Given the fact that only 25% of new hires (and fewer women than men) attempt to negotiate the terms of an employment offer, consider this...
When you receive a job offer, you are typically in a position to negotiate. The hiring process is costly in human resources and dollars. Once an organization has made their decision in favor of a candidate, they are not eager to go back to the drawing board.
While salary is by far the primary and most common factor discussed in any job negotiation, it is not necessarily the most important. The following are additional considerations in employment negotiation:
1. Is the employment offer in writing? If not, request a written offer before you begin your negotiations so you can be clear on the details of the agreement. If there are any negotiated changes, make sure the final agreement is written as well.
2. Are the terms of your appointment clearly stated including: a start date, job description, person to whom you will report, and how and when you will be evaluated?
3. Have the working conditions been described to you? If not, you may want to inquire about hours you're expected to work, travel required, work-life balance and your specific workspace.
4. Does the whole picture align with your priorities, interests and skills and what you had envisioned for yourself?
5. Are the salary and benefits commensurate with your experience and that of the marketplace? If you are not clear about this, check out any of the online salary surveys as well as inquire about similar positions in your geographic area.
You may also want to include in your benefits negotiations: more vacation and or personal time, increased flexibility in your schedule including a provision for
working some days from home, if appropriate, funded professional development opportunities, health care packaging and retirement contributions.
In order to pull your thoughts together and prepare a counter-offer, you'll need a day or two to carefully review your offer. Most employers expect that the candidate will need a little time to make a decision and there's no harm in asking for what you want--providing you can justify it by the value you'll bring to the organization.
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Events featuring or sponsored by Heart At Work
April 4,5.6: Women's Life Expo, Portland. Barbara presents: Live Your Life. Love Your Work At Any Age. Details: www.expoproducers.com
April 12-May 1: Through The Portal, a personal and professional development series for women facilitated by Barbara Babkirk and Susanna Liller.
Details: www.throughtheportal.biz
April 19-May 10: Saturday Career Workshop Series with Amy Jaffe
Details: http://www.barbarababkirk.com/amy.html
May 8: HR Convention at the Samoset Resort in Rockport: Barbara and Amy Jaffe, will co-present a workshop: "Averting Quarterlife and Midlife Crises in Your Workplace: 5 Key Retention Strategies".
Details: http://www.mainehr.com/convention/
September 21-27: Barbara's annual Women's Week in Provence.
Details: www.yourprovenceretreat.com
What job Barbara Sirois, for 2 years I have been applying for jobs in the state of Maine and all I have is a folder the size of a 1500 page book of disappointing letters.
Most of them say we got a overwhelming amount of applications and I have been cut from the pile. There are no jobs in Maine. Since I graduated from UMaine in December of 2005 I have been really looking. I have been unemployed for 15 months. I have been to the CareerCenter in Bangor to Susan Collins offfice in Bangor. They don't give a shit about you there at her office. I would tell any new UMaine grad to pick up and leave this deadend state. I have applyed to hundreds of jobs in this state at the entry level and I am still unemployed. I did get a job with Microdyne in Orono but that was just a seasonal job for christmas. That company always asks it's employees to go home early all the time. You go in for your shift and 30 minutes later they ask for people to go home. You can't get any hours with them.
So Barbara I am wondering when is this state going to get really jobs in it. The only people that have money in the state are the torist that come from out of state. I have been trying to stay in Maine. But by doing so my financial future is gone. I want to talk to the governor of this state.
UMaine Grad 2005
Posted by Keith
Keith,
Sounds like you've had a frustrating time in the job market. It might just be the best thing for you to try your luck out of State. When or if you return you'll have a skills set to apply in the marketplace.
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