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Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
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Got an offer--need advice ASAP!
I ended up hearing from HR a few minutes ago and they gave me an offer.
It is 21k more than what I make now. I told her that I had to think about the total offer and would get back to her tomorrow morning.
I am thinking that considering how much higher it is from what I make now, it is asinine to try and negotiate. Thoughts??
2011 Races
3/12 5 mi -- 49:22 Pace: 9:52
5/1 Half Marathon -- 2:11:22 Pace: 10:01
5/22 10k -- 56:29 Pace: 9:00
5/24 3.6 -- 29:03 Pace: 8:18
7/10 15k -- 1:44:46 injured Pace: 11:14
10/29 5k -- 28:24 Pace: 9:04
3/12 5 mi -- 49:22 Pace: 9:52
5/1 Half Marathon -- 2:11:22 Pace: 10:01
5/22 10k -- 56:29 Pace: 9:00
5/24 3.6 -- 29:03 Pace: 8:18
7/10 15k -- 1:44:46 injured Pace: 11:14
10/29 5k -- 28:24 Pace: 9:04
Re: Got an offer--need advice ASAP!
I'm non-confrontational about such things, so I'd likely take the $ and run.
Are there other benefits you can perhaps negotiate?
Our little Irish rose came to us on March 5, 2010
Don't drink the water.
Disclaimer: I am not an MD. Please don't PM me with pregnancy-related questions. Ask your doctor.
The other benefits are good. Truthfully, this so much fvcking money that I am afraid of trying to negotiate cause I am worried that they will just move on to the next person, lol. Is this bad business on my end just to take it?
3/12 5 mi -- 49:22 Pace: 9:52
5/1 Half Marathon -- 2:11:22 Pace: 10:01
5/22 10k -- 56:29 Pace: 9:00
5/24 3.6 -- 29:03 Pace: 8:18
7/10 15k -- 1:44:46 injured Pace: 11:14
10/29 5k -- 28:24 Pace: 9:04
dup
3/12 5 mi -- 49:22 Pace: 9:52
5/1 Half Marathon -- 2:11:22 Pace: 10:01
5/22 10k -- 56:29 Pace: 9:00
5/24 3.6 -- 29:03 Pace: 8:18
7/10 15k -- 1:44:46 injured Pace: 11:14
10/29 5k -- 28:24 Pace: 9:04
What field are you in? Dh is in sales and says his boss always expects him to negotiate.
74 books read in 2011
YesI agree with Dr. L. If you're happy, why bother. They probably know generally where you are at and know their offer is quite a bit higher.
Is there anything, such as vacation time? Or anything you'd be losing by leaving your current job, such as 401K vesting or stock options?
This. If everything else is equal/comparable, then go for it.
They know what I make now because I told them. I said I would entertain "any competitive offers".
I would lose 8 days of vacation time a year (28 days/year vs. 20) and the medical is $40 higher a pay period. However the retirement is QUITE a bit better. Oh, an a 21k pay increase lol. I will walk away will all of my retirement now as I am fully vested with my current agency.
I am a social worker. So to me this is a shiit ton of money and a LOT higher than I ever thought I would make. I am going from a non-profit to a behavioral health managed care company.
3/12 5 mi -- 49:22 Pace: 9:52
5/1 Half Marathon -- 2:11:22 Pace: 10:01
5/22 10k -- 56:29 Pace: 9:00
5/24 3.6 -- 29:03 Pace: 8:18
7/10 15k -- 1:44:46 injured Pace: 11:14
10/29 5k -- 28:24 Pace: 9:04
Congrats, btw.
Can you negotiate more PTO? I lost a week when I took this job (25% salary increase) and it hurts! even with the increased pay.
74 books read in 2011
In this case, I'd definitely try to negotiate vacation time. Losing 8 days of PTO is a lot. Not sure of your salary, but you might actually be making less/week because of the loss of the PTO.
You currently have 28 days of PTO, which is 5.6 weeks (assuming a 5 day work week). So you have to work 46.4 weeks to earn your salary. In new job, you have 20 days or 4 weeks of PTO, so you have to work 48 weeks to earn your salary.
DH had a situation where he received a job offer. It was slightly more than he was currently making. He would be giving up 4 weeks of PTO (1 week of personal days, 2 weeks of vacation, and 1 week of paid company holidays). When he did the math, he would actually earn less/week becuase he had to work +4 additional weeks to make his salary. The gap became even worse, when he figured he would get a raise at his current job within a few months of starting the new job and would not get a raise at the new job for over a year. He ended up turning down the offer--not only due to that, but it just was not worthwhile for him to make a change for the offer he was given and they were not willing to negotiate.
I think you can approach this as you're simply trying to maintain where you are at. You're not asking for more PTO, you're just trying to keep what you currently have.
I'm in your field (I'm an LPC) so I totally understand where you are coming from. I don't think there is any harm in a conversation or e-mail that goes something like "Great! I'm so excited to join your team. Is there any room for negotiation? I would love to keep my PTO at my current levels."
I don't think you have anything to lose by asking that, it doesn't come off as demanding or ungrateful, I think it indicates you are taking the job no matter what, but also allows them to give you more if they are able. There is actually a thread on MM right now from the hiring end where she is sad that the person she just hired didn't negotiate because she was prepared to give her more but HR wouldn't let her unless the new hire asked for it.
Oh, here it is:
http://community.thenest.com/cs/ks/forums/thread/61212712.aspx
Oh, and congrats! Sounds like a great opportunity!
Steps on My Spiritual Journey
I am honestly shocked at how many pp have suggested not negotiating. This is exactly why women, in general, are paid less than men. Men, for the most part ALWAYS negotiate salary while women almost never do.
Here are a few articles that outline the gender gap with negotiating
http://www.womendontask.com/stats.html
http://www.forbes.com/2006/06/28/leadership-business-basics-cx_tw_0629womennegotiating.html
It's a misconception that you should just "take the offer and run". Most companies have built in ranges and flexibility on packages because they know that they may need some negotiating room with potential new employees. Additionally, it's less about how much more they are offering you as compared to your last job and more about what is the competitive salary for the position they are offering you.
Ultimately this is your call and you need to do what you are comfortable with but I'm of the mindset that if you never ask, you never get. And, as long as you phrase it in a non-threatening way, there's no harm in asking them if there's any flexbility with the offer. If they say no, no harm done and if they ask what you have in mind you should be willing to ask for specifics. ie "I was hoping for XYZ" (whatever is most important to you)
As a side note.. I have negotiated EVERY single offer I've ever received and I have ALWAYS been given something extra, based on what I asked for. Sometimes it was additional salary, an extra vacation week, a signing bonus etc. And... if I had never asked about it, I wouldn't have received it!
Good luck!
Have you researched average salaries? Like BLS, not salary.com. If the offer is still low, especially for your area, negotiate. If it is average, negotiate benefits. If it is high, take the money and run!
They chose you for a reason. Don't short change yourself.
I am too! OP - go to the Money Matters board. There are 3 or 4 separate discussions about this going on. I agree that you should negotiate something, even in this economy. If they are truely interested in you (which they are!) a few thousand won't change it and most companies are open to negoitate vacation time. When I negotiated, I asked for more money. They asked if I would take slightly less money than I countered if I could have an extra week of vacation.
Alright, you ladies convinced me to go for it! I am just SO miserable at my job right now that I am so afraid of fvcking this up. But you are right, it is how I approach it.
I am going to call her back first thing and say "I am really excited about working for your company. I am wondering if the offer is negotiable" and see what she says. If says no to more $ then I will try and get them to match my current vacation.
Thanks!!!!
3/12 5 mi -- 49:22 Pace: 9:52
5/1 Half Marathon -- 2:11:22 Pace: 10:01
5/22 10k -- 56:29 Pace: 9:00
5/24 3.6 -- 29:03 Pace: 8:18
7/10 15k -- 1:44:46 injured Pace: 11:14
10/29 5k -- 28:24 Pace: 9:04
I didn't say the OP shouldn't negotiate, I just said my personality is such that I haven't always negotiated. And I know plenty of men who haven't either. I don't think you can make a broad statement either way.
I didn't say she should take the offer and run, I said that's what I would have done based on my personality.
As my own side note, I went from a postdoctoral fellowship that paid beans to a "real" job that almost doubled my salary. And included amazing benefits and PTO. So I didn't negotiate because 1) I needed a job and 2) it was a dream position. It turned out well for me, and I ended up getting raises every 6 months or so.
As noted, it's the OP's call. If she wants to negotiate something, even if it's PTO (which I would encourage), that sounds grand.
Our little Irish rose came to us on March 5, 2010
Don't drink the water.
Disclaimer: I am not an MD. Please don't PM me with pregnancy-related questions. Ask your doctor.
Personally, I would be thrilled with the offer and accept. However, if you chose to ask for more, I recommend the tone and watch your phrasing. I would lead with the great stuff:
Thank you for the extending the opportunity to join...I am very excited to join...from a salary and retirement package, the offer is solid, blah, blah. In reviewing the vacation benefits, Is there an room for negation on the amount of vacation time?
At least this clears there air of the big items (pay, etc) and focuses the attention on a smaller item that is usually a little easier to work through...
G/L!
I'm note sure why you are responding "defending" your statement as I didn't directly reference your response and I wasn't commenting specifically to your post. I was just surprised at the # of people who felt the OP should not consider negotiating salary. And your's was not the only comment to "take the salary and run"....
As for the broad statement on negotiation, it's based on statistics and research which identify salary differences between the sexes.. which does indeed exist. And research shows that one of the contributing factors is negotiating starting salary. Which also dictates every salary increase thereafter since they are generally based on percentages.
Salary rates should be based on experience and average salary for that particular role. Not how good the amount "feels" and not even necessarily based on previous salary. This particular poster noted that she was leaving the non-profit sector which can significantly change the salary range.
Needless to say, I agree with you.. it's based 100% on the comfort level of the candidate to negotiate. And, when accepting a new job, there are a variety of items that can be negotiated.. but I wouldn't necessarily dismiss a conversation about salary flexibility.. which oftentimes does exist.
Because you stated you were frankly "shocked" at how many people said to take the $ and run, like they were stupid for not even considering not negotiating that part of the package.
Something no one else noted was where this particular salary falls in the pay band. Coming in at or near the top of the pay band can leave the employee with little or no room to advance salary-wise unless they can move into another position. It's something else to keep in mind.
Our little Irish rose came to us on March 5, 2010
Don't drink the water.
Disclaimer: I am not an MD. Please don't PM me with pregnancy-related questions. Ask your doctor.
Glad that you are posting so early because I am calling her in about 45 minutes! So if you could give one last piece of advice that would be great!
I *think* this salary is pretty damnn good for the area that I am in and the work that I am doing. BF interviewed for a pretty similar position and they told him that they traditionally offer around 55-58k (however he has his RN and I am a social worker--LCSW). My offer was several thousand $ above that.
I was thinking of saying to her "I am so excited to be working for xxx. The salary and the retirement are both really solid offers. The medical premiums are over double that what I am paying now and the PTO is less than what I currently receive. Is there room for negotiation for a small salary increase to cover the difference in medical premiums or the possibility of a PTO match?" WDYT?
3/12 5 mi -- 49:22 Pace: 9:52
5/1 Half Marathon -- 2:11:22 Pace: 10:01
5/22 10k -- 56:29 Pace: 9:00
5/24 3.6 -- 29:03 Pace: 8:18
7/10 15k -- 1:44:46 injured Pace: 11:14
10/29 5k -- 28:24 Pace: 9:04
Thanks! She called and I said exactly what I had written. She said the salary was on the high end of what they normally offer and the benefits are generally non-negotiable. She did state that she would talk to her manager to see if there was anything she could do and is going to call me by the end of the day! Will post once I hear back!
3/12 5 mi -- 49:22 Pace: 9:52
5/1 Half Marathon -- 2:11:22 Pace: 10:01
5/22 10k -- 56:29 Pace: 9:00
5/24 3.6 -- 29:03 Pace: 8:18
7/10 15k -- 1:44:46 injured Pace: 11:14
10/29 5k -- 28:24 Pace: 9:04