Job Offer Negotiation Tips for the Animal Science Industry
I recently read an article on Forbes by Caroline Ceniza-Levine that shares some ways to gain the upper hand when it comes to negotiating a job offer. I thought it would come in handy as the animal science industry is undergoing an evolution. I have noticed an increase in job openings, and I believe it is the perfect time to aim for higher-paying positions in your industry.
Many candidates think that they are powerless during the negotiation process and that all they can do is accept what is offered to them. These tips will give candidates the confidence they need to negotiate their way to a better-paying job.
Mention a Better Offer
If you are interviewing for the same role with two companies, you can mention that one is paying you a higher base or providing better benefits. The other company will want to compete and in most cases will try to match the offer or exceed it.
Talk About Your Contacts/Clients
In the animal science industry, nutritionists or consultants with lots of clients and connections are sought after. While it would be tasteless to namedrop too much during the interview, you can casually mention your top clients and tell the interviewer that you intend to bring them along. The higher the number of cows/swine/chickens, the better your chances of getting a better salary.
Play on Your Expertise
With expertise comes confidence. Aside from a full pipeline of contacts, most hiring managers prioritize people who have an in-demand skill set. If you have extensive experience and a sought-after degree, to boot, you can ask for a higher base and incentives.
Do Not Be Financially Unprepared
Don't wait until you're close to broke before you look for your next job. Urgency due to financial need will make you more likely to settle for less. Sure, negotiate for a delayed start, but you should have another job lined up before you use up your severance check or savings.
Have a Solution to Their Problem
Once again, it is all about connections and/or expertise. Many people go from middle to upper management simply because they have connections with people the company wants to do business with (ASAP) or has a degree or enough experience to get the higher-paying job (that is still unfilled) done.
Don't Burn Bridges
Even if you can't stand your current or former employer, avoid talking badly about them during the interview process. I have personally seen a lot of candidates passed over because they spoke poorly of an employer who might be close friends with the hiring manager or the head of a company he or she was interviewing for. Also, talking poorly about your current employer will make the hiring manager think you are desperate to leave, and that will give you less chances to negotiate your rate.
Negotiation is not something to shy away from during the job offer. If you have the right skills and connections, companies are willing to give a generous offer if they believe you could truly be an asset to their company.
Looking for more job interview tips? Our company website has all the best resources, from articles to e-books. You can also follow #ContinentalSearch on Facebook and LinkedIn for the latest job openings in the animal science industry.
Dan Simmons, CPC, Sr. Recruiter
Continental Search is owned by Daniel C. Simmons, a Certified Per
sonnel Consultant (CPC) who has been recruiting since 1991. In December 2015, Dan celebrated his 650th career placement. Dan has won more than twenty awards from Top Echelon Network, America's leading placement network, including Placer of the Year in 2009 and the prestigious Million Dollar Award. He is also a member of the National Association of Personnel Services. Dan has been a recruiter in the animal feed industry since 2002.
Dan is a student of the recruiting industry, as well as a speaker/trainer, both in-person and online, for various industry webinars. He has been a featured speaker at the Top Echelon National Convention. Dan has also been a guest speaker providing insight into career management at universities and trade associations. These include the Reciprocal Meat Conference for the American Meat Science Association in 2008 and 2009, the Washington DC Chapter of ARPAS (American Registry of Professional Animal Scientists) in 2008, and the Animal Science Departments of both Penn State University and the University of Delaware.
Hutjens' Outline for Dairy Success in 2017
The dairy industry is going through a major change. This article from Progressive Dairyman by Melissa Hart will be quite an informative read for dairy producers who want their businesses to thrive. Success starts with four pillars.
According to Hutjens, dairy producers need to be ready to welcome change. He shared 4 pillars for the milk industry in 2017.
The first pillar is to never give up on milk. Ration dry matter is at 10 to 12 cents for every pound. Therefore, if milk is worth 17 cents a pound, 10 cents of dry matter would lead to 24 cents more income. If the dairy producer makes sure the cows eat the feed, this will pay off!
The second pillar was to build one's milk check, He believes it is money lying on the table. This is something producers can control, no matter what administration is running the country. Higher fat and protein means higher premium.
The third pillar was the importance of feed additives. He believes that this is a game-changer and says that the six additives he uses are silage inoculants, rumen buffers, monensin, yeast products, organic trace minerals, and biotin.
The fourth pillar was implementing 5 feeding metrics. No matter how great your understanding of genomics is or your ability to put that to use, a sound feeding plan is your key to success.
Rick Pascual recruits in dairy nutrition for feed companies and their
suppliers
across the USA. Rick joined Continental Search in January
2015 and has successfully filled a number of searches for nutritionists,
sales, and sales management for leading companies.
After completing coursework and a grueling exam, Rick became a Certified Personnel Consultant (CPC) in November 2015, as well as a Professional Recruiting Consultant (PRC) by AIRS in April 2016. Visit his LinkedIn profile for more information and to stay updated with news about recent dairy trends.
Fighting Avian Infectious Bronchitis with Ceva's IBron
