Seven tips for negotiating your salary during the Covid-19 pandemic

Do your research, don't be pushy and agree on a figure before - not after - the contract is signed

TEACHER/LECTURER: The average salary in UAE is Dh9,000 with lows of Dh4,000 and highs of Dh21,000. Headteachers earn an average of Dh46,000 with highs of Dh75,000. University staff are typically well paid, with assistant professors and full lecturers earning between Dh20,000 and Dh40,000. AFP

FLIGHT CREW: Salaries for cabin crew and aircraft technicians range from Dh6,000 to Dh23,000. Pilots can usually secure between Dh20,000 to Dh60,000, depending on experience. EPA

FOOD AND DRINK: The average salary for a bartender, waiter or supervisor is Dh4,000 to Dh5,000, rising to Dh7,500 to Dh8,500 for managers. Chefs and head chefs can expect to take home between Dh6,000 to Dh38,000. Hotels often provide staff accommodation. Hollie Adams / Getty Images

ACCOUNTING AND AUDITING: A flooded market with basic accountants often earning Dh5,000 to Dh10,000. Senior auditors can earn Dh30,000 or more. Accountants who move into finance and management can expect significantly higher salaries. Getty Images

CONSTRUCTION: Engineering jobs have been hit hard by a downturn in the sector, but it remains a skilled and respected profession. Junior salaries for site inspectors and engineers begin at a few thousand dirhams, rising to Dh45,000 or more for construction managers. Gulf Talent says salaries in Saudi are higher than the UAE in some roles. Sammy Dallal / The National

NURSES: The true heroes of the pandemic, these professionals worked around the clock to treat patients and save lives. Salaries range between Dh4,000 to Dh14,500 and can be higher for senior nurses in higher-end private hospitals. AFP

HEALTH AND SAFETY: Health and safety has become a key priority. Junior roles in this sector can take home, on average, about Dh5,500 a month. That rises to Dh22,500 for managerial positions. Victor Besa / The National

HOSPITAL ADMINISTRATOR: Non-medical staff are currently in demand as the role of managing patients, their documents, payment and test results is increasingly crucial. Salaries vary but can be in the same region as nurses. Reem Mohammed / The National

CYBERSECURITY: The threat posed by cybercrime has never been more real, with the sale of financial assets, documents and medical records a lucrative business. Systems analysts and software engineers can earn Dh25,000 or more, rising significantly for those with high-end cybersecurity experience. Unsplash

HR, MARKETING AND FINANCE: Senior roles in these managerial classes vary significantly, but are generally well paid and often come with performance-related bonuses. Gulf Talent lists HR manager and HR business partner salaries at up to Dh42,500. An HR director of a major firm can earn twice that. Getty Images

SALES AND MERCHANDISING: As the economy slowly picks up, the retail sector will be looking to fill key roles again soon. Gulf Talent lists sales staff salaries from Dh1,500 to Dh3,500. A sales merchandiser can take home twice that each month. Paulo Vecina / The National

HOTELS: A duty manager at a hotel can earn anywhere from Dh6,000 to Dh26,000 per month. Front of house staff, including concierge, can take take home between Dh1,500 to Dh9,000. Staff accommodation is typically provided. Sarah Dea / The National

LEGAL: Lawyers and legal advisors can earn between Dh7,500 to Dh37,500. That rises to more than Dh53,000 for legal counsel positions, though the average sits at about Dh20,500. Jeff Topping / The National

OFFICE ADMINISTRATION: Jobseekers for secretarial and receptionist roles can expect salaries ranging from Dh2,500 to Dh8,000. Personal assistants and office managers fare better, from Dh4,500 up to Dh22,500 for higher-end firms. Getty Images

Whether you are starting a new job or looking for a promotion in your current role, negotiating your salary could establish your financial earnings for years to come.

Haggling a pay raise can be intimidating, but it is one of the most important and difficult conversations to have early on in your career.

One of the biggest reasons people fail to do it is concern over insulting a potential employer or simply not knowing the right way to go about it.

The affect of the Covid-19 on the jobs market has also made the process even more daunting for employees or jobseekers.

Louise Vine, managing director of Inspire Selection, a recruitment agency in Dubai, said having the chat before signing an employment contract is crucial.

“It is hard to get an increase once a contract is signed so a candidate should shoot for as much as possible during the hiring process,” she said.

“Negotiating a salary in this current market is harder than ever before.

“Companies are trying to save money; people already in a role have faced dramatic pay cuts.

“Now, the dilemma for employers is whether to pay new recruits pre-Covid rates or lower than average salaries.”

In the UAE, there is no provision for a minimum wage in the Federal Labour Law. As such, your basic salary is a negotiated rate between you and your prospective employer. The amount agreed to is important because it is the basis of your end-of-service gratuity pay.

For fresh graduates, Ms Vine said it was important to focus more on the role rather than the salary, as experience would determine future bargaining power.

Here, The National has put together a list of dos and don'ts when trying to negotiate a better salary.

Go in prepared

If you are looking to secure a promotion, go into your review meeting prepared. Write down all the reasons why you deserve an increase. Highlight big projects that you have completed over the past 12 months.

Show your employer tangible evidence of how you have contributed above and beyond your current job role. If you have helped train or develop subordinates, mention this. And if you have been able to make cuts to expenditure, this could sway the decision towards a salary increase.

Remain professional

While your emotions may get the better of you prior to negotiating a salary, remain level-headed when speaking to your employer. They want to know why you deserve a pay rise or better starting offer based on your performance and achievements. Don’t focus on your personal needs, like the fact that your rent has gone up or childcare expenses have increased. You will make a much better case when focusing on your professional needs.

Ms Vine said, while the pandemic has affected negotiating practice and put the power in the clients' hands, the market is rebounding.

"Salary negotiations are always recommended as it could set the tone for whether you stay in a job long or short-term," she said.

Research industry salaries

Before entering a salary negotiation, Eoin Barry, senior recruitment consultant at Hays Middle East, said you should arm yourself with the right data to back up the kind of money you are asking for.

Proving that it is within the industry range shows the employer that you are serious about the position and have good industry insight.

“On the salary side of things, the biggest battle now is being realistic,” said Mr Barry.

“Do some market research and determine a reasonable salary target because offers are fluctuating due to the pandemic.”

He recommended researching how the company is performing in the current climate too.

Set a target salary

If the final salary offer is below expectation and an employer is hesitant to bargain, agree on a target increase after three or six months. Set out a list of objectives to accomplish in your probationary period and get the employer to agree to a pay revision if they are met. Most employers may suggest this be done on a gentlemen’s agreement but it is recommended to have it processed as a written agreement into the contract.

Play your cards close to your chest

When interviewing for a new job, try to keep discussions about salary off the table for as long as possible. Mr Barry said you should always refrain from mentioning money in your first interview.

“The key thing is to get the company interested in you first,” he said.

“Remember, you are probably one of many candidates interviewing for the position so you want to stand out for all the right reasons, like job suitability, experience and enthusiasm.

“The challenge is that some companies may get you to agree on a salary in the early stages of interviewing but explain that you need time to think about the potential offer.”

Once you know the company is 100 per cent interested in taking you on, you, as the candidate, have more power to negotiate a wage that suits you.

Stay positive and don’t be pushy

If you’re already in a job and are on good terms with your boss, negotiations can still be intimidating. If you are gunning for a promotion it proves you want to stay in the company for longer, which is a positive sign. Because of that, keep the conversation with your employer on a positive note.

Explain what you like about the company, how you have progressed in your current role and why you want to commit to staying there. If you start demanding things and threatening to leave, things could take a wrong turn.

Walk in with confidence

This may sound like simple advice but it is often one of the hardest to perfect. The way you enter a room can dictate how the rest of the interaction goes. If you go in prepared to state your case then you need to follow that through with simple body language. Give good eye contact, don’t stutter and show them you are confident in your role.