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How to negotiate time off without looking like slacker
More vacation days, working at home a day or two a week, or a 4 day a week schedule is way more valuable to me than a higher salary and I've know people who have negotiated these things at new jobs. Right now I would do just about anything for a 4/10 schedule. I'm always nervous it will make me look like a slacker when I bring up any of these things, because its saying I don't want to be in the office that much. I think its also harder since I don't have a great excuse for wanting less time in the office, like people who have kids or a long commute. I do work in a field where time in the office isn't needed, so some companies seem happy to be flexible and others really look down on it.
After I've proven myself at a company I feel comfortable asking for some of these things, but haven't felt that when I've first offered a job it would make a good impression to bring these things up. I am somewhat OK negotiating salary, but even that makes me nervous. After a company has made an offer, do you think these are OK things to ask for, or does it look unprofessional?
Re: How to negotiate time off without looking like slacker
I wouldn't negotiate a 4/10. That's really something you should bring up during the interview process. Some companies don't have any flexibility with respect to that while others do. I would let them know you were interested in a 4/10 and ask it that is an option. From my experience, exempt people that work 4/10s, often work longer hours that people who work 8 hours a day, so it doesn't necessarily make you look like a slacker. It's simply the schedule you prefer.
As for the time off, you can always try to negotiate that. It doesn't make you look lazy. Time off is part of compensation, so it's pretty customary to negotiate it. You can let them know that you currently have X paid days off per year and would like to remain at that level. Again, they may not have any flexibility, but you can always try.
As a new employee, it would be beneficial to you to learn the politics of the office before escaping it. But If you are seeking employment in general and wondering how to approach this, I would ask about the work habits during the interview process. If you like what you hear, get and accept the offer first, finish the onboarding process, spend a few weeks feeling out how the office operates, and then ask for a formal change. It's like anything else about a job; find out what you can during the interview process and make a leap of faith that it will all work out. GL.