Can you negotiate salary (or even ask for a raise) in this economy? You can and you should. Here’s the real question: Will you? Because salary negotiation is tough, many of us are using the economy as a reason to avoid it altogether.

The bottom line: Don’t be one of these people. No matter how badly you want the job, have been out of work, or would be thrilled to have any kind of salary at all, those feelings will soon pass if you take less than you believe the position merits – and you may be left with a stronger feeling of resentment that you settled for less down the road.

So, what’s the answer to negotiating salary in a tough economy? Read on for more tips here:

-Don’t confuse need (or greed!) with value. The fact that you “need” a certain amount of money to pay your bills isn’t the issue here. When you negotiate salary, you do so because you feel that the level of value you’re contributing to an organization is worth a higher level of compensation than what is being offered.
-Rehearse ahead of time. Never walk into an interview with a plan to wing it, play it by ear, or just go with your gut. During a salary negotiation, people tend to get nervous, forget what they wanted to say, or just wimp out. The result? They wind up with less money.
-Do your homework. Before your interview, find out what other people are making in this type of role. To get this information, go online and do salary research from any of the dozens of websites out there that allow you to see salary ranges for just about any profession. (Job Search Intelligence is one we like.) Also, ask people you know in comparable positions at similar companies what type of salary range you might expect to earn.
-Never bring up the question of money first. Let them do that. Asking questions like, “How much does this pay?” “What is the salary for this position?” is a no-no. If this is a job interview, you’re there to be interviewed; to raise the issue of salary is premature and presumptuous, and it makes you appear like you care more about the money than the job.
-Let them throw out the first number. When they ask you, “What are your salary requirements?” don’t just blurt out a number, because once you do, it’s hard to backtrack. Instead, say something like, “What do you have budgeted for the position?” If they do ask this question before you’ve even interviewed for the job, you could say, “If we decide I’m the right fit for this position, I’m sure we can agree on salary.”
-Know when it’s time to negotiate. The best time to negotiate your salary is once you’ve already received a job offer, and before you’ve accepted the job. [Tip: Don’t accept/reject any job offer right on the spot! Express your thanks and enthusiasm, and say you’d like to review the entire offer first.]
-Money is just one part of your salary package. Even in a tough economy where salaries may not increase, you could ask for more flexible hours, better benefits, working from home, bonus opportunities, tuition reimbursement – the options are endless. Once again, do your homework to see what comparable companies offer their employees beyond salary.
-Be respectful. A salary negotiation is a polite conversation – not something antagonistic or combative. Show that you’re flexible, and keep stating how enthusiastic you are about the job and working in this role. This has to be a win-win, so a negotiation doesn’t mean you are the only one to benefit.
-Salary is a piece of your career pie. Yes, you have bills to pay and you’d like to earn more – but don’t forget to look at the entire job package before you say yes or no. Does this position offer chances for growth, training? Do you love the job? Find the right balance for you – and keep negotiating!