Salary FYI

BATNA (Best Alternative to a Negotiated Agreement)

Employment

The most favorable outcome a negotiator can achieve if the current negotiation fails, representing the walk-away point and primary source of negotiating power.

## BATNA (Best Alternative to a Negotiated Agreement)

BATNA is a concept from negotiation theory (developed at Harvard) that represents your best option if the current negotiation falls through. It is the single most important factor in negotiating power.

### In Salary Negotiation

Your BATNA might be:
- A competing job offer with specific terms.
- Your current job (if you're employed).
- Freelancing or contracting.
- Going back to school.

### Strengthening Your BATNA

- Apply to multiple companies simultaneously.
- Maintain your current job while interviewing.
- Develop in-demand skills that create options.
- Build an emergency fund that reduces urgency.

### Using BATNA

You should never accept an offer worse than your BATNA. Conversely, any offer better than your BATNA creates value. The party with the better BATNA has more negotiating power because they can credibly walk away.