Author: Tee Johnson

So you’ve landed a pretty good job, but for you to stay, you need to make more money. It’s time to have that talk with your boss.

In this article, we’ll discuss some tailored salary negotiation tips to help you approach your boss to ask for a raise.

These tips are informed by my experience as a supervisor for a major media company and my up-to-date understanding of negotiation practices:

Salary Negotiation Tips

Research Market Rates Thoroughly

Why it matters: In big cities like Atlanta, salaries can range from $22.97/hour to $163,000/year, but these are starting points.

Knowing the market rate for your role and location ensures you don’t undervalue yourself. For example, Glassdoor reports a median Customer Success Manager salary of $84,506/year, with a total pay range of $105K-$187K, depending on experience and company.

How to do it: Use sites like Glassdoor, Payscale, or LinkedIn Salary to benchmark roles. Check the web results—e.g., companies like Buffer or GitLab publish transparent remote salary guides. If it’s a remote job, consider the employer’s headquarters location or employee distribution if available, as this can influence pay scales.

Tip: Cross-reference with the job titles and ranges for a particular job you’re interested in (e.g., Operations Coordinator: $54,500-$95,700) to set a realistic target.

Establish Your Value Before Negotiating

Why it matters: Employers pay for what you bring to the table. Doing what you can to prove your value can justify a higher offer—e.g., for a Customer Success Manager role ($109K-$163K), highlight past success in driving customer retention or revenue.

How to do it: Prepare specific examples of achievements (e.g., “Increased customer satisfaction by 20% in my last role”). Tailor this to your job description or the one you’re applying for.

Tip: Avoid mentioning personal financial needs (e.g., mortgage, debt) as negotiation leverage, as these typically come off as unconvincing to recruiters.

Don’t Accept the First Offer

Why it matters: 54% of candidates don’t negotiate, potentially leaving money on the table. For instance, a $70K-$75K Technical Operations Associate offer could be nudged higher with the right approach.

How to do it: Express gratitude, then counter with a range based on your research (e.g., “I’m excited about the role. Based on my experience and market data, I was hoping for a range of $75K-$80K. Could we explore that?”). The key is to avoid early internal concessions.

Tip: If the salary is fixed, negotiate for other benefits (e.g., remote work flexibility, bonuses).

Use the Salary Range as a Starting Point

Why it matters: Many job postings, for instance, a 100K-$120K Support Experience Coordinator role, provide ranges. Targeting the higher end of a band is appropriate as you can grow into the role within a year.

How to do it: Aim for the upper half of the range if you exceed the job’s requirements. If the lower end is offered, ask what it would take to reach the higher end (e.g., performance metrics).

Tip: If no range is given (e.g., Remote Medical Scheduling Specialist), propose one based on similar roles.

Leverage the Full Compensation Package

Why it matters: If salary negotiations stall, other perks can offset the offer. The LinkedIn article suggests considering benefits like health insurance, stock options, or extra vacation days.

How to do it: Ask about the total compensation package early. For example, if the job is for a Care Coordinator Associate ($22.97-$33.05/hour) offer is low, inquire about signing bonuses or remote work stipends.

Tip: Be prepared to compromise—e.g., accept a slightly lower salary for a robust benefits package.

Practice Your Pitch

Why it matters: Confidence comes with preparation. It’s a known fact that practicing reduces anxiety during real negotiations.

How to do it: Role-play with a friend or record yourself. Focus on articulating your value and handling pushback (e.g., “We can’t go higher than $75K”).

Tip: Time your negotiation after receiving the offer but before accepting, as recommended by LinkedIn.

Be Ready to Walk Away

Why it matters: If the offer doesn’t meet your minimum (e.g., below $54,500 for a job like Operations Coordinator), it’s better to decline than settle. The Harvard PON article warns against self-sabotage in negotiations.

How to do it: Set a personal minimum based on your research and life goals. Politely decline if unmet: “I appreciate the offer, but I’ll need to pass as it doesn’t align with my current expectations.”

Tip: Leave the door open for future opportunities by staying professional.

Final Word

Demand for remote roles remains high thisyear, potentially giving you leverage. However, companies may adjust salaries based on cost-of-living differences across remote worker locations.

As always, inflation and labor market conditions could influence salary offers. Stay updated about the job market and adjust your expectations.

If you’re looking to get hired in Atlanta right now, there’s a very real possibility that you can land your dream job.

Read more:  Best Work From Home Jobs In Atlanta, Georgia

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Finding a job is pretty much a transaction between a job seeker offering his or her services and a company looking to fill a need — but both parties have to find out about each other.

Of all the skills you have, knowing how to seek employment is the most valuable one. The good news is that the Atlanta job market is a solid one — for now.

Because there may be national searches for positions in Atlanta, as you might imagine, the competition can be quite stiff. But don’t worry, you can win the job with the right attitude and credentials.

Because Atlanta has many Fortune 500 companies, jobs in the city have a higher profile than many other cities in the Southeast.

How Hard Is It To Get A Job In Atlanta?

Today’s job market in Atlanta is very competitive, yet employers can’t seem to find enough workers. Job boards are abuzz with new positions from some of the top companies in Georgia’s largest city.

While it’s easier to get an entry-level job or one at a restaurant, many corporate roles are available in Atlanta as well.

How To Get Hired In Atlanta

Even though the economy may be trending downward, Atlanta is a large metropolitan city, which means it has a lot of jobs. The key is to find ones that you’re interested in and can actually get.

To find a job, you need to use every resource available to you. You should network as well as use LinkedIn to make connections.

Here are some Atlanta job resources to help you in your search for employment.

Atlanta Job Resources

• Atlanta-Fulton Public Library Job Resource Guide
• City of Atlanta Employment And Career Services
• Atlanta Regional Commission Job Resource Center
• Atlanta Job Seekers With Disabilities

If you’re looking for a job in Atlanta, many people want to work for the top companies in Atlanta.  According to a recent survey, adults, especially millennials, want to work for:

Best Companies To Work For In Atlanta

Here are some of the best companies in Atlanta along with their job portals so you can apply directly.

(Hover over each company to be taken to their careers page).

• Aflac Inc.
• Coca-Cola
• Delta Air Lines
• Georgia-Pacific
• Mercedes Benz USA
• The Home Depot
• United Parcel Service
• WellStar Health System

Atlanta has some awesome companies to work for. Here’s how to get a job at Home Depot.

Are you a fan of the friendly skies? Read this before applying at Delta.

Waffle House offers flexible schedules, including full-time and part-time options, as well as day, night, weekend, and weekday shifts. This is ideal for students, parents, or those with other commitments.

If you want to get a job at Waffle House, the eatery has many positions that may be a fit for you.

Is It Easy To Get A Job At Waffle House?

You may think it’s easy to get a job at Waffle House, but the truth is that it’s just like any other place of employment There has to be a need.

A quick look at Waffle House job postings around the Atlanta area shows that there is a nearly constant need for good help.

How To Apply At Waffle House

To apply at Waffle House, go to their Careers Page and you’ll see two categories of jobs:

• Apply Management
• Apply Hourly

Management Positions

For management jobs, you can make up to $35 an hour in some locations. These jobs typically cover management of the store and supervisory positions. The titles are Manager Trainee, Unit Manager, District Manager and Division Manager.

Here are some features of Waffle House management jobs:

• 3-Month Training Program
• Stock Ownership
  • Annual Stock Options Granted – based on % of your compensation
  • Career Stock Options Granted – at hire and with each promotion
• Health Insurance: Medical, Dental, Vision, And Life Insurance for you and your family
• Vacation – three 10-day vacations each year
• Paid Maternity Leave – 6 Weeks (8 Weeks for C-Section)

Once you click on the Apply Management button, you’ll need to give out some personal information such as your first and last name, Social Security number and the state you want to work in.

Hourly Positions

For hourly positions, you don’t have to enter your Social Security number.  All you have to do is put in the city and state where you want to work.

There’s no need to apply for multiple Waffle House locations; once your application is submitted, it will be shared with neighboring locations.

It’s not easy to get a job at Waffle House, although if the particular location you’re applying at needs the help, if you can fit the schedule, it’s likely that you’ll be hired.

How Much Do You Make In Tips At Waffle House?

Since a server will see so many customers, it’s easy to make anywhere from $5 to $15 off each table.  So they will make that on top of their hourly wage.

In Georgia, minimum wage is $5.15 an hour, so if they work a 10-hour shift, a server will make an excess of $50 plus another $50 in tips if they only get $5 per table. That’s more than $100 in one day.

Obviously, if they get more than that per table, they could pull in more than $100 a day.

Final Word

A lot of people jokingly want to know if for Waffle House interviews, they ask you whether you can fight or not. While it’s true that many a fracas has been had late at night in Waffle House, it’s not a requirement nor is it recommended to fight on the job.

If you want to work at Waffle House, the key is to always be professional. And it doesn’t hurt if you know your way around a kitchen.

More From AtlantaFi.com:

• How To Get A Job In Atlanta: 6 Steps That Work
• 8 Crazy Waffle House Facts You Should Know
• These Waffle House Reviews Are Why I’m Hungry