advocating for yourself, which demonstrates that you know your own value.

If the company offering you the position sees value in hiring you, they will probably be willing to negotiate your salary.

But, this will not work if you have a negative attitude.

If you try to act like a car salesman, thinking you are going to beat your employer, the negotiation is not going to end well.

Always remain positive.

Continuously convey your excitement and use we/us instead of I/me to show that you are on the same side.

Don’t use phrases like “this is not enough” or “I need more than that”.

Instead, ask open-ended questions such as, “I was hoping for more, what can we do?” or “I am so excited to join the team, but I was hoping for a higher salary, can we discuss what is possible?”.

Stay positive, stay team-oriented, and remember your value.

3. Squeezing every last dollar and benefit you can possibly get out of the offer.

Let’s say you are negotiating your starting salary and the company offered you a 12% salary increase but you wanted a 15% increase.

They seem pretty set on this 12% increase, but you know they really want you to join their company.

You could push them for that last 3%.

But, is that a good idea? Usually, no — it’s not a good idea.

If the starting salary, with the 12% increase, is above your walkaway number, then pushing hard to get that last 3% could be harmful.

Remember, you have to work with these people after the negotiation.

If you get too pushy, it could impact the relationship you have with your colleagues once you start work.

The most common problem that arises is when you make mistakes during the first few months of the new job.

If your boss thinks that they are paying you too much and you make mistakes, it could lead to resentment.

And, feelings of animosity in the workplace are not good.

It will impact your well-being, as well as that of your co-workers and the company.

This does not mean that you shouldn’t negotiate at all — you should, and are, expected to negotiate.

It just means that you must maintain a positive, win-win attitude and know when you should accept what is offered to you.

For many PhDs, salary negotiation is the hardest part of the job search process. And, this is okay. Negotiation is a new skill that you need to learn and develop. You are not going to automatically be an expert negotiator. But, it’s important for you to recognize some of the biggest mistakes PhDs make when trying negotiating, such as: being too desperate or afraid to negotiate and losing out on massive amounts of money, setting ultimatums and using car salesman techniques, and squeezing every last dollar and benefit you can possibly get out of the offer. To avoid these mistakes, it’s important that you learn the right way to negotiate your salary.

If you’re ready to start your transition into industry, you can apply to book a free Transition Call with our founder Isaiah Hankel, PhD or one of our Transition Specialists. Apply to book a Transition Call here.

Book a Transition Call
Get Free Job Search Content Weekly

ABOUT CATHERINE SORBARA, PH.D.

Cathy has a PhD in Medical Life Science and Technology and is COO of the Cheeky Scientist Association. Cathy is passionate about science communication including translating science to lay audiences and helping PhDs transition into industry positions. She is Chair of Cambridge AWiSE, a regional network for women in science, engineering and technology. She has also been selected to take part in Homeward Bound 2018, an all-female voyage to Antarctica aimed to heighten the influence of women in leadership positions and bring awareness to climate change.

Catherine Sorbara, Ph.D.

Here's What Others Are Saying

"I'm happy to share that I’m starting a new position as an associate computational scientist at md anderson cancer center!"

James Jennings

James Jennings

Associate Computation Scientist

at MD Anderson Cancer Center

"I have been quiet here for a while but happy to finally share that I've transitioned! It was a long and challenging journey towards transition, being at another full-time job plus being a toddler mom, but I am so thankful I found this supportive community that has helped me and motivated me throughout."

Shobana Sekar

Shobana Sekar

Senior Bioinformatics Scientist

at Roche

"I accepted my job offer today. I was able to get 5k more + the exact PTO package I wanted. I am very happy and very thankful for everything that I learned through the event. I plan to stay involved with Cheeky Scientist as I love what y'all are doing and I'm still learning."

Tracy Gardner, PhD

Tracy Gardner, PhD

Senior Measurement Advisor

at Pearson

"I proceeded with the offer we were discussing and i signed the contract a few days ago. I would like to thank you so much for your support throughout this process. it was really helpful and beneficial!"

Samir Tohme

Samir Tohme

Project Engineer, Optical Development & Simulation Expert

at EDL Rethschulte GmbH (FEV Group)

"Hi Isaiah, I got hired yesterday!....Thanks for all of your encouragement provided by way of your presentations."

Beverly Brereton

Beverly Brereton

Compliance Manager

at Enel North America

"Thank you for your support. I greatly benefited from your DD talks on the importance of networking on LinkedIn and resume-building tips. Your team member Meera was very helpful in building my LinkedIn Profile and resume. Thank you!"

 Taranum Sultana

Taranum Sultana

Research Administration

"You will not believe it..... I got them up another 60K and they changed my title!"

Ryan Hendricks

Ryan Hendricks

Project Manager, Rapid Industry Solutions: On-Set Virtual Production

at SMPTE

"I got an offer at Estée Lauder! I accepted the offer since it is a great company and less than 15 min away. I don't have to worry about relocating."

Ivan Peran

Ivan Peran

at Estée Lauder

"'....all the modules and associates really helped me understand the job and interview aspects really well. Meera specially helped me a lot prepare for the 8 interviews (written, analytical, on-site, assessments). She was very prompt in responding to my questions and concerns and really helped me keep my morale whenever I felt I might loose this position.... This is something I was looking for in a job so it is perfect for me."

Haymanti Bhanot

Haymanti Bhanot

Editorial

at Elsevier

"I signed with ASML for 117k! (asked for 120 and they came up from 110) plus a 10% target annual bonus."

Andrew Dawes, PhD

Andrew Dawes, PhD

Senior Applications Engineer

at ASML

"I am happy to share I started a new job as a senior research scientist in medicinal chemistry at x-chem Montreal."

Nicolas Wlodarczyk

Nicolas Wlodarczyk

Nicolas Wlodarczyk Senior Research Scientist

at X-Chem

"I am happy to share I am starting a new position!"

Kamrul Hansen

Kamrul Hansen

Principal Scientist - Analytical Technology

at Servier Pharmaceuticals

"New offer - went ahead and signed contract today - - excited and thank you for the confidence booster - grateful for investing in Cheeky Scientist."

Wael Bahnan

Wael Bahnan

Senior Scientist

at Minervx ApS

"I'm happy to share that I'm starting a new position as R&D Scientist II at Chemring Sensors and Electronic Systems, Inc.!"

Karim Dawkins

Karim Dawkins

R&D Scientist II

at Chemring Sensors and Electronic Systems, Inc

"I just wanted to say that I officially accepted a job! I want to thank everyone at Cheeky Scientist for all the help and support. Overall, my job search went pretty smoothly and I have CS to thank for that. I am now convinced that making connections and networking is how you find jobs, and once I began implementing what CS teaches, I started to see more results. I hope this helps others who are in the job search process!"

Jack Schultz

Jack Schultz

Research Computer Scientist

at Southwest Research Institute

Similar Articles

Why No One Can Get Academic Jobs Right Now

Why No One Can Get Academic Jobs Right Now

By: Isaiah Hankel, PhD

The academic job market presents numerous challenges for PhDs, including oversaturation, funding instability, adjunctification, and the pressure to publish. These factors create a competitive and exclusionary environment, making it difficult for highly qualified candidates to secure tenure-track positions. The solution lies in transitioning into industry roles strategically.

Negotiate A Higher Salary Using Precise Numbers And Open-Ended Questions 

Negotiate A Higher Salary Using Precise Numbers And Open-Ended Questions 

By: Isaiah Hankel, PhD

“I did everything I could to negotiate, Isaiah, but they told me the salary wasn’t negotiable.”  A job seeker told me this recently.  Ohhh, they told you that?  Was it written into law by congress?  I didn’t say that of course, but I hear statements like it all the time after people get hired.  While I’m happy they’re hired, it always makes me both sad and frustrated because I know that they could have negotiated and been paid more–more for themselves but also for their families, their futures, their legacies, on and on.  The problem is of course–negotiation is hard. …

Slick Scripts For Every Negotiation Scenario

Slick Scripts For Every Negotiation Scenario

By: Isaiah Hankel, PhD

When I went through my first industry interview process, I didn’t realize how important it was to prepare for a negotiation. So, not only did I go in unprepared, but I also assumed that the only thing that I could negotiate for was a higher salary. Looking back, I now realize how much value I missed out on because I didn’t prepare. I was blind to what was truly on the table. As one Cheeky Scientist recounts when considering several offers: “The other offer was much better. The base salary was close to the 6 figures, but with the bonus…

Salary Negotiation: The Fastest Way To Gain (Or Lose) Money As A PhD

Salary Negotiation: The Fastest Way To Gain (Or Lose) Money As A PhD

By: Isaiah Hankel, PhD

When I was offered my first industry job, I was a bag mixed of emotions. I was desperate, relieved, happy, and worried – all at the same time. But the emotion that won out was desperation. I wanted/needed that job so badly that I enthusiastically declared ‘I’ll take it!’ when my new employer shared their conditional offer. What I didn’t realize was how this was going to impact my earning potential – not just now, but for years (even decades!) to come. There’s a reason it’s considered a conditional offer. That’s because employers expect you to negotiate. As one Cheeky…

4 Painful Ways PhDs Rob Themselves During Salary Negotiations

4 Painful Ways PhDs Rob Themselves During Salary Negotiations

By: Isaiah Hankel, PhD

If you asked any PhD in industry what the most uncomfortable part of their interview process was, I guarantee you most would say the salary negotiation. And it makes sense – money is uncomfortable to talk about, no matter the situation. But it’s especially uncomfortable for PhDs. It’s alien territory. You’ve never had to advocate your worth – at least not in terms of monetary compensation. So, when preparing for your interviews, you need to get prepared. Walking into an interview with a negotiation plan will not only calm your nerves, but it will also result an outcome that will…

How To Masterfully Deflect Salary Questions During Your Next Interview

How To Masterfully Deflect Salary Questions During Your Next Interview

By: Isaiah Hankel, PhD

Deflect salary question till you receive a written offer.PhDs don’t like to negotiate. As PhDs, we want things to be pretty cut and dry, we don’t like to play games, and salary negotiation resembles a game where you never really know where you stand. It is an uncomfortable process that can affect you physiologically, so it’s normal to try to avoid it. But here’s the thing. Negotiation is not a game. It’s actually a transferable skill. Deal making is a transferable skill that you will use on a daily basis once you get hired. Networking and deal making are the…

5 Point Job Search Productivity Plan For PhDs

5 Point Job Search Productivity Plan For PhDs

By: Isaiah Hankel, PhD

Job search productivity plan is imperative for success. Every day, more and more PhDs realize that they have no future in academia and start to plan their first industry transition. A script keeps playing in their head that says “I want to get hired.” This often leads to frustration because this script is not accurate. You don’t just want to get hired, you want to get hired into a PhD-level position. do meaningful work, where you can have an impact on humanity, where you get fairly compensated, where you can have security. I recently talked to a PhD who told…

6 Phrases That Get PhDs Ghosted After A Job Interview

6 Phrases That Get PhDs Ghosted After A Job Interview

By: Isaiah Hankel, PhD

Far too many PhDs are getting ghosted by employers after job interviews. They set up a job search strategy, build a targeted resume and LinkedIn profile, and apply to positions where they have internal referrals; only to get ghosted after a phone screen, or even worse, a site visit. If this has happened to you, you need to prepare better for job interviews. An interview can go south very easily. Maybe you just said the wrong thing and that caused employers to stop considering you. You cannot underestimate the importance of coming prepared.  Take it from one of our members…

The R&D Career Track Versus Clinical Career Track For PhDs (12 Jobs Compared)

The R&D Career Track Versus Clinical Career Track For PhDs (12 Jobs Compared)

By: Isaiah Hankel, PhD

How can you hit your career goals when you’ve never defined your target? R&D career or Clinical, business and finance, marketing or information aggregation roles? Every PhD, regardless of where they are in their job search, eventually admits one thing …they all admitted that they had waited way too long to take their job search seriously. One of the biggest time sucking mistakes that PhDs continue to say they make is that they failed to correctly consider which job titles were right for them. Many never thoroughly reviewed their industry options until they were about to defend their thesis, lose…

Our Members Get Hired At Top Industry Companies

Top Industry Career eBooks

63 Best Industry Positions For PhDs

63 Best Industry Positions For PhDs

Isaiah Hankel, PhD & Arunodoy Sur, PhD

Learn about the best 63 industry careers for PhDs (regardless of your academic background). In this eBook, you will gain insight into the most popular, highest-paying jobs for PhDs – all of which will allow you to do meaningful work AND get paid well for it.

Industry Resume Guide for PhDs

Industry Resume Guide for PhDs

Isaiah Hankel, PhD

Learn how to craft the perfect industry resume to attract employers. In this eBook for PhDs, you will get access to proven resume templates, learn how to structure your bullet points, and discover which keywords industry employers want to see most on PhD resumes.

AI & ATS Resume Filters

AI & ATS Resume Filters

Isaiah Hankel

In today's competitive job market, understanding the impact of AI is crucial for career success. This involves ensuring your resume stands out in the digital realm, mastering your online presence, and being aware of how AI assigns reputation scores. Discovering how to leverage AI to your advantage is essential, as it plays a pivotal role in shaping professional opportunities.

Complete LinkedIn Guide For PhDs

Complete LinkedIn Guide For PhDs

Isaiah Hankel

The LinkedIn tips & strategies within have helped PhDs from every background get hired into top industry careers.