RE: Negotiation questions

["Hightower, Mary" <mary -dot- hightower -at- corp -dot- bellsouth -dot- net>]

Agreed with what Stan said.

There are corporations what will offer a lower starting salary in hopes you
won't fight it (HR is trying to keep their budget down) or in preparations
for you to counter offer.  And don't let them snowball you with "well, we
offer lower salary because we have a great bonus plan and good benefits".
So do other companies, with higher salaries (especially in my part of the
country).

When I started with my current company I did get them to come up a little on
salary, then concerned they'd withdraw their offer, I took it.  In
orientation, I found out they had negotiated with one woman for 3 months!
If the company wants you, they'll meet your terms, but you have to be
willing to say, I'm sorry, but this is what I need.  Company X is willing to
offer...and if they say no, walk away with confidence.

Remember, most of her negotiations are with HR.  If she has any questions,
she should contact the manager that wants to hire her.  Example:  I could
not start for four weeks from the time of negotiations.  HR was fine with
the four weeks.

I told this to the manager that wanted to hire me, who wanted me to start
sooner, and she wanted to know what it would take to get me to come sooner.
I told her.  She said, "If [X] is what it will take to get you here, we'll
do it."

I related this to HR - "Oh, okay," was the surprisingly unhappy response -
they initially told me that it was not possible.  The agency I was working
through wouldn't even go to bat for me.  

Encourage her to negotiate and talk with the manager hiring for the
position.  If she can't move until she sells her house, then so be it.  

Above all, make sure that whatever they offer her is in that offer letter -
if it isn't stated in the offer letter, make them put it in there.

Thanks!

MEH
Atlanta, GA



-----Original Message-----
From: anonfwd -at- raycomm -dot- com [mailto:anonfwd -at- raycomm -dot- com]
Sent: Thursday, April 20, 2000 9:28 AM
To: TECHWR-L
Subject: FWD: Negotiation questions



A friend of mine has been offered a job out of the area, and I was hoping
someone on the list could help me help her with the negotiations (neither
of us has ever been in this situation).

The salary offered is about 10k less a year than the median average for
the area in which the job is located; however, the company is offering her
a lump sum "bonus" for relocation expenses or "whatever she wants to spend
it on"  that brings the salary close to the average.

Her immediate concern is: is it worth negotiating for more pay since the
combined total of the salary and bonus equals about the average for the
area?   (She thinks most companies try to "lowball" on their first offer,
so she's wondering if they are expecting her to counter-offer while hoping
she doesn't.)  I'd hate to see her sell herself short, but I also don't
want her to risk the job.

Her secondary concern is negotiating for time to start.  She can't rent
because she has pets, but she won't be able to close on a house for at
least 60 days.  Is that too much to ask for, in anyone's opinion?
Again, I'd hate for her to ask for too much and risk losing the job (it
has great benefits, including tuition reimbursement, and the company is
located near a school with a terrific Master's program).  She probably
could have someone watch the animals while she rents and looks for/closes
on a house, but she'd rather not.

On one hand she feels greedy for asking them to get the salary closer to
the median average because 1) the other benefits are so great and 2)
because the salary is close to the average for the first year (including
the bonus).  On the other hand, I know she'd like to be at least a little
closer to the average (thinking about the future, when she may start
resenting being so far behind the average), and it seems to me they should
understand the time she needs to buy a house.

Does anyone have any insights or tips on how to negotiate?  Is she out of
her mind to ask for more?  Or out of her mind to take the job as offered?
Any tips on how to ask for a higher salary - does she just say "I can't
take less than $X"?  She's supposed to call them this afternoon, so
immediate responses would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks in advance.



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