I got the job... Should I negotiate the salary? ***UPDATE***

[jEct2]

I asked $17 even @ $35K. The HR girl said it's highly unlikely due to equity of the position compared to others. I nicely presented my case regarding my qualification & expectations. She said the budget's been tied up and it would be pretty much what it is but she can still ask the manager who holds the decision.

I told her to go ahead, thinking 'what's there to lose?' After hanging up, she called me right back in 5 minutes. She was able to get a hold of manager very quick and he basically said no.

wtf... poor me. I'll still be taking the position because of the situation I had described below.

Oh well. Hey at least I got A job right? :beer:


[prev. edit]
I received the offer letter via .pdf.

They're paying me $15.39/hr non-exempt to be a project coordinator. (roughly 30K)

1. Should I negotiate this less-than-expected salary?

What I'm afraid of:
*This is the last resort job. I really have to get hired fast in order for me to move out and be independent. The offer has already been made.
*Can they take the offer away by me trying to negotiate?
*I'd be happy with Anything more than what I'm offered. Maybe 32-33K?

2. If I were to negotiate, how do I go about doing so? Simply call the HR dept and present them my case? How should I roll the ball?
*Ask for 35K and hope for 32-33K as a middle ground... (sounds dangerous)
*Just ask for 32-33K straight up.

3. What does non-exempt mean?

 

[laurenlex]

Did you accept the job without discussing salary?

 

[bigrash]

non-exempt means you're not a supervisor/manager and you're entitled to overtime. you also don't get the privleges of managers

negotiating is pretty usual these days. if you want a good excuse, you can always say that you received another offer for a higher salary from a different company, but you'd really like to work for the company that you're interviewing with. but be careful on how you do this cause you might jeopardize the offer

 

[Ronin]

Non-exempt is normally a good thing in a job where OT is likely. This compensates for a slightly lower wage (which will more than likely be the case).

 

[radioouman]

non-exempt means you will get overtime, and it is probably expected that you will get overtime. I wouldn't negotiate if I were you.

 

[talyn00]

If I did my math correctly, your $15.39/hour is about 32k annually assuming 40 hour work weeks. You also didn't mention any benefits that you'd be getting, that can also be a factor. Would you get bonuses or anything?


But you can still try to negotiate for higher

 

[Phoenix86]

*didn't read anything but the title*
OF COURSE!!! You have nothing to lose, they aren't going to say no if you are anywhere near their offer.

*after reading*
Non-expemt means you are not expemt from overtime (you are hourly).
Also, since you are hourly, you need to negoiate on those terms, not $K/year. Do the math before-hand on several points so you know where they end up on the scale you are looking at.

 

[jEct2]

Originally posted by: Phoenix86
You have nothing to lose

Um.. the job offer?

 

[Phoenix86]

Originally posted by: talyn00
If I did my math correctly, your $15.39/hour is about 32k annually assuming 40 hour work weeks. You also didn't mention any benefits that you'd be getting, that can also be a factor. Would you get bonuses or anything?


But you can still try to negotiate for higher

It's easiest to multiply by 2000, 40 hours in a week, 50 work weeks in a year (can also be done in the head easier). That excludes PTO/Vaccation/bonuses. That comes out to 30780.

 

[Kelemvor]

You can always negotiate but if there are multiple qualified candidates, they can just say sorry and give it to someone else.

You could say something like... That salary is less than I was expecting the offer to be. Can we negotiate on that number or could you tell me how the advancement/review process works so when I perform my duties better than expected I know what sort of raises to look for and how often?

 

[Darkstar757]

ask for more money dont be affraid they they say no then take what they offer

 

[Phoenix86]

Originally posted by: jEct2

Originally posted by: Phoenix86
You have nothing to lose

Um.. the job offer?

Sure if it goes like this.

Them- We offer $30K
You - I was looking for something about $60K.
Them- OK, we'll find someone else.

If you are asking for a ~10% difference and negotiate, you aren't likely to lose the offer. Sure I guess it's a hair risky, which is why I said stay near their offer amount.

I wouldn't want to work for a place that simply turned down anyone that made a counter-offer. That's major ignorance, and is bound to be elsewhere (policies or whatever).

 

[HeroOfPellinor]

The $20 per paycheck isn't worth losing the job over. But be prepared come review time with any additional tasks you've assumed to make a case for a raise. Or take it and look for something else.

 

[Ronin]

Originally posted by: Phoenix86

Originally posted by: jEct2

Originally posted by: Phoenix86
You have nothing to lose

Um.. the job offer?

Sure if it goes like this.

Them- We offer $30K
You - I was looking for something about $60K.
Them- OK, we'll find someone else.

If you are asking for a ~10% difference and negotiate, you aren't likely to lose the offer. Sure I guess it's a hair risky, which is why I said stay near their offer amount.

I wouldn't want to work for a place that simply turned down anyone that made a counter-offer. That's major ignorance, and is bound to be elsewhere (policies or whatever).

There's definitely some common sense there...you don't throw out 60k if they're talking 30 They know damn well you're probably going to negotiate, which is why you end up playing the low ball/high ball game, but eventually, you'll get to where they're able to go, and hopefully you'll be happy with that as well.

 

[leftyman]

Originally posted by: radioouman
non-exempt means you will get overtime, and it is probably expected that you will get overtime. I wouldn't negotiate if I were you.

 

[Phoenix86]

I don't understand something, for those of you who are saying not to negotiate, why?

Since my first job (14, 29 now) I have never lost a job in the negotiation process, nor have I ever taken a job for the starting pay. Even at 14 I negotiated a $.25 difference on minimum wage.

 

[jEct2]

Anyone wanan help me reviewing my benefits package?

I just have several questions.

 

[leftyman]

looking for an extra 2500/yr = $50/week offered $15.39/hr 2 hrs overtime gives him what he is looking for. its his last resort job, if they refuse him hes got no other offers

 

[bigrash]

Originally posted by: jEct2
Anyone wanan help me reviewing my benefits package?

I just have several questions.

send me a pm. i work in hr and i do a little benefits so i might be able to help you out.

 

[jEct2]

Originally posted by: leftyman
looking for an extra 2500/yr = $50/week offered $15.39/hr 2 hrs overtime gives him what he is looking for. its his last resort job, if they refuse him hes got no other offers

Negotiating also sets stone for rest of my career path.

*Lower starting salary means lower leverage for my future raises. (5% raise with 32K vs. 36K makes huge difference.)
*It also affects my future salary should I choose to go with other companies. They're gonna know how much I make, thus I have less room for salary climb.

It's like damn compounding. If I start low, I'm just that screwed for many many years.

 

[spidey07]

asking for 20-25% above what is offered is OK. Its your call on what you are worth though.

But in reality it would be better to do the negotiations verbally and then verbally accept and ask for the offer letter.

 

[leftyman]

Originally posted by: jEct2

Originally posted by: leftyman
looking for an extra 2500/yr = $50/week offered $15.39/hr 2 hrs overtime gives him what he is looking for. its his last resort job, if they refuse him hes got no other offers

Negotiating also sets stone for rest of my career path.

*Lower starting salary means lower leverage for my future raises. (5% raise with 32K vs. 36K makes huge difference.)
*It also affects my future salary should I choose to go with other companies. They're gonna know how much I make, thus I have less room for salary climb.

It's like damn compounding. If I start low, I'm just that screwed for many many years.

having job = good unemployed = suck

 

[spidey07]

Setting the start of your career too low = sucks even worse.

 

[Gravity]

I would negotiate. They can simply say no or they can modify their offer. Being exempt means NO OVERTIME!!! So, if the project requires lots of hours, you're not going to be compensated for them.

Do some sort of salary survey for your credentials and your field in the local area. That's what you present to them. Don't be afraid to walk either. If you are the #1 candidate and you're being reasonable, you will get the job. Employers will pay more for the right guy vs. taking candidate #2.

 

[Phoenix86]

Originally posted by: Phoenix86
I don't understand something, for those of you who are saying not to negotiate, why?

Since my first job (14, 29 now) I have never lost a job in the negotiation process, nor have I ever taken a job for the starting pay. Even at 14 I negotiated a $.25 difference on minimum wage.

Anyone? Lefty? bigrash (really curious what the HR side has to say about this)?