Latinos in College

After (or even before!) the acceptance letter…

AnasofiaV — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 05:10:31 +0000

For high school seniors this time of year may be floating in mid-air. I remember my own experience as a second semester senior– I had already gotten accepted into colleges, I was still busy taking classes, and most of all, I was waiting for my financial aid package to arrive in the mail. I had struggled with the application, as I filled it out all on my own. I filled out the FAFSA form, as well as other financial aid documents. As a senior, they were time-consuming, confusing and frustrating to fill out, but I knew I really wanted to go to MIT. With its tuition nearing $40K, though, it was still up in the air– it was a decision that I could only really make until the big, white envelope came in the mail and I was able to sit down and have a talk with my parents about whether or not I could afford to go.

Until it came, though, I went through my other options, and in retrospect, I could have had more options, and possibly better options had I taken the time to consider other scholarships and schools. Luckily for me, the financial aid package that came in the mail bore good news for my family and I. I would be able to go to my top choice of college. However, that didn’t necessarily need to be the case. Now as I look back, I think about what I would have done if I hadn’t been able to afford college? These are things I should have given more thought, and there are a wealth of resources you could use if you find yourself in this situation. Your educational and career goals should not have to suffer as a consequence of not being able to afford college.

The trouble is that as a college applicant, the main concern is getting into schools, not being able to afford them. Sometimes this results in a bittersweet decision– although you’re accepted you might have to go to another school based solely on financial considerations. To prevent this, I’ll say what I have said before about other topics related to college education: start early! Start looking for scholarships, grants, loans, programs, do research– find out what requirements they have. It’s up to you to make it happen.

You don’t have to start from scratch, though. There is a wide world of resources on the web that you could use to learn about how you could finance your education, and to learn about all of the possible options you have. One of these, for example, is Frugal Dad. Simply do a google search depending on your situation, talk to counselors and your parents. The earlier you start, the better. And if you’ve missed the deadlines and think that you’re too late to realize your educational goals, look for other options– you’ll have to start eventually. If you’re not proactive about your education and about how you’ll finance and plan where you want to be in the future, no one else will!

Thoughts on Being a Commuter – By Maira Mercado

SchWinner — Tue, 11 Dec 2012 17:29:30 +0000

I had a great experience at Claremont McKenna College as a commuter, and although I did not particularly live close to my school, I still found ways to stay involved. It was quite difficult being a commuter at my college because it has a small, tight-knit community, but I still tried to meet as many people as I could through my classes and extracurricular activities. I tried to schedule my courses so that I could commute about three days each week, since it took about an hour to drive there, but I did not let it limit me from attending events on other days, such as a speaker’s event or Indian classical music concert.I also tried my best to spend time with my friends on campus, whether it was over a meal or through an on-campus theatrical production. I chose to live at home because I am very close to my family and because I like to have my own personal space where I could distract my mind from academic stresses on campus. When I joined a volunteer organization and co-founded a student business organization, they really helped me meet more students and join them on volunteer activities or business leadership conferences. I also got to meet another commuter from my school, which was nice, since I did not feel like I was the only one who did not live on campus. I also got to work as a research assistant for my economics professor and later on as an assistant for a leadership institute. This helped me connect more with my school’s professors and staff as well as spend more time on campus.

Although I lived at home throughout my four years at college, I studied abroad for a semester in Nottingham, England, where I got to live in a dormitory and learn how to live more independently. I loved my study abroad experience, and I got to meet great people, many of whom were also international or study abroad students. And even if I did feel close to my study abroad school because I lived on-campus, I still appreciated living at home and decided to commute during my senior year when I returned because my family provides a great support system for me. If you are a commuter, I definitely recommend trying to stay involved on campus because it will complete your college experience and will help you make great connections and memories. Don’t just focus on your classes, although you should definitely try to get good grades, but also try to meet professors and students and takeadvantage of many opportunities that will help you feel part of your school community, grow, discover your passions, and have fun. Living on campus is a great option, but commuting can still provide you with an enriched college experience if you put in the effort.

Three tips to survive your first year in college – By Luis Durán

SchWinner — Mon, 22 Oct 2012 12:42:10 +0000

I can’t believe my freshman year at Arizona State University was 4 years ago. Where did the time go? I think I blinked a few times and that was it. Here I am, a senior, in the architecture studio class. Either way, I’ve gone through and learned so much that if I had to do it again, I wouldn’t change a thing. Well…maybe a few things. Especially my freshman year, man was that a learning experience for me. If I had a quarter for every time I ended up in the wrong classroom, I’d have a good chunk of change. Or trying to get to class on time when the university has “oh so” conveniently placed my two classes on the opposite sides of campus. Pretty soon I got the hint I needed a bike. But don’t let me scare you, this is something I and many other students have gone through their first year. Transitioning from the high school setting to the university setting is tough.

Fortunately, I managed to pick up some very helpful skills and techniques that helped me survive my first year in college. These, simple and very obvious techniques can make those nervous, scared and uncertain feelings you have about going to college much easier to cope with, and ultimately can make your first year and the rest of your college career an unforgettable one. Trust me, although the first year is difficult, wait until you get to your last year, you’ll see how hard it will be to leave school!

Know where your classes are

Sounds like something you could just do the first day of school right? You might show up a bit late but, come on it’s the first day right? Wrong. Professors tend to value every minute of class time, and tend to start sharp on time. Visit your campus a week before, and walk to your classes. Know what day you have each class. You don’t want to end up in the wrong one (this was me). Like I said, sounds like something obvious but when it’s your first week in school, you’re on a huge campus and all the buildings look the same, you’ll be glad you went a week before.

Talk to anyone…don’t be shy

This is the awkward part. Making friends, talking to somebody new. Very seldom will professors have you introduce yourself to the class. Especially if your freshman schedule was like mine that consisted of lectures of 350-students. I found that the people directly next to you will ultimately be your friends in that class, maybe even outside of class. They could be of a benefit to you when taking notes and potential study buddies. And they might just be that one person who tends to carry gum on them all the time. All it takes is a polite hello, some small talk of what they’re majoring in and where they are from. This will lead to a long conversation, and maybe even a long friendship like I still have with my great friend Courtney, who I met the first day of college in my mathematics course.

To this day we still have fruit smoothies outside of that very classroom. So take a leap of faith. Do this in every class you have and soon you’ll have several new friends.

Get a planner….seriously this time

Throughout my high school years, I had so many planners. The really cool ones with tabs marking each month. Great graphics on the cover, cool little loops for my pens and pencils yet, I never seemed to really get into the habit of using them. College is all about time management. No one will be hounding you down when you have to turn in the Chapter 4, questions 1-6 assignment. That’s all up to you now. How you manage your time to read, do assignments, eat and sleep is your responsibility now. Something that makes this much easier is a planner. Take an hour or two to write down that months “to do’s” and highlight important events such as; exams, exam reviews, mandatory papers and projects, etc. This gives you an organized timeline of deadlines you need to be aware of. Make this planner one of your most important assets. Treat it as seriously as you would any other thing, because all your homework time, study time, project time, social time, workout time and play time depend on how well you organize your life.

These are just three things I did to make my life easier and make my college experiences much more enjoyable. . Just remember that in college, besides academics, you will learn about life, about others around you, but most importantly about yourself. Let this wonderful endeavor be a memorable one and enjoy every minute of it.

Beyond an Internship

SchWinner — Thu, 04 Oct 2012 14:04:28 +0000

“Where are you from?” “Why is your Spanish different from mine?” “Will you
be my girlfriend?” “How old are you?” Those are a few of the many innocent and
funny questions that young patients at Casa Cuna public hospital in Argentina asked
me. I did a dental internship for a month in Cordoba, Argentina. My mornings at the
hospital consisted of kids kicking and screaming that they did not want to be there. I
was able to calm them down by sharing stories and pictures. This allowed the
dentists and myself to work efficiently and take care of the patients. “Hold my hand,
it’s going to be ok.” Those are the words that I used over and over to comfort the
young patients. At the end of my shift I ended up with a crippled hand, from the kids
squeezing my hand during painful dental procedures. But I did not mind my
crippled hand, because it helped them get through the pain. Gum infections,
deteriorating teeth and a mouth full of cavities were a few of the complications that I
witnessed on children as a young as three. For these reasons, I found it critical to
teach the children how to properly take care of their teeth. “Brush your teeth at least
two times a day, drink less soda, floss everyday…” These tips may seem simple but
they are essential in preventing root canals from being done on four year olds, for
example.
After this eventful morning, my exciting day continued in a private dental
clinic in another part of town. Here I assisted with dental procedures and performed
extractions. Everyday was different and interesting. “Stephanie, I would like you to
meet a famous actress in Cordoba. Today you will be helping me with her surgery.”
“Would you like to keep the first tooth that you extracted?” These are the type of
things that the dentist I shadowed in the private clinic would say to me and it made
my time there even more memorable. My work day ended around 7:00 or 8:00 pm. I
had a lot of fun, but it was tiresome at times. The good thing is that I had the rest of
the night to enjoy with my host family.
“Would you like some mate?” (Mate is a traditional Argentine beverage made
of dried leaves and hot water. It is served with a metal straw in a hollow container).
I believe that was the question that I was most asked while in Argentina and my
answer was always “Yes!”. My favorite people to drink mate with were my host
family. Sitting down at the dinner table, we shared more than mate, we shared our
lives with each other and I enjoyed every minute of it. As the mate was prepared and
passed around to each member of the family, we talked, we laughed and even cried
together. It was a breath of fresh air to be pulled away from my hectic life in New
York and actually be able to sit down as a family. It is amazing to think that I have a
home away from home, over 5,000 miles away.

Stephanie Gomez

How to stretch your already finite $$$

Melissa Hernandez — Mon, 06 Aug 2012 22:27:55 +0000

As a first generation college student that relies on scholarships, pell grants, work-study, and both subsidized and unsubsidized loans to pay for my education, I understand full well how important it is to stretch those dollars and getting by on a small budget. Often times when I talk to friends and when I look at myself, I find that when we’ve exhausted all of our funds, we have the hardest time trying to make do with a very limited amount of food. At the same time my friends and I seem to agree that we spend too much money on food. Okay so that seems like a contradiction right? What I mean by this is that we spend our money on ordering pizza here, and having late night runs to the store on campus known as the C-store where we binge on our hot pockets, pints of Ben and Jerry’s ice cream, chips, etc. Of course all these items add up at the end of the month when we have a low supply of food.

What I really wanna stress is the importance of buying groceries that will not only sustain you but that you can also buy in bulk. Another point I want to make is how you eat. As college students with very finite resources, it’s important to have an eating routine. It’s very easy when we’re up late studying for finals and writing papers to binge eat during those hours. I’ve gotten in the habit of eating three meals a day and I’ve been able to make my food last longer. I’ll have a bowl of Special K cereal in the morning, a sandwich with peanut butter crackers for lunch, and I’ll generally make a major protein for dinner. Again, I wanna emphasize making stuff in bulk. I like to make tortilla soup with shredded chicken, tortillas de maiz, tomatoes, onions, and cilantro. If not that, then I like to make chili with red kidney beans and ground beef which can be made in bulk and then frozen for later.

I’m pretty consistent when it comes to grocery shopping. Each time I go grocery shopping I stock up on a large bag of pinto beans or lentils, a large roll of ground beef, oatmeal, eggs, and all the necessary staple foods. For vegetables, I like to walk down the produce section and buy vegetables that are in season because they’re much cheaper. Here in Minnesota I was lucky to find six ears of corn on sale for $2. If the city or town where you are going to school happens to have a food shelf, by all means take full advantage of it. Often times you’ll find dry food items like peanut butter, canned goods, rice etc.

There’s a place in my college town of Morris called the Meadowland Market where they sell primarily non-perishable food items that are either a month past the expiration date, or their packages have been slightly bent or damaged. Now I know some of you might be thinking that sounds a bit sketchy. But had I known about this place my freshmen year I would have utilized it a lot more and saved a whole bunch on groceries. As with many stores like this, you definitely wanna be careful with what you buy, but certain items like cereals, oatmeal, juices, and pastas are safe to buy. Because I attend school in a small town with only one supermarket grocery store, food can get expensive. Normally when I buy cereal I spend about $4 a box, sometimes $5. However at the Meadowland Market which is otherwise known as the bent and dent, I was able to buy three boxes of cereal for about $1.75 each; that’s almost three for the price of one. Again, if you happen to have any of these stores in your city or town, I highly recommend utilizing them so that you can spend your money elsewhere.

Finally, I’ve made a habit to utilize this awesome coupon website whenever I do online shopping. Of course I do the majority of my shopping online because I don’t have a car and there’s really no place to shop in this small town. But it’s become second nature to me and this website has become my best friend. Retailmenot.com has become my best friend in many ways. No membership is required. Simply go to the site and type in the store that you would like to find coupons for. They have coupon codes for many of the big stores like Kohls, JcPenney, Sears, Best Buy, Walmart, Amazon, and even pizza places. Now there are cases where they might not all work but it’s worth a try. Simply copy and paste the codes onto the checkout page and you’re good to go.

Making it all Count: How will you leave your mark on campus?

Melissa Hernandez — Fri, 03 Aug 2012 15:59:30 +0000

Hello everyone! This is going to be my first blog as it is still summertime and I have plenty of free time on my hands. This is going to my my last year as an undergrad in college so I am hopeful that you will find my entries useful as you transition into college.

One of the things many students and staff talk about is leaving your mark on the school, or your paw print. I believe that as many of us are first generation Latino students, we should all strive to make an impact on this school, one that set us apart from the rest of the general school population.

One of the ways you can really give back to the school is by becoming an ambassador for your campus. What I mean by this is that you can become a tour guide for prospective students. This is especially beneficial to prospective Latino students because they will then be able to hear your personal testimony of how you have been able to overcome social, academic, financial and emotional hardships. And let us not overlook the importance of having Latino role models for incoming Latino students, because many of us are well aware that Latinos are under represented in colleges and universities. Therefore I encourage each of you to be an advocate for your gente.

Other ways you can leave your mark include becoming a community or room adviser. For those of you upper class men, becoming an RA or CA will allow you to be a social outlet for first year college students. In many cases they will be turning to you for advice about the different social, academic and financial resources on campus. Therefore this is your chance to be their outlet and their support system as they transition into college.

Finally, I encourage all of you to take the chance to explore different clubs and organizations on campus. Academics are an important aspect of college, but it is also a place for you to broaden your horizons, and immerse yourself with people of different faiths, ethnicities and backgrounds than yourself. Not to mention the free food and snacks that are often provided at many of these student org meetings and functions. But all joking aside, you will also have the opportunity to take up a leadership position such as secretary, treasurer, president etc, and thereby developing your leadership skills and leaving your mark on campus.

She’s Back!

Elaine del Valle — Thu, 02 Aug 2012 18:29:40 +0000

SHE’S BACK! by Elaine Del Valle

December 2011—
The Girl: “I know. I want to live in Arizona… for the rest of my life! I love the weather. I love the pace of things. I just love it! I am an adult, and I know. I want to go to school there… and I want to stay there.”

The Mom: “You are a New Yorker through and through…We might be able to jump in anywhere… but not many places can keep us jumping for joy like the thrilling ride that is our New York City.”

But still, and against my better judgment
(that made me ache to call Rent-A-Center),
that new furniture I had just purchased
—y’know the kind that makes a little girls room into a young adults room—
was all packed up, shoved into the container of a long haul truck and shipped along with all of her clothes, car and most cherished belongings, half way across the country and off to a nice two bedroom condo rental near Arizona State University’s Tempe campus.

While she was away– I painted her room… I thought that it might give me some closure…Okay, I ended up needing to paint 9 rooms before I felt some form of closure upon me. We are talking paint brushes, ladders, and tape!… While listening to the Pandora stations of Adele and Elton John!…which by the way, have lots of songs that make you NEED to cry …On A LOOP!

As the paint smell left my walls, I got used to–
the quiet.
Sleeping through the night without the house alarm going off as she came home every night… and every morning from the echo of her dropping her shaving cream in the shower.

“Sorry, Mom.”
And I knew she was
and so I never minded.

And,
I managed
To
Get
Used To It…
and I even
got to
myself
in ways that I had forgotten.

Summer 2012–
A semester has gone by. Facetime is giving me some face time with my girl. Actually more than I had with her when she was at home. Whole conversations are had, and I get to hear all about how she had to drop calculus but passed all of her other classes with A’s and B’s. Job is in tact. Wasn’t so in love with that condo area she chose to live in anymore though. Oh and broke up with her boyfriend. Not to mention the part where she is tired of the desert’s slow motion and the KICKER…

The Girl: “Mommy, I think…I need…I know…I want…TO COME HOME!”

The Mom: “I hate to say I told you so…OK, I love to say I told you so! After all, the more I am right, the more you listen to my future advice…But YES…
PLEASE & THANK YOU, COME HOME!”

The Girl: “Oh and Mom, Y’know that dog that you told me not to get…the one that everyone in the house would be allergic to…”

Oh no she dit- int!
Yeah, she did!

The Mom: “We will make arrangements. Uncle Danny will agree to take the dog.”

The Girl: “I can’t live without the dog! I won’t live without the dog! She brings me happiness.”

The Mom: “Then you will do all of those things that you did in Arizona…for yourself…here…You will get an apartment, a job and enroll in school.”

Only this time– I get to see her beautiful face(any)time…

And be able to hold my daughter in my arms!

“WELCOME HOME! YOU WILL ALWAYS BE WELCOMED HOME!”

Yesterday–
The Mom: “Y’know, the first of the month is coming and…”
The Girl:—REVISION— The Young Adult: “I know, I already paid my rent.”
The Mom: “You did?”
The Young Adult: “Yes, I had the money, so I just wanted to pay it. I’m trying to be a responsible adult, and I got my dog spayed too.”
The Mom: “You did.”
The Young Adult/The Girl (again): “Uh, Yeah! I just gave all of my money to the vet so… can I borrow $200?”
The (PROUD AND HAPPY) Mom: “No, you can’t…You can have it.”
The Girl: “Okay, I’ll be HOME after work, to drop off my laundry to you.”

And this my friends, is a very happy ending.

So far, anyway. Until next time…XOXOXO

My top ten reasons to go to grad school

AnnaGK — Fri, 22 Jun 2012 15:29:19 +0000

Editor’s Note: This post was originally published in Just Do You by blogger, Georgianna Meléndez, who recently graduated from UMass Boston with a Master’s of Science in Public Affairs from the McCormack Graduate School of Policy and Global Studies. Congratulations, Georgianna!

One night while I was in the office late, staying there to do homework uninterrupted by life, my boss popped in. I was ripping my hair out…wishing that statistics could disappear and that by some miracle I could just skip the class. He asked me why I was pushing through with so much going on in my life (and believe me, there was a lot).

In the moment, I couldn’t answer his question, I only knew that I HAD to do this.

A week later, I was sitting at a coffee shop, studying for my statistics mid-term and I questioned the wisdom of my path. So I put pen to paper and this is what I came up with (in no particular order):

1. It’s free (as an employee of the university, this is a benefit)
2. Credibility
3. Because I can and my parents could not
4. To make my parents proud
5. Because I am a statistic (Latina/female)
6. Because I wouldn’t get past HR for most of the positions that are posted on campus even though I would otherwise be qualified
7. “It’s too hard” is not a good enough excuse when I put it next to how hard my family members have had to work(especially my Dad)

8. I have been lucky so far in my career path, but there are no guarantees
9. Because the market is competitive
10. It is an escape and an opportunity to grow.

I am now a proud graduate of the McCormack Graduate School of Policy and Global Studies at UMass Boston.

Founder of Just Do You, Georgianna Meléndez, is also the Executive Director of Commonwealth Compact, a diversity initiative in Massachusetts. She has recently been featured in a leadership anthology, “Voices of the Future” written by alumni of the Emerging Leadership Program at UMass Boston. She has a Master’s of Science in Public Affairs from the McCormack Graduate School of Policy and Global Studies at UMass Boston. She resides in the North Shore of MA with her husband and two children. She scribbles weekly with creative writing group called Scribblers Ink.

Reflections from recent graduate Jessica A. Giraldo

AnnaGK — Wed, 06 Jun 2012 15:14:42 +0000

Graduating didn’t feel real until I was on stage. My first thought was, “will they pronounce my last name right?” (They did). I shook my campus president’s hand, posed for the photo and then, just like that, I was a graduate and alum of Miami Dade College.

Getting to graduation wasn’t easy. I’m a first generation Colombian-American and also the first in my family to obtain a college education. Here is my story:

I was a college dropout. I attended an out-of-state public university right after high school. I ended up on academic probation with a 1.2 gpa and $10,000 in debt. I was immature and alone, with no family, friends or mentors to help me navigate a system that was foreign to me.

I worked full-time while I attended community college. Several years later, I noticed a co-worker managing both school and work. I thought, “if he can do it, so can I.” This time, I had to get it right. After all, I had a younger brother who would be looking to me for guidance in a few short years. I didn’t qualify for financial aid, however, and paid tuition and books out of my own pocket. It also took me four years to graduate – with an associate’s degree making me part of the 19.2% of Latinos ages 25-34 who have obtained an associate’s degree or higher.

One semester, I almost became another statistic. Spring term last year, I was taking nine credits instead of the usual six. My job started demanding more hours and I fell behind on my schoolwork. I was also shuffling other extracurricular activities. I told myself to just get through it, “only one more semester.” But I was running on empty.

Thankfully, my fiancé reminded me to prioritize my life and focus on mental health. I made the tough decision to drop all my classes (after the withdraw period, which meant no refund), put all my non-work related activities on pause and delay graduation for another year. I was devastated, but also relieved.

A friend of mine, Angel Cosme, recently graduated from the University of Massachusetts Boston with a major in Psychology and a minor in Anthropology and Latino Studies. After initially dropping out of college, Angel literally kept dreaming of school. When he became a father several years later, he was determined for his son to know that his dad was a college graduate, something his parents didn’t achieve.

He worked a full-time job and three freelance writing and home-based part time jobs while attending school full time and providing for his 5-year-old at home, in addition to taking on leadership roles, such as the Latinos for Leadership Opportunities Program.

“I felt the strain of being involved in too many things. I look back on my graduation and feel a sense of relief. At the same time, I also learned that I could aspire to and achieve whatever I wanted to. If I could work three part time jobs, a full time job, go to school, and take care of my family, I could do anything,” said Angel.

For students like Angel and me, college required overcoming all obstacles, whether financial, psychological or just learning to manage time between work and school. It’s also about exploring our community and being open to the opportunities that could change our lives.

College success is a commitment to yourself and to your family and friends. It’s believing that you are smart enough, capable enough, and that you are worth it. Because you are!

Guest blogger Jessica A. Giraldo graduated this Spring from Miami Dade College’s paralegal studies program. She is in the process of transferring to a 4-year university to pursue a bachelor’s in communications and ethnic studies. She has passion for social justice and for empowering young people to achieve more than they thought possible. Follow her on Twitter @Jessicag820 or on her blog at jessicaandreagiraldo.com.

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Salary negotiation: a win-win strategy

AnnaGK — Sun, 13 May 2012 05:07:39 +0000

With finals over, it’s now time to focus on other equally important events. No, it’s not the graduation party. I am talking about a having a solid salary negotiation strategy.

All eight people interviewed for this article—four job candidates and four recruiters—agreed that salary negotiation is the most awkward step in the job search process because job applicants and recruiters have opposing interests: the employer wants to find the best talent in the most cost-effective way while the candidate wants to find the best job with the highest possible compensation. “As an employer, I need to focus on those applicants who are within the salary range allowed by our budget,” said a VP at a financial services firm in Boston.

The paragraphs below are a compilation of interviews with job candidates and recruiters in the New England area. They provide an overall approach and food for thought when dealing with a salary negotiation situation.

Focus on interests. The word negotiation implies taking a position against your “opponent” (in this case a prospective employer). This approach does not guarantee a favorable outcome. Instead, consider evaluating all the reasons why you want this job. Furthermore, also create a list of why the potential employer is looking to fill the position. Is this a newly created position due to growth? Are they downsizing and restructuring job functions? Knowing the employer’s reason for the job vacancy, will help you position your negotiation approach.

Develop a BATNA. A Best Alternative to a Non-Agreement—or BATNA—as it is known by negotiating experts, is another way of knowing what your options are if you don’t get the job. Until you write your alternatives down, you will not be able to assess any alternatives clearly and realistically.

Know what you are worth. Learn about salary and compensation trends in your industry and function, through informational interviews, the Internet and sources such as the Occupational Outlook Handbook. This information will give you confidence that what you are asking is a number that represents, “the fair market value for someone with my experience and skill,” as a current candidate described it.

Consider intangibles. Salary negotiation is not limited to a dollar amount. It includes other benefits such as flex-time, time off, and other perks such as training, memberships or early release days. These benefits should be weighed in when looking at a company’s compensation package. The question becomes: Will the intangibles make up for the salary offered?

In the end, there is no wrong or right way of negotiating a salary. The reason is simple: negotiators are people. And people—whether recruiters or candidates– have different values, perceptions and communication styles. This human side of negotiation increases the chance of unpredictability; hence, the importance of developing a comprehensive negotiation strategy.

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