An area of the job search that seems to receive little attention is the art of n egotiating. Once you have been offered a job, you have the opportunity to discu ss with the employer the terms of your employment. Negotiations are uncomfortab le, sometimes risky and often unsatisfying because we are trained from an early age to value win/lose situations. We tend to approach negotiations with a winne r-take-all attitude that is counterproductive to the spirit with which the conce pt of negotiations is imbued.

Negotiating with you potential employer can make your job one that best meets yo ur own needs as well as those of your employer. To ensure successful negotiatio ns, it is important to understand the basic components. The definitions of nego tiation as it relates to employment is: a series of communications either oral o r in writing that reach a satisfying conclusion for all concerned parties, most often between the new employee and the hiring organization.

Negotiation is a planned series of events that requires strategy, presentation a nd patience. Preparation is probably the single most important part of successf ul negotiations. Any good trial attorney will tell you the key to presenting a good case in the courtroom is the hours of preparation that happen beforehand. The same is true for negotiating. A good case will literally present itself. W hat follows are some suggestions that might help in your preparation.

Research

Gather as much factual information as you can to back up the case you want to ma ke. For example, if most entering employees cannot negotiate salary you may be jeopardizing the offer by focusing on that aspect of the package. Turn your att ention to some of the other more flexible parts of the offer such as your health plan, dental plan, retirement package, the type of schedule you prefer, etc.

Psychological Preparation

Chances are that you will not know the person with whom you will be negotiating very well. If you are lucky enough to be acquainted, spend some time reviewing what you know about this person's communication style and decision-making behavi or.

In most cases this person will be a stranger. Since most people find the unknow n a bit scary you will want to ask yourself what approach to the negotiating tab le you find most comfortable. How will you "psyche" yourself up to fell confide nt enough to ask for what you want? How will you respond to counteroffers? What are your alternatives? What's your bottom line? In short, plan your strategy.

Be sure you know exactly what you want, not approximately. This does not mean y ou will ever get exactly that, but having information clear in your head will he lp you determine what you are willing to concede. Unless you know what you want , you won't be able to tell somebody else. Clarity improves communication, whic h is the conduit for effective negotiations.

Practice

Actually rehearse the presentation in advance using another person as the employ er. If you make mistakes in rehearsal, chances are that you will not repeat the m during the actual negotiations. A friend can critique your reasoning and help you prepare for questions. If this all seems like a lot of work, remember that if something is worth negotiating for, it is worth preparing for.

Dollars and Sense

Always begin by expressing genuine interest in the position and the organization , emphasizing the areas of agreement but allowing "wiggle room" to compromise on other areas. Be prepared to support your points of disagreement, outlining the parts you would like to alter, your suggestions on how this can be done and why it would serve the company's best interests to accommodate your request.

Be prepared to defend your proposal. Back up your reasons for wanting to change the offer with meaningful work-related skills and positive benefits to the empl oyer. Requesting a salary increase because you are a fast learner, or have a hi gh GPA usually are not justifiable reasons in the eyes of the employer. Meaning ful work experience or internships that have demonstrated or tested your profess ional skills are things that will make an employer stop and take notice. It is sometimes more comfortable for job seekers to make this initial request in writing and plan to meet later to hash out the differences. You will need to b e fairly direct and assertive at this point even though you may feel extremely v ulnerable. Keep in mind that the employer has chosen you from a pool of qualifi ed applicants, so you are not as vulnerable as you think.

Sometimes the employer will bristle at the suggestion that there is room to nego tiate. Stand firm, but softly encourage the employer to think about it for a da y or two at which time you will discuss the details of your proposal with them. Do not rush the process. Your discomfort with the process could hurt you. The employer will be counting on this discomfort and may use it to derail the negoti ations. Remember this is a series of volleys and lobs, trade-offs and compromis es that occur over a period of time. It is a process -- not a singular event!

Once you have reached a conclusion with which you are both relatively comfortabl e, present in writing your interpretation of the agreement so that if there is a ny question it will be addressed immediately. Negotiation, by definition, impli es that each side will give. Do not perceive it as an ultimatum.

If the employer chooses not to grant any of your requests -- and realistically, they can do that -- you will still have the option of accepting the original off er provided you have maintained a positive, productive and friendly atmosphere d uring your exchanges. You can always re-enter negotiations after you have demon strated your worth to the organization.

Money isn't Everything

There are many things you can negotiate besides salary. Benefits can add thousa nds of dollars to the compensation package. Benefits can range from paid person al leave to discounts on the company's products and services. They constitute m ore than just icing on the cake; they may be better than the cake itself. Tradi tional benefits packages include health insurance, paid vacation and personal/si ck days. Companies may offer such benefits as childcare or elder care or use of the company jet for family emergencies. Other lucrative benefits could include disability and life insurance and a variety of retirement plans. Some organiza tions offer investment and stock options as well as relocation costs and tuition credits for continued education.