I just got a job offer, and intend to take the job – it’s an awesome opportunity with a great company, and I could not be more perfect for the job. The company is having trouble bringing on enough people to do work like this, and I’ve been having trouble finding work like this, so each side is lucky to have found the other. Anyway, I got the offer, and it’s great: a small raise over my current salary, and benefits that are extremely generous. I want to reiterate that I intend to take the job.
A mid-level manager in my office, whose career looks like mine might have if I were staying in the military, insists that their offer is a lowball offer, and not only are they prepared to negotiate with me for a higher salary, they’re expecting it. He urged me to not feel awkward or pushy for asking for more, and even to think about asking for a “signing bonus.” He’s also getting out of the Air Force, and
Having worked for the military for my whole career (five years) I’ve never had to negotiate my pay. I took what Congress gave me and thanked them every January for giving me my raise. I am way out of my depth here! So, some questions:
Is it normal to negotiate a salary for every job?
…and a “signing bonus”? I’m not a center-fielder. I’m a missile analyst.
Assuming it is normal, are there any rules which are unspoken but everyone assumes that everyone else knows?
By negotiating for more pay, am I placing their initial offer at risk?
Everything is negotiable; however, you usually negotiate salary before the job is offered to you*. Once they have named a figure, you’re in a tight spot.
If you’re a good negotiator, you can say, “I really like the job and would like to have it, but the money seems a bit low.” Then make a reasonable counteroffer (research the salary range for this sort of job). Do this face-to-face (best) or on the phone, so you can judge the reaction and so they can judge yours. Don’t come off giving the impression you are making a demand.
If you’re a bad negotiator, take what they offer. You put the initial offer at risk if you come off as though you’re saying, “Pay me more or else.”
I’d also say it is probably too late to ask for any bonus directly, though if it comes up when you mention additional money, that’ll work. (They may be more willing to pay a one-time bonus than pay money every year).
*In your job interview, always ask what the salary will be. If they name a figure, suggest something higher. If they ask you, name an amount slightly higher than you expect to get, with the addition, “I’m less interested in how much money, than I am in the chance to work here.” This worked quite well for me: I asked for a salary that was 33% more than what I had ever earned before, and when they came back with a lower figure, it was still a major raise for me.
I disagree. I’ve always negotiated after they’ve offered me the job, both for salary and vacation. I don’t consider myself to be boxed in by them naming a number, if they want me they’ll talk.
I have got offers where they’ve said that they won’t negotiate salary, and since that was a college recruiting situation I didn’t even try. But I’ve considered negotiating in all other cases, and actually made counter offers about half the time. Not always successful, but unless the situation is very odd I can’t imagine anyone would think poorly of you for trying.
They might not give you a, ‘signing bonus,’ but still agree to, ‘upfront moving expenses,’ or some such thing.
They might agree to putting you on the payroll then allowing you two weeks to, ‘get settled in,’ which wouldn’t be counted against your vacation.
Vacation can be brought up. Ask for another week, or two.
I agree with Telemark, just because they are happy with the offer doesn’t mean that they expect you not to act in your own best interest.
Be ernest (or perhaps earnest), don’t make it a do or die demand. If they are lowballing (certainly not unheard of) they may be prepared to talk. If not you’ll probably get some variation of a polite, “Take it or leave it.”
There are always things you can ask for to sweeten your pot. You’re not the first person they have ever interviewed and almost everyone tries to get more.
With my current job, I negotiated a roughly 8-9% salary increase after they had offered me the job and given me a salary number. So it can be done. And absolutely you should do it. They won’t think less of you, and it can really benefit you.
One bit of advice I got (and this has turned out to be good advice for me) is that negotiating a higher initial salary is more important than negotiating a signing bonus, because all future raises will be calculated as a percentage of your salary. So the higher the starting salary, the more rapidly your salary will increase. (Of course, this is probably only a consideration if you plan to stay at your new job long-term.)
I’m not sure this is always true. Where I work ( I am in IT) you are hired into a job band that has an upper limit. When you reach that limit, no raises are forthcoming. One important consideration for you is where you are in that band. If they are hiring you at the top of the band (or if you negotiate a higher salary at the top of the band), future raises will depend on a promotion. This might be ok with you, but it is best to know it before you accept the job. Keep in mind that asking the question does not guarantee you honest answer. The only thing that I have not been lied to in my 30 years of work experience & about 9 jobs is the starting salary.