The secret to getting paid what you deserve

Salary negotiation. It sends shudders down the spine of every jobseeker. Rare is the person who looks forward to wrangling over pay. Much more common: avoiding the topic altogether and simply accepting what's offered.

For instance, only 38% of recent US college graduates negotiated their job offers, a 2015 survey by personal finance website NerdWallet showed. This is a mistake, since seven in 10 employers say they leave room for negotiating when extending initial offers to candidates, according to CareerBuilder UK. And, one in 10 said they think less of a candidate who doesn't try to negotiate, CareerBuilder said.

So, how can you make the process easier, less painful, and more productive - particularly if you're not a great negotiator? What's the best way to make sure you are paid fairly at a new employer at just the instant you're trying to make a good first impression?

Read the full article here.