Today, I am going to attempt to try and stretch your thinking when it comes to a job offer. Learning how to negotiate a job offer is a skill that can serve you well your entire career. You do not need to be a skilled salesperson in order to be a good negotiator.
There is nothing more defeating then working a job that you like, but you are dissatisfied with the pay. It leaves a bad taste in your mouth. Especially since you agreed to work for that amount. I realize that for some of us something is better than nothing in a down economy.
My goal in this post is to show you that while money is important, it is not always just about the money. If you really love a potential job opportunity but you are not in the same ballpark when it comes to salary, then think about negotiating in a few other areas.
This is what I am going to focus on for this blog post. If you want to learn how to get a higher base salary, see How to Negotiate Salary. Here are my non-compensation favorites:
Day 30 – How to Negotiate a Job Offer
Add vacation time. If there is a few thousand dollar difference in base pay, see if you might be able to get 3 weeks vacation instead of two weeks. Maybe you can ask for a few more paid time off even.
Ask for Stock Options. This works better for the higher paying positions. When negotiating a job offer, ask about the potential for stock options. While you might think that it is not on the table, you might just be surprised. In the past I have been a part of negotiating equity interest when they didn’t want to move the base salary.
A more flexible schedule. You might be able to negotiate working from home every Friday. They could agree for you to work four 10 hour days and take every Friday off. You do not know until you start asking.
Get them to pay for personal development opportunities. The company may be willing to negotiate some career development opportunities for you. For example, you might be able to get them to pay for a CPA certification that you have been wanting to take. They may even pay for CPA examination materials like the Yeager CPA Prep Course, which is one of the best. I once had a candidate that was offered an additional $5,000 increase in base pay if they would pass the CPA.
Get a part of future opportunities. Do you know of some of the company’s big plans in the months and years to come? Maybe they are going to open a new branch or establish a new department. See if you can negotiate the ability be a part of future opportunities that might come to pass.
In conclusion, I hope you see the importance of learning how to negotiate a job offer. Negotiating a job offer is much different then just dealing with a base salary negotiation. As you can see, there are many things that you can ask for. The important thing to remember is this principle in negotiation:
“Never give up something without receiving something in return.”
In other words, if you make concessions in one area, you very well may have more latitude in a different area. This is what makes good negotiating work.
DO IT NOW Task – Watch the Video Below
Related articles
- Tips for Negotiating Salary (verigentllc.wordpress.com)
- How to Ask for a Raise (CPACareerCoach.com)
- How to Negotiate Salary (CPACareerCoach.com)
- Mistakes To Avoid When Negotiating a Salary Offer (CPACareerCoach.com)
- 5 Phrases That Will Get You a Higher Salary (money.usnews.com)
