The salary tango

Don't Mix Business With Pleasure

The company is a business and the interviewer's job to get you as cheaply as possible. 'Women forget this. It’s not about being as nice as possible. Don't apologise, don't backpedal,' says Cohen. 'Firm is not bitchy or rude - it is confident, strategic, and competent. ' Exude confidence and assert yourself in a solid but kind manner, says Cohen. After all, you have enough friends; you're looking for an employer.

Go the Extra Mile

Pounds and pence are just the beginning when it comes to negotiating your package, says Ho. If the basic salary isn't enough but they aren't budging, have a list of other requested perks: an extra week of paid holiday, flexitime or a four-day week, stock options, bonuses or an early pay review. Some bonuses can be a healthy percentage of your salary and an extra week’s holiday is worth a lot too.

In the end, good old-fashioned homework, honesty, and a healthy dose of confidence is the best way to make sure that you get the job you want on agreeable terms. The bottom line, as Ho sees it, is that you are either going to walk out of that room happy or unhappy. Be a smart negotiator, make yourself happy and possibly a little bit richer.