Rome Business School continues its commitment to supporting the professional growth of its community with a new session of the Alumni Career Toolkit, focused on one of the most delicate — and often intimidating — moments in a career: salary negotiation.
The guest speaker, Carla Ferrero, Business Consultant at Ni-Cons, shared practical and immediately applicable strategies to approach the compensation discussion with clarity, confidence, and professionalism.
The question, “What are your salary expectations?” is one of the most challenging in any recruitment process. It often comes before candidates fully understand the role, its responsibilities, or the company’s available budget.
According to Carla Ferrero, the key is not to provide a number right away, but to manage the conversation strategically.
One of the most valuable insights from the Career Toolkit session was this:
Allowing the recruiter to share the budget range first can significantly influence the outcome of the salary negotiation.
Stating a number too early — without knowing the company’s budget — involves two major risks:
Undervaluing yourself by proposing a figure lower than what the company is prepared to offer.
Pricing yourself out of the process by suggesting a number that exceeds the available budget.
Instead of immediately giving a salary figure, candidates can:
Express genuine interest in the role and its responsibilities.
Ask whether the company can share the budget range for the position.
Emphasize openness and flexibility, highlighting that the evaluation depends on the overall value of the opportunity.
This approach demonstrates professional maturity, negotiation skills, and awareness of one’s market value.
Another crucial element is tone. Negotiating does not mean confronting — it means engaging in a clear and constructive dialogue.
During the offer stage, it is essential to:
Communicate your skills and achievements clearly and concretely.
Support your request with measurable results.
Maintain a professional and collaborative attitude.
Confidence comes from preparation: understanding market benchmarks, knowing your positioning, and being fully aware of the value you bring to an organization.
Effective salary negotiation is not just about asking for more money. It is about your ability to:
Highlight distinctive skills.
Connect your experience to the company’s strategic goals.
Demonstrate impact and growth potential.
As emphasized by Carla Ferrero, when your value is clear and well-articulated, the salary conversation becomes a natural next step rather than a confrontation.
With this new session, Rome Business School once again reinforces its dedication to continuous professional development, equipping students and alumni with practical tools to successfully navigate the job market.
A special thank you to Carla Ferrero for sharing valuable insights and actionable strategies to negotiate smarter and grow with greater professional awareness.
