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Need advice on job offer, negotiate?

J

jingramm

Senior member
I have two years of work experience and the new job offer is only 15% above what I am making now. I feel a little disappointed by this offer but I realize that most people only get 15%-20% when they switch to new jobs. Is that right?

My main focus when I was looking for a new job is to switch locations (move away from my current city) and to take a position that will give me better work experience.

This new company that offered me a job is relatively new to the industry and unproven. However, they are currently growing at a fast rate and bring on board lots of people. The relocation didn't happen (they want me stuck in the same city) but I am not happy at my current job. Whatever I'll be doing at this new company should be better than what I am doing now even though the brand name of my current company > new company's name.

I tried to negotiate an office transfer to where I want to live but the demand is too high in this location for them to consider it now. "After you join, you can look into transferring locations." What's the best way to counter this?

Given that I have two years of relevant work experience and a masters degree that I completed while working which they didn't even look at it seems like, what should I negotiate the salary to be? I was hoping for 30% increase. Is that too unreasonable? I wasn't making much to begin with.
 
Come up with a list of reasons why you believe you're worth more money, why you should get more money (not able to relocate as you'd hoped), and why they should give it to you. Don't counter too high unless you're 100% sure you're worth that money.

Carefully and professionally summarize these reasons to the company and that if they can offer you $XX you would happily accept employment with them.
 
jingramm said:
I have two years of work experience and the new job offer is only 15% above what I am making now. I feel a little disappointed by this offer but I realize that most people only get 15%-20% when they switch to new jobs. Is that right?

My main focus when I was looking for a new job is to switch locations (move away from my current city) and to take a position that will give me better work experience.

This new company that offered me a job is relatively new to the industry and unproven. However, they are currently growing at a fast rate and bring on board lots of people. The relocation didn't happen (they want me stuck in the same city) but I am not happy at my current job. Whatever I'll be doing at this new company should be better than what I am doing now even though the brand name of my current company > new company's name.

I tried to negotiate an office transfer to where I want to live but the demand is too high in this location for them to consider it now. "After you join, you can look into transferring locations." What's the best way to counter this?

Given that I have two years of relevant work experience and a masters degree that I completed while working which they didn't even look at it seems like, what should I negotiate the salary to be? I was hoping for 30% increase. Is that too unreasonable? I wasn't making much to begin with.
Click to expand...

Two years isn't a tremendous amount of experience to be honest. What field, and what is your Master's in?
 
I don't think you can counter the issue on relocating.

You can't measure anything by how big a raise you are being offered. Your new company's salary guidelines are obviously unrelated to what your current company does. When I make an offer to someone, I have to stick to the guidelines of our company and that has zero to do with what someone was making at their previous job. Sometimes it's a 40% raise, sometimes it's a pay cut (and sometimes they accept it because of other factors).

Take child of wonder's advice. That's going to be your strongest approach.
 
jingramm said:
field is IT delivery and master's is in Engineering
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They probably aren't considering the Master's degree because maybe it isn't relevant to the position.

A 15% raise is nothing to sneeze at, and I don't think you will get them to budge on relocation. If you dislike your current job so much, I don't know why you wouldn't jump on this offer and maybe down the road, can transfer to the location you desire. Does your current company have a branch office close to your desired location?
 
The fact you expect to be happier with the new job is worth it in my mind.

I've been offered over a 50% increase I turned down just because my current job offered to relocate me, which was worth more to me. I haven't regretted it yet.

That being said, best time to look for a job is while you have one. If they aren't offering you terms you like, simply don't take it. Alternative to asking for more money is asking for more vacation time.
 
kranky said:
I don't think you can counter the issue on relocating.

You can't measure anything by how big a raise you are being offered. Your new company's salary guidelines are obviously unrelated to what your current company does. When I make an offer to someone, I have to stick to the guidelines of our company and that has zero to do with what someone was making at their previous job. Sometimes it's a 40% raise, sometimes it's a pay cut (and sometimes they accept it because of other factors).

Take child of wonder's advice. That's going to be your strongest approach.
Click to expand...

We're the same. We have very set salary guidelines, and we also can't go too high over what everyone else in the department is currently making, or it will create equity issues. People try to quibble with it and we say no, you can't just change this to make it fit what they demand.
 
Relocation is only going to work if the new location wants you.

It has nothing to do with you wanting them - that is secondary.
 
if I negotiate too hard, can they just drop my offer? I don't want to lose the offer but want a higher salary if relocation isn't possible

according to what the recruiter said, my interview feedback was very positive
 
Common Courtesy said:
Relocation is only going to work if the new location wants you.

It has nothing to do with you wanting them - that is secondary.
Click to expand...

well, this is an advisory company where many of the employees travel (think of a Big 4 advisory arm for example) so I would like to be based out of a different office than the city I am stuck in now
 
SunnyD said:
You're going to quibble over $25,000? Pish.
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The hiring manager is obviously a moron if he even questioned it... the calculation error is to the companys advantage. He should have quickly agreed since he'd be saving his company $25k/year. 1,050k/2 = $525k/year.
 
jingramm said:
if I negotiate too hard, can they just drop my offer? I don't want to lose the offer but want a higher salary if relocation isn't possible

according to what the recruiter said, my interview feedback was very positive
Click to expand...

They can do whatever they want and so can you.

Never accept a job offer without making at least a modest counter offer (unless their initial offer is far beyond what you hoped for). 99.99% of the time the worst that'll happen is they refuse. Then you smile, shrug your shoulders, and say "I had to try."

If they're offering you 15% more than what you make now, ask for 20% more. Give some reasons why you think you deserve it, how you'll prove to them you're worth it, and how you think the job is a great fit and you'd be excited to work for them. Don't be afraid to ask for other benefits like more vacation time, maybe an internet or cell phone stipend if you'll be working from home a lot or be required to answer your phone during off hours or travel, etc.

Worst case they say "no," typical case they'll counter with an offer of 17-18% more than your current wage, best case they accept your counter.
 
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You are in the drivers seat because you already have a stable job.
Counter offer with a 25% increase and see what happens.
 
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