salary offer is low but it's their best?
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Anonymous
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I was offered $90,000 (which is $10,000 more than I'm currently making), one telecommute day, paid healthcare benefits, 2 weeks vacation, one week of personal days, one week of sick leave, and free parking with a Department head title last Wednesday afternoon. I asked for the rest of the week to review the benefits.
The thing is, I have an interview with a second potential employer tomorrow afternoon where the salary is $20,000-$30,000 more with the same benefits minus the telecommute option for a job and title that's basically what I'm doing now. Both are closer to home. Job #1 is closer than Job #2 How do I delicately tell the offer employer that they need to come up when I know that this is likely the best they can do? And part of me wants to hold out and see what option #2 holds and where they are in their process (how many interviews they plan to hold, for example). Note: I was asked by the department head to interview for Option #2 and the original interview was set to happen the same week as my first interview for option #1 but they had to reschedule to tomorrow. My head is swimming a bit and I'm hoping you can offer some sound advice on how to proceed....without losing both. I should also mention, I believe in the mission of both orgs and feel there will be - and + to both jobs that balance each other out (workload, colleagues, etc.) |
Anonymous
| If you know that option 1 has given you their best offer, then you can't get them to move. |
Anonymous
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Personally, I'd counter the offer in hand at job #1 with the salary you'd like to have, and in the meantime, go forward with the interview with job #2.
I can't imagine that job #1 won't increase the salary, at least somewhat, or otherwise sweeten the deal. If your main motivator is money, you can continue to move forward with job #2 while negotiating with job #1. While its not for everyone, IMO there's no reason why you shouldn't accept offer #1 while continuing to explore job#2. Yes- this could backfire. Yes- some people who object that this is breaking your word (and it is). IMO this is your livelihood and you owe it to yourself to pursue any option that improves your career trajectory while making the best deal for yourself for you and your family. Good luck! |
Anonymous
How is she breaking her word? I must have missed something! |
Anonymous
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Uh, how is this breaking your word? Absolutely negotiate. You have the offer. It's highly unlikely they rescind it. Best case scenario they increase your salary. Worst they don't. But at last ask, especially as you have a good reason to. I doubt they gave you their best offer. It's in their best interest to try get you in as low as possible and to leave some room for negotiating in case you do
My instinct is youre leaving money on the table if you don't counter. |
Anonymous
I think this poster means if she accepts job #1 intending to continue exploring job #2. |
Anonymous
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I countered the offer and will see what they say. I made the second job aware of the offer in the hopes that they can clean up their process timeline so I will know what's what soon.
Hope that's not too pushy.... |
Anonymous
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PLEASE NEGOTIATE #1. You have nothing to lose.
My father taught me to ALWAYS negotiate (men tend to!) and I always have -- I have been successful literally every time (maybe 4 times in my adult life?). If they want you enough to extend the offer, they will try to meet reasonable negotiations. Ask for $10K more ($100,000), something like: You: "Is this a good time to check in on the compensation range for the position? I know budgets are tight and I'm excited to take the job. We’re a ways apart on compensation. Can we get creative and see whether we can bridge the gap? I'm looking to start at the $100K range." (THEN YOU ARE SILENT! Don't talk too much) Them: "Well, we can't go much above $95K for this position due to our budget." You: "That sounds good (or, "could we do $98K," or whatever you need to feel comfortable). ANOTHER TACTIC for adding compensation (you can do this in addition to negotiating salary): You: "Can we talk about adding some vacation time? I'd like to ask for one extra week." Them: "We could arrange that." You: "Excellent! I'm excited to get started. Please send the offer letter blah, blah, blah..." |
Anonymous
+1000 never be afraid to negotiate. It's not about being liked as much as being respected by sticking to your priorities. - someone that took a job and hasn't gotten a raise in the last 1+ year and won't likely see one into 2015, so i'm glad i negotiated up front. |
Anonymous
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It's good that you told job #2 that you are considering an offer -- they need to know your timeline. It'll also give you some more info on how much they want you.
If you had #2 offer right now, which one would you accept? With #1, if they can't fully meet your salary request, think about negotiating on other things, like extra vacation time. |
Anonymous
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Do negotiate. I once didn't really want a job and so when I got the offer, was quiet for a minute...the offer went up 5K. I asked for time to think about it and during that week, the offer went up another 2K.
That taught me the power of negotiation and I"ve done it at my current job as well when asking for raises. |
Anonymous
| Or negotiate extra vacation. |
Anonymous
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The first job came up $5,000 and added one week of vacation. The second job wants to set up a second interview but it could take a week or two. Job #2 is down to me and one other candidate but promises more money (the range is $100,000-$115,000).
What would you do!?! |
Anonymous
| Accept job #1 but go to the second interview of job #2. |
Anonymous
This feels wrong to me. |