Just got a job offer - negotiation opinions wanted!

"Stupidru" (Schm1an) 06/09/2015 at 22:52 • Filed to: None

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So I just landed a job offer with a company I’ve been interviewing with for a few weeks now, and with the job title I’ve been after for a few years. I’ll be a Project Engineer, but the company came back with a mere $4k salary increase, and a week less vacation than I currently have. Obviously I will have increased responsibilities, and will likely be working more hours & working harder with less vacation to speak for. When they asked for what salary I needed, I told them an $8k raise, which isn’t too far off. Would it be too much of a stretch to ask for another $4k and a week of vacation? If Oppo has any Opp-pinions about what I might be able to counter with, I would be very grateful — thanks guys!

dogisbadob > Stupidru 06/09/2015 at 22:55

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It wouldn;t hurt to ask, and good luck!

SnapUndersteer, Italian Spiderman > Stupidru 06/09/2015 at 22:55

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Ask for another 10k and that week

Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney > Stupidru 06/09/2015 at 22:56

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A week less vacation? That’s nuts, no matter how much you currently have. Unfortunately, methinks it’s going to be a bigger sticking point than the extra $4k; HR departments rarely want someone having that much more vacation time than other folks on their level.

I don’t think it’s nuts to ask. You have to ask up front, because every subsequent raise will magnify what’s left on the able at this negotiation.

jester74 > Stupidru 06/09/2015 at 23:01

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Like Snap said, go high with the counter.

R Saldana [|Oo|======|oO|] - BTC/ETH/LTC Prophet > Stupidru 06/09/2015 at 23:02

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You already asked for an 8k bump right?

Then you need to inform them that you are not seeing a positive enough jump in experience, salary, and fulfillment in the current offer. I would ask them to do better, maybe to meet you in the middle, an additional 3 days vacation and at least another $2500 more than what they have offered so far. This line works wonders, “I have to make the right decision first for my family, second for myself, and third for my career.”

Stupidru > Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney 06/09/2015 at 23:07

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I have a feeling you’re right. Even though the extra week is only worth-what, like... $1500... HR will likely throw a fit over it.

DrScientist > Stupidru 06/09/2015 at 23:07

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the vacation may be aligned with some company-wide statute, so it may be difficult to negotiate, but probably also less stressful. you can ask, and they may say all 1-2 year employees get x weeks. 3 years get x+1 weeks, and so on.

the salary discussion may be a bit more complicated. its a reflection of your “value” to them and of your “worth” to yourself. there tend to be factors involved here that can be analyzed. do you know how many other people have the same position as you? do you know what the salary range is for that position, and where your offer falls within that range? is there anything about your resume that would warrant you receiving an offer at the high or low end of the range? is $4k >5% of your total salary? (5% would be an “ok” yearly raise)

Stupidru > R Saldana [|Oo|======|oO|] - BTC/ETH/LTC Prophet 06/09/2015 at 23:08

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I may just steal that phrase- nicely said, and I 100% agree with what you said

DrScientist > Stupidru 06/09/2015 at 23:09

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it may be worth $1500 to you, but it’s probably worth much more than that to them.

Stupidru > SnapUndersteer, Italian Spiderman 06/09/2015 at 23:10

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You think I could honestly counter with that much more?

R Saldana [|Oo|======|oO|] - BTC/ETH/LTC Prophet > Stupidru 06/09/2015 at 23:17

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Not my fault if they get mad and revoke their offer, but being a Marine gave me a brass pair and i often have to go a-swinging ‘em.

Stupidru > DrScientist 06/09/2015 at 23:34

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I got the run down of “1-4yrs gets 10 days and 5-X gets 15 days” so it is a company policy but it’s still a big step down for me, especially sincy wife and I are having a baby and I would really like to spend time with them after we’re all home.

I don’t want to sound boastful, but for a 26 y/o I’ve had quite a bit of experience in the professional world from the nitty gritty technician & lab testing, design, manufacturing, project management, international experience, and the dollars/cents accounting aspect of the business. I definitely think I’m worth more than they’re asking for. And the $4k is less than 5% but not by much... My current (soon to be previous) employer only gave our COLA raises which was bogus, especially when my boss would say “I wish I could give you a raise but my boss tells me that everybody gets the same raise”. Anyway, I think the move is for the best interest of my career as I’m not stuck in a small company that has no growth opportunities, and this position will really let me have some more mobility down the line as it comes with the coveted new title and opens more doors with new experience and the visibility that a large (500-ish people) company brings

BigBlock440 > Stupidru 06/10/2015 at 00:20

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I know my company is fairly set on salary, but negotiable with vacation. Asking for a little closer to what you’ve currently got for vacation might help a bit.

Textured Soy Protein > Stupidru 06/10/2015 at 00:52

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I’ve worked in staffing for almost a decade. The key to any successful negotiation is to not have a list of specific demands. A couple things to keep in mind when negotiating:

Depending on the company, they may not have the ability to do certain things, like for example give you more PTO if they have specific policies about PTO that apply to everyone.

He who says a number first, loses.

Here is what you should do:

Thank them profusely for the offer, and make sure you are quite clear you are excited about joining their company.

“But, to be honest, I do have some concerns.”

List your concerns: i.e. this is only $4k more than you make now but a lot more responsibility, and you would have a week less PTO.

Ask them what sort of flexibility they might have in order to address these concerns.

(DO NOT ask for them specifically to just give you $4k more and extra PTO.)

By leaving things open-ended, you will have explained what is preventing you from accepting the offer as it stands, and you have left it up to them to decide what to offer you next.

Remember that it is extremely important that before you express your concerns, that you make it profoundly clear that you are genuinely interested in the job. If a company likes you enough to hire you, they will give an honest answer on how flexible they are in addressing your concerns.

Maybe they really aren’t flexible at all. Maybe they counter-offer with not exactly what you’re looking for, but the ball is in their court to make a counter offer. Then it’s up to you to decide if that counter offer, whatever it may be even if it’s not exactly what you had in mind, is enough to make you accept the offer.

Textured Soy Protein > R Saldana [|Oo|======|oO|] - BTC/ETH/LTC Prophet 06/10/2015 at 00:55

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I...recommend being a bit more diplomatic .

wiffleballtony > Stupidru 06/10/2015 at 00:55

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If you like your current job and it’s paying enough as for what you want.

Stupidru > Textured Soy Protein 06/10/2015 at 06:31

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Thanks so much! I'm going to use some of these tactics when I counter later today and I'll keep you posted on the results— thank you!!

R Saldana [|Oo|======|oO|] - BTC/ETH/LTC Prophet > Textured Soy Protein 06/10/2015 at 07:32

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This is the way to go.

Meatcoma > Stupidru 06/10/2015 at 10:51

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I received a job offer kind of like yours, it was 10k/yr more, but since I would be going to salary from hourly they stated that they wanted employees to work min of 45hrs/wk. I took that offer back to my boss’s boss’s boss (CIO) and he gave me an 8k/yr raise and a promotion to keep me. I also only have to work 40hrs/wk and I can come/go as I please. I was glad that he offered that to keep me. Is this an option for you? I was honest with my CIO and told him that I would like to stay but I could not stay at the position/pay I was currently at.

Stupidru > Meatcoma 06/10/2015 at 12:59

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Not really a possibility for me as the company I work at is so small that there’s no room for growth internally. This new job is an opportunity at a much larger company that’s growing quickly where I can see some career growth as well.

Meatcoma > Stupidru 06/10/2015 at 13:44

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You have made up your mind that you are moving on, I’d go for Balls out and see what they say. Really they can only do 3 things. Say ‘No’, counter or give it to you. Why not shoot for the moon if they have offered you the job?

Meatcoma > Stupidru 06/10/2015 at 13:45

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When I told the company that offered me the job that I was planning on staying at my current position, they even upped the offer like 2500/yr more. It still wasn’t enough to sway me.

Stupidru > Meatcoma 06/10/2015 at 16:53

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Not bad. After I put in my 2 weeks to my boss, I got an email saying he wants to try and put something together to persuade me to stay. I guess I’ll know tomorrow which way I’m leaning, but I think it’s still toward the new job