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[beefspring]

Touchy subject here. I was offered 58k for a job today, told them I would think about it and would talk to them tomorrow.

Here's the story: I want to relocate to this town the offer is from, but I also want a raise over my current salary. My current job is in the public sector and has foregone raises the next two years, so I'm locked down. This offer is in the private sector, so the benefits aren't as good. No 401k matching the first year, 4% after that. Current employer gives 6% free 401k money, and 4% matching (insanely good). I'm basically padding my salary with this 6% and comparing that with the 58k offer and realizing that it's at best a lateral move if you include 4%. Meaning I'm making 58.3k right now if you include 401k benefits.

How should I express this to the company? Aside from googling "how to negotiate a salary", should I start off with a counter offer, or express my concern and let them re-offer before I counter? Has anyone been through this before and could give any insight? Also should I call them tomorrow about this, or is an e-mail considered acceptable?

I don't want to come off as an ass, but I'm not accepting something lower than what I'm making right now. Is including 401k benefits, even though it's not "take-home salary" fair in this situation?

 

[ronito]

Benefits are set outside of the realm of influence that most hiring managers have. So to go back and say "My 401k matches at 6% and you only do 4%!" Isn't going to win you any points.

Now if you consider that as part of your total compensation then add it into your salary expectations. That they can negotiate with and gives them something to work with. To go back and complain about benefits you're probably just going to get a shrug and a "It is what it is."

You can't go back without a solution. Figure out what that is and communicate to them. Remember to be honest and fair. They don't want to employ someone they feel has taken them to cleaners and they don't want to employ someone who feels taken advantage of, because they'll just leave. You want to strike an equitable deal. But as with any negotiation be prepared to accept that things might not go your way.

 

[toddhunter]

Don't compare that offer with what you have now. Compare what you could be earning in two to five years. If you are not sure, ask them about the potential (they will be much happier with this approach, long term is always a better focus than some short term concern for an unproven employee).

Then make your decision, prove your value and start earning the big money.

At least that is how I would go about it. If you are worth it, that side should all take care of itself before too long. If not? You live and learn and try elsewhere.

 

[Goro Majima]

If you consider future potential raises, taking a little less money now might be worth it in the long run.

You can get a promotion and a sizeable salary increase within the next two years that eclipses 58k.

 

[pigeon]

It's absolutely the right thing to to to add up your benefits and consider their value when deciding on whether you want the job. It may not be the right thing to use that as your reasoning when talking to the company -- as ronito said, most of the time there's nothing they can do about benefits.

It's really important to consider what you know about the company and whether you're likely to get promoted in the future. Are they the kind of company where you could get a lot more money in a couple of years? Or are they the kind of company where you aren't ever going to get a raise? Keep in mind, frankly, that in our current economy the latter kind of company is going to be more common, except in a few specific fields.

At the end of the day, if you want more money, your best course of action is to ask for a figure that would make you happy that isn't too far off from what they offered, and let them decide what to do. If there isn't a figure you like that's near the figure they liked, then you guys aren't going to find a match.

 

[Earthstrike]

Okay, Didn't want to make a new thread so I searched and found this one. I have an interview for a job today. I applied using a friend as a reference yesterday and got a call for an interview today. (And the interview is in an hour!). I saw an old posting for the job using my google fu and the salary range was 12-15 dollars an hour (I'm in Canada).

So my question is, how do I deal with the question, "What are your salary expectations?" if it comes up at the interview? I was making 14 an hour at my last job, though right now I am, for all intents and purposes unemployed, (Technically part time for city). I obviously want to maximise my own best interest here. Do I risk forgoing a job offer if I put a number too high? Obviously I will be staying within the 12-15 dollar range.

 

[captive]

for the OP, you already made the mistake. You should have been telling them your current salary was at least 5k more than what it actually was.

Okay, Didn't want to make a new thread so I searched and found this one. I have an interview for a job today. I applied using a friend as a reference yesterday and got a call for an interview today. (And the interview is in an hour!). I saw an old posting for the job using my google fu and the salary range was 12-15 dollars an hour (I'm in Canada).

So my question is, how do I deal with the question, "What are your salary expectations?" if it comes up at the interview? I was making 14 an hour at my last job, though right now I am, for all intents and purposes unemployed, (Technically part time for city). I obviously want to maximise my own best interest here. Do I risk forgoing a job offer if I put a number too high? Obviously I will be staying within the 12-15 dollar range.

typically its all negotiable, I would ask for 16-17, what are they going to say no fuck off. They will likely say, no, but here's 14-15.

 

[lil smoke]

We don't know what the competition is like in your field.

I think it matters.

In a booming field, you shouldn't be asking over the norm imo. You can but it is risky.

In a field where you are expert, special skill, sought after, you have more leeway to negotiate.

It all depends on the person too. Some people are human and understand a discussion on salary negotiation can go back and forth. Others will see you as an entity easily replaced by the next resume.

It depends.

 

[Phoenix]

Okay, Didn't want to make a new thread so I searched and found this one. I have an interview for a job today. I applied using a friend as a reference yesterday and got a call for an interview today. (And the interview is in an hour!). I saw an old posting for the job using my google fu and the salary range was 12-15 dollars an hour (I'm in Canada).

So my question is, how do I deal with the question, "What are your salary expectations?" if it comes up at the interview? I was making 14 an hour at my last job, though right now I am, for all intents and purposes unemployed, (Technically part time for city). I obviously want to maximise my own best interest here. Do I risk forgoing a job offer if I put a number too high? Obviously I will be staying within the 12-15 dollar range.

You can tell them what you were making or what you want to make. Your interviewer will tell you how much the position pays (though your initial contact should have answered that question for you). People get afraid when it comes time to close the deal then kick themselves in the ass afterwards. Ask for what you want. If they don't want to pay that, they will certainly let you know. If you stay wishy washy about what you want, they will low ball you. You'd be surprised how much you may be worth. In a recent interview I told my interviewer that I was concerned that I would be priced out of their market and they simply said they would be willing to adjust the salary based upon my experience - and they did quite readily.

You must overcome your fear of asking for what you want. If they want you and price is an issue, they'll let you know (well the job only pays 14 - can you accept that?). Very rarely (and I hire people all the time in my role) do we sit around sorting people by their salary requirements. We'll go with the best candidate first and try to work him down before we go with the "best offer on the table".

 

[DJ_Lae]

We don't know what the competition is like in your field.

I think it matters.

In a booming field, you shouldn't be asking over the norm imo. You can but it is risky.

In a field where you are expert, special skill, sought after, you have more leeway to negotiate.

It all depends on the person too. Some people are human and understand a discussion on salary negotiation can go back and forth. Others will see you as an entity easily replaced by the next resume.

It depends.

Yup.

I bombed this aspect of my last interview because I had been unemployed for four months, not eligible for EI, and the living costs for my family were racking up our credit cards for the first time ever after chewing up my savings.

I'm still making 12K more than I was at my last job but I'm still at the bottom of the salary bracket here. I needed the job, and didn't want to take any risks when it came to negotiating a salary.

 

[lil smoke]

Yup.

I bombed this aspect of my last interview because I had been unemployed for four months, not eligible for EI, and the living costs for my family were racking up our credit cards for the first time ever after chewing up my savings.

I'm still making 12K more than I was at my last job but I'm still at the bottom of the salary bracket here. I needed the job, and didn't want to take any risks when it came to negotiating a salary.

The way I see it, get in the door, and within a year, prove what you are worth. During your 1st employee review is the time to bring up a REAL salary discussion. This is the point where they cannot easily replace you, you have become integral.

You can be a lot more honest and straightforward about the situation, after building the relationship internally. You have pull and will likely either get the raise, or pave the way for a nice one next year.

I cannot stress that when you land a job, make sure that you are indispensable and are doing work in a way that you can never be replaced. Always work towards that goal, and you will get the raises, promotions, bonuses, respect. It doesn't have to be a great starting salary, if you know you're capable of excelling at the job at hand.

 

[DJ_Lae]

I cannot stress that when you land a job, make sure that you are indispensable and are doing work in a way that you can never be replaced. Always work towards that goal, and you will get the raises, promotions, bonuses, respect. It doesn't have to be a great starting salary, if you know you're capable of excelling at the job at hand.

This is also true and fantastic advice.

My contributions to my department won't have any appreciable benefit for now, though, we have a salary freeze at present. Oh well, I still work hard because I know it'll pay off eventually and I'd feel like an ass if I didn't.

 

[bro1]

Salary negotiations are something I handle everyday. I have never seen a candidate get an offer turned down from a position because they asked for more money fury the salary negotiation phase. I have seen the amount denied but not the job.

Just let the hiring manager, hr bp, or recruiter know what you want. If they are offering 58, 64 would be a decent amount to ask. You don't have and should not rationalize it with them. Just tell them you would prefer 64.