First off, congrats on the new gig!

 

I don't think negotiations are hostile. I've only been in one salary negotiation that even crept towards contempt, as the hiring manager discussed one salary with me in the first interview, then came back in the final interview and presented me with an offer for a considerably lower one. Didn't take that job, obviously.

 

There's an element of integrity in it for me. If I ask someone on a job application (or in an initial screening interview) what salary they're looking for and they give me a number, my offer will be based on that number. Might be lower if they're asking for the moon, probably won't be higher because I'm a businessman and morals are for hippies. If someone tells me that they want $75,000 per year, I bring them an offer of $75,000, and they counter me at $85,000, that's going to raise a red flag. If I give someone exactly what they're asking for and they counter by raising their price, it would definitely create some trust issues on my end, and I would probably make up some excuse to get them out of the office so I could call my second choice back and see if they'll take that offer instead.

That's why I cap my negotiating margin at 15%, I don't go into it thinking their initial salary request is the final offer, but I do limit what I'll concede.

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“An empty vessel makes the loudest sound, so they that have the least wit are the greatest babblers.”. - Plato

Congrats, it NEVER hurts to ask. All they can say, is no.

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That's why I cap my negotiating margin at 15%, I don't go into it thinking their initial salary request is the final offer, but I do limit what I'll concede.

 

Surely the cap isn't a "hard cap."

 

If there's a specific need with a talent with a unique/hard to find skillset, I'm sure you would make a concession.

 

That was the circumstances around my experience.  I couldn't have negotiated that with just any position, but this one was a very unique situation.

 

But again, it shouldn't hurt to ask unless someone is being completely unreasonable with demands.

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"You do your own thing in your own time. You should be proud."

And thanks for all of the well wishes folks. To be honest, trepidation and anxiety didn't even have a chance to sink in just yet. Technically, I'm still on the roster of my old company, and I'll be getting a paycheck from them for the next year or so.


If anything, I think I may have gotten a new job too fast!

 

Been in that situation myself.  But, the double-dip paychecks are certainly a nice bonus. Congrats!

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Never argue with idiots. They drag you down to their level and beat you with experience.

Surely the cap isn't a "hard cap."

 

If there's a specific need with a talent with a unique/hard to find skillset, I'm sure you would make a concession.

 

That was the circumstances around my experience.  I couldn't have negotiated that with just any position, but this one was a very unique situation.

 

But again, it shouldn't hurt to ask unless someone is being completely unreasonable with demands.

 

Yes, each situation is it's own discussion, it's more of a guideline. Recently I had a candidate propose at 30% more than I wanted to pay, so it was a non-starter at that point. If I beat her down to my number she probably starts out disgruntled and it turns into a bad hire.

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“An empty vessel makes the loudest sound, so they that have the least wit are the greatest babblers.”. - Plato

Yes, each situation is it's own discussion, it's more of a guideline. Recently I had a candidate propose at 30% more than I wanted to pay, so it was a non-starter at that point. If I beat her down to my number she probably starts out disgruntled and it turns into a bad hire.

That's quite a jump.


Fascinating stuff.

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Just finished up a talk with the hiring manager.


I got an extra week of leave per year, a flexed schedule (but they are pretty loose when it comes to office hours anyway), a slight bump in pay and pushed back the start date until the middle of August.


Now I have to ask, for those of you that stated "no" do you think that negotiations are hostile? Why would having a discussion about something like this be a bad thing?

 

Well, to tell the truth, while my answer was "absolutely no," I'm not sure I'm right.   It depends on the situation, how bad you need the job, what type of job it is, your feel for what they expect in terms of negotiating, etc.   My answer was based on my personal experience and observation.   I've seen people who let pride stand in the way of making a rational, big-picture decision. 

 

But as I think about it, my answer ("absolutely not") may have been wrong.  If you're young, if your skills are in demand, if you think not negotiating would show the hiring manager that he's hiring a weak person, etc, etc.  And there are so many other factors. 

 

I never negotiated, and everything worked out well for me.  On the other hand, I have read that one reason women make less than men is because women are not as assertive in their salary demands.   You don't ask, you don't get.  

 

I guess it depends. 

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I was just given my company's offer for my permanent position; 6% raise and move up a paygrade from S07 to S08. All starting September 1st.

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I was just given my company's offer for my permanent position; 6% raise and move up a paygrade from S07 to S08. All starting September 1st.

 

 

Yeah DF, but have they unlocked your internet?

 

Otherwise, congrats!

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I'm trying to make myself more informed and less opinionated.

Stop saying whatever stupid thing you're talking about and pay attention to all the interesting things I have to say!

Well, to tell the truth, while my answer was "absolutely no," I'm not sure I'm right.   It depends on the situation, how bad you need the job, what type of job it is, your feel for what they expect in terms of negotiating, etc.   My answer was based on my personal experience and observation.   I've seen people who let pride stand in the way of making a rational, big-picture decision. 

 

But as I think about it, my answer ("absolutely not") may have been wrong.  If you're young, if your skills are in demand, if you think not negotiating would show the hiring manager that he's hiring a weak person, etc, etc.  And there are so many other factors. 

 

I never negotiated, and everything worked out well for me.  On the other hand, I have read that one reason women make less than men is because women are not as assertive in their salary demands.   You don't ask, you don't get.  

 

I guess it depends. 

 

Like most things in real life, an absolute answer is almost never right. As you stated, it depends. 

 

Believe me, I understand the perspective of "Don't get greedy, take what is offered" and "You are jeopardizing the offer if you try to negotiate." The reason why I raised the question was because I had gotten pretty much this self same advice (on both sides of the discussion) from other friends, former co-workers, professional job recruiters and so on. 

 

Regardless, I appreciate everyone's input.

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I'm trying to make myself more informed and less opinionated.

Stop saying whatever stupid thing you're talking about and pay attention to all the interesting things I have to say!

Yeah DF, but have they unlocked your internet?


Otherwise, congrats!

There's WiFi on janitorial equipment now?? Amazing.

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I was just given my company's offer for my permanent position; 6% raise and move up a paygrade from S07 to S08. All starting September 1st.

 

Are you going to counter with 10% and paygrade S09, starting when YOU say you start?

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Are you going to counter with 10% and paygrade S09, starting when YOU say you start?

Believe me, if I don't get what I want I'm going to throw all the toys out of the pram. 

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Yeah DF, but have they unlocked your internet?

If there's a restriction on my work internet I haven't found it yet. I wouldn't even by opposed to a block on Reddit for instance. I might actually get something done for a change.

 

There's WiFi on janitorial equipment now?? Amazing.

My job title is "Specialist Asset Management", thank you very much. 

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I'm going to be a very similar situation in the next year or so. I'm in a spot where I can be promoted if I apply for a higher level position. There isn't currently one available but that will be changing next year. The next level for me actually has a lower pay floor but a much higher ceiling. I've been told they don't negotiate the pay but they will negotiate stock options and company cars. I'll find out at some point if that's true but I definitely plan to negotiate.

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So I've received a job offer from a company and I was wondering how folks out there approach this. But first, a little background...


This is a new position for me and one that I have little to no experience in. I'm coming from a Design Engineer background and going into Technical Sales.


The only time I discussed compensation was a number I put on the company website when it asked for "Salary Requirement" and it was never discussed in any of the interviews.


The job offer I received pretty much nails that number and I've recently learned that it's lower than what a typical person makes in this position.


So... do you negotiate that number?

Hmm, I have only asked for an increased offer once after initial offer (and I hadn't listed what I was 'looking for.' I got it, but it wasn't fun.

 

If it's what you asked for and you try to up it, you come out looking like a Cheney and probably cost yourself the job. That's why I never put a number in those things. If it won't let me proceed without one, I enter zeroes. It's too easy for that to become a, "Well I know the position usually pays $75,000 per year, but you said online that you were looking for $65,000," pain in the Nixon.

Ditto. I always put 00000's and hope they offer me way more than I expect. They almost never do.

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Yes, it's improvement, but it's Blaine Gabbert 2012 level improvement. - Pirkster

http://youtu.be/ouGM3NWpjxk The Home Hypnotist!

http://youtu.be/XQRFkn0Ly3A Media on the Brain Link!
 

Peyton must store oxygen in that forehead of his. No way I'd still be alive after all that choking.

 

Depends what your position of negotiation is. If you have a job currently and you don't necessarily NEED this job, you have a little more leverage. If you are unemployed and need a job, you may not want to rock the boat.

 

Another factor to take into play is growth potential at the new company. Are merit increases small? Is it easy to move up? Will you be stuck around your starting salary for a long time? Is this job a springboard to another job? 


 

Lots of factors to take into play IMO. In hindsight, I would have left that number blank when filling out the application. TJBender is right, now you come out looking bad if you try to change it. If you don't currently NEED the job, you could always bring up that after further research you realized the offer is a bit low, but that could also backfire and look like you weren't prepared in the first place.

Good points. If it is a job with 'merit' increases, than it is much more important to get that initial number higher. If its cost of living based/scheduled, you don't have near as much to worry about. But merit in my experience = 1-2% raises a year at best if you get it.

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Yes, it's improvement, but it's Blaine Gabbert 2012 level improvement. - Pirkster

http://youtu.be/ouGM3NWpjxk The Home Hypnotist!

http://youtu.be/XQRFkn0Ly3A Media on the Brain Link!
 

Peyton must store oxygen in that forehead of his. No way I'd still be alive after all that choking.

 

If there's a restriction on my work internet I haven't found it yet. I wouldn't even by opposed to a block on Reddit for instance. I might actually get something done for a change.

 

My job title is "Specialist Asset Management", thank you very much. 

Is that what they call pimps in the netherlands?

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Yes, it's improvement, but it's Blaine Gabbert 2012 level improvement. - Pirkster

http://youtu.be/ouGM3NWpjxk The Home Hypnotist!

http://youtu.be/XQRFkn0Ly3A Media on the Brain Link!
 

Peyton must store oxygen in that forehead of his. No way I'd still be alive after all that choking.