How to Successfully Negotiate Your Salary After Getting Your Online MBA Degree Program | Edhike

Finally, here is the email you’ve been waiting for. The subject line says it all : 'Assignment of Work.’

Your heart races. You open it with a click. You have to do this. If you wanted to, you could keep that feeling of relief to yourself. Everything you put into your Online MBA Degree Program, from late nights to hard case studies to personal sacrifices, suddenly seems like it was all worth it. This is what happened next.

You can skip the job title and start date and go right to the part of the document that talks about pay. The number is right there. That's a good amount. That number would work great for you. But gradually, a small voice in your head speaks up.

Is it really the best number?

The fear comes on quickly. It's weird to talk about money. It feels uncomfortable.

Don't look like you're greedy. If they get mad, the offer could be taken back. Most people are afraid of looking stupid, so they normally just say "thank you" and take whatever offer comes their way.

But that’s where most people stop. You are not "most people." You have been given an MBA. You've learnt how to analyse situations, communicate value, and think strategically. Don't worry, a salary negotiation isn't a scary fight. It's just a talk about how much you are worth in the market right now. It's time to put all you've gained into practice after two years of education.

You can receive compensation that reflects your value.

Just got your Online MBA Degree Program? Learn how to successfully negotiate your salary and get the compensation you deserve!

Step 1 : Make sure you have the right phone numbers before you call.

You would never go to a test without being ready. Be prepared with solid information before entering the discussion. Here, the numbers matter, not how you feel about them. You need data.

Find out what the going wage is in the market for the job. Use tools like Glassdoor and LinkedIn Salary to help you. Search using your city, exact job title, and level of experience. Find a pay range that makes sense. Start with this range. It gives you a low, medium, and high range to think about.

Ask your network for a "gut check":

You can't just ask your classmates about their work. That's odd. But you can ask for help. MBA graduates who work in a similar field. You may say something like, "Hey, I'm interested in a job as a product manager in Mumbai's fintech industry." Based on your expertise in the field, what do you think is a fair salary range for someone with a new MBA? This is where you'll find useful information that you can't find online.

Document your key accomplishments:

Before the call, write down all of your most important accomplishments. I really mean "jot them down." Put numbers on them.

Sorry, that's not right. "I led a team."

"I led a team of five that made our department 20% more efficient."

"I worked on my MBA capstone project" is not true.

True : "My MBA capstone project came up with a new plan for entering a market that was worth ₹2 crores." This list is not just for self-affirmation. This serves as the evidence to support that you deserve the highest pay in the range you gave.

Step 2 : Saying the Words Correctly

Everyone dislikes this part. But it's just a talk. The way you express things is very important. Keep it positive, friendly, and focused on the team.

Rule #1: Always make saying "thank you" a priority.

You should always be truly happy and grateful when you first hear the offer. It goes like this : "Thank you so much for the offer! I'm really excited about the chance to work on [insert project here] and the job itself. I think it works great." This shows that you are interested in the job and makes everyone feel less anxious.

Rule #2: Ask instead of stating.

After you've shown your interest, it's time to start talking. For this, you should ask a question instead of making a statement. You might say something like: the research I've done on the market rate for this type of role, I was expecting an offer in the range of X to Y." I'm excited to accept, but I wanted to know if the starting wage is open to negotiation.

Step 3 : Embrace the Silence.

This part is very hard. Ask your question and then be quiet. Stick to the subject. That's all there is to it. Please take a moment to stop. It can feel awkward, but silence demonstrates confidence. Even though it could be unpleasant at first, being quiet shows confidence. Let them speak after you. Most of the time, people will fill the silence with smart comments.

"Step 4 : Remember—Money Isn’t Everything.

For certain businesses, it could be hard to raise the base pay because their compensation bands are set in stone. You haven't failed. This is a time to talk about and maybe work out more details of the deal.

The Signing Bonus:

This is the easiest thing for a lot of firms to do. Say this: "I understand that the base compensation might be set in stone. Because of this, might we talk about a sign-on bonus?"

The Bonus for Performance:

Make sure you understand. How much of it is it? What is the best way to measure it? A good performance bonus can add a lot to your yearly compensation.

Extras :

Don't forget about the extra bonuses. Could they offer a more senior title? Do they have any money for things like conferences or certifications that help people grow in their careers? Can I take an extra week off? Sometimes, just getting a tiny bit of satisfaction from your work can make a big difference.

You Own This Table

Think about it. In your Online MBA Degree Program, you learnt how to make a marketing plan, oversee a team, and look at financial statements. Negotiating salaries is just one more thing that has to be fixed in the corporate world. Have faith in your skills.

Your hard work has made you much more valuable as a professional. This isn’t about being greedy - it’s about fair compensation. It's about getting a fair amount of money for the unique skills and strategic thinking you already have. When you go into that talk, bring your statistics, show that you are confident, be able to collaborate with people, and be ready to earn your worth.