Job offer today

[pnad]

Working at a company via temp/consulting for 6 months.
Company is going to make me an offer for fulltime today.

The bargainer in me says never take the 1st offer. I am not seeing any downsides to making a counter offer. They know me, they want me. I can't imagine that they would tell me to 'walk' for asking for more.

I anticipate they will offer me plenty of $$$, what I am really after is more PTO. I already worked here 6 months without any vacation. I don't want to deal with the typical pro-rated BS few days till the end of 2006 then 2 weeks after that. Then wait 5 years to get 3 weeks. I was thinking 1 week now then 3 weeks come 2007.

Reasonable? Opinions?

If it matters, network engineer position 5 years exp. The company pays above local average and likes to keep employees happy.

Update: Didn't get the 3 weeks I wanted, but they gave me a week to use until January. Normally they make new hires wait 6 months.

 

[Aharami]

thats pretty crappy PTO. 3 weeks is norm IMO

 

[Injury]

Always wait a day to give a response... don't make it immediate.

If you know what you want (and clearly you do), then ask for it.

 

[j00fek]

suck it up, most places dont give PTO till after the first yr of working

 

[ch33zw1z]

^^, I don't get any...I get two weeks after one year, which is soon....but I still won't use it until the summer

 

[Exterous]

It depends on the company. In the business world, it is competely acceptable to counter an offer - if done properly. It requires a delicate handeling of the situation and depends on the relationship you have with those offering you your job. Since you've worked there for 6 mo then you probably have a great view on how they act. If you know they want you and that they have room to bargin then go for it. If done respectfully, the chances of them turning you done for the job completely is slim.

Here is a good site:
http://www.quintcareers.com/salary_negotiation.html

 

[pnad]

Originally posted by: j00fek
suck it up, most places dont give PTO till after the first yr of working

That is the attitude the MAN wants you to have! You are human, you have choices. Very sheepish to just accept something because 'that's just the way it is'.

Hell, why not try for more PTO? Any reasons not to counter?

Just spoke to my Pop about this. He hops jobs quite a bit. Apparently he bargains for PTO, the cost of benefits and review dates. Obviously he is still working while hunting; has nothing to lose and shoots for the moon. "Son, all they can do is say no."

 

[spidey07]

Completely acceptible. If the pay is where you want to be then ask for 3 weeks vacation, plus 5 personal days, plus normal company holidays.

It's hard to put a price on time off.

 

[pnad]

Originally posted by: Exterous
Here is a good site:
http://www.quintcareers.com/salary_negotiation.html

Very helpfull, thanks!

 

[EKKC]

it wont hurt to negotiate now. worst case scenario they say no to your request but they cant back out on their original offer

 

[Exterous]

Originally posted by: EKKC
but they cant back out on their original offer

Hmmm, I thought they could.....?

 

[Injury]

Originally posted by: Exterous

Originally posted by: EKKC
but they cant back out on their original offer

Hmmm, I thought they could.....?

well, the CAN, but if they wanted to hire him, why would they back out after he asked for something more?

God forbid a company decide to keep someone with a spine around.

 

[AreaCode707]

Ask for what you really want; it can never hurt. Be aware that some companies have policies about things like that that they can't break. (MS, for instance, does not give PTO exceptions to ANYBODY).

 

[Cal166]

I am sort of in the same situation. I have been here with the company for over a year and a half, they finally gave me a promotion and when they showed me the numbers and I told them I was very disappointed and probably said a bit too much after that (noobie mistake). Anyways, I told them I'll think about it and whatnot, manager tried to convince me couple of times that the offer was good on the table. I still decline...weird thing is that the whole situation is still in a stand still, I get the pay raise+8k to get my MCSE(manager way to convincing me) but no title and no official announcement.

EDIT: Be careful on what you say and request...its all BS politics. My managers said, well if we give you what you want, what about the next promotion....you will be unhappy and demand more.

 

[pnad]

Update: Didn't get the 3 weeks I wanted, but they gave me a week to use until January. Normally they make new hires wait 6 months.

HR didn't want to budge from company PTO policy for fairness to other employees. Understandable I guess. If I flapped my gums to the co-workers it could cause some ill feelings.