Salary Negotiations

[dmw16]

Ok, so here is the situation. I am 3 credits (1 class) away from graduating (will graduate this December). This summer I am interning (as an engineering intern) with a large aerospace company and apparently I have impressed them enough that they want to make me an offer within the next month or so. This works out well because once I am part time I go off my parents health insurance so getting an offer and accepting now would mean I wouldn't need to go without insurance or pay out of pocket.

So my question...how do you go about negotiating a salary? I am worried they are going to try and low-ball me. I hav done some research and the national salary average for a starting aerospace engineer is about $50k. I would really like to get $52-54k. The fact that they want to make me an offer now indicates that they want me, so I think that is worth something. But by taking an offer now I am limiting my ability to shop around for jobs (and better pay) which I can accept since I like the people and the place. How do I handle myself and them so that I get a fair salary and they don't think I am just being greedy?

Thanks in advance.

 

[SouthPaW1227]

I'm in a similar boat.

However, I'm coming out w/ a B.S. in Business Management and the average salary for those HERE (eastern NC, cheap living) is about $35k. They're offering $50k. It's a no-brainer for me to accept it and start working for them when I graduate next year.

It's EXTREMELY hard to negotiate without a counter-offer. If somehow you can interview for a position at another company and get a ballpark offer, GET IT! If you can attack Company A w/ the offer from Company B, you have a lot to work with and they'll realize you'll straight walk unless they can match that offer. Without a counter-offer, research national averages and try to find data leaning on the high side. Take that info with you and use that to suggest a starting salary based on your dedicated, grades, AND the fact that you're already trained (big $$).

Another thing: it's not always about cash. Try to get extra week's paid vacation, or free/discounted health plans, etc. That stuff equates to money as well. Hey, best of luck, and congrats on getting through a tough, tough major!

 

[Bulldog13]

Originally posted by: SouthPaW1227
I'm in a similar boat.

However, I'm coming out w/ a B.S. in Business Management and the average salary for those HERE (eastern NC, cheap living) is about $35k. They're offering $50k. It's a no-brainer for me to accept it and start working for them when I graduate next year.

It's EXTREMELY hard to negotiate without a counter-offer. If somehow you can interview for a position at another company and get a ballpark offer, GET IT! If you can attack Company A w/ the offer from Company B, you have a lot to work with and they'll realize you'll straight walk unless they can match that offer. Without a counter-offer, research national averages and try to find data leaning on the high side. Take that info with you and use that to suggest a starting salary based on your dedicated, grades, AND the fact that you're already trained (big $$).

Another thing: it's not always about cash. Try to get extra week's paid vacation, or free/discounted health plans, etc. That stuff equates to money as well. Hey, best of luck, and congrats on getting through a tough, tough major!

How cheap is Eastern NC living ? I'm paying $1000 a month for a 3 bed room and no utilities included (CT). Paying $1.50 a gallon for gas.

As to the op, when they make their offer and if it is below 50k tell them you want 50k. If it s above it, you re golden. If it is 50k just take it.

But yeah, get another offer from another company. If you can't you can bluff, but you risk losing the job.

 

[EKKC]

keep interviewing. screw corporate loyalty especially when you havent started yet.

i am leaving my 62k job. i accepted a 80k after bonus new job to resign my company because another wont talk to me due to a company partnership. they gave me an offer, threw out a bunch of random number offers and only told me 80k fixed salary with chance to go to base plus bonus, numbers unspecified. so i go to another one and they offer me 75k+15kbonus and accepted and even faxed the paperwork. now the second company freaks out and comes back to me yesterday asking me to rethink everything and tell me i can get 75k+50% bonus. so now obviously i am going to tell the third company to void all the paperwork, but i need to handle all this delicately.

 

[BAMAVOO]

Originally posted by: Bulldog13

Originally posted by: SouthPaW1227
I'm in a similar boat.

However, I'm coming out w/ a B.S. in Business Management and the average salary for those HERE (eastern NC, cheap living) is about $35k. They're offering $50k. It's a no-brainer for me to accept it and start working for them when I graduate next year.

It's EXTREMELY hard to negotiate without a counter-offer. If somehow you can interview for a position at another company and get a ballpark offer, GET IT! If you can attack Company A w/ the offer from Company B, you have a lot to work with and they'll realize you'll straight walk unless they can match that offer. Without a counter-offer, research national averages and try to find data leaning on the high side. Take that info with you and use that to suggest a starting salary based on your dedicated, grades, AND the fact that you're already trained (big $$).

Another thing: it's not always about cash. Try to get extra week's paid vacation, or free/discounted health plans, etc. That stuff equates to money as well. Hey, best of luck, and congrats on getting through a tough, tough major!

How cheap is Eastern NC living ? I'm paying $1000 a month for a 3 bed room and no utilities included (CT). Paying $1.50 a gallon for gas.

As to the op, when they make their offer and if it is below 50k tell them you want 50k. If it s above it, you re golden. If it is 50k just take it.

But yeah, get another offer from another company. If you can't you can bluff, but you risk losing the job.

WOW! :shocked:

 

[akubi]

getting two companies into a bidding war is a discouraged practice.

if it's around the average just take it and aim for performance bonuses and raises.

 

[rgreen83]

Originally posted by: BAMAVOO

Originally posted by: Bulldog13

Originally posted by: SouthPaW1227
I'm in a similar boat.

However, I'm coming out w/ a B.S. in Business Management and the average salary for those HERE (eastern NC, cheap living) is about $35k. They're offering $50k. It's a no-brainer for me to accept it and start working for them when I graduate next year.

It's EXTREMELY hard to negotiate without a counter-offer. If somehow you can interview for a position at another company and get a ballpark offer, GET IT! If you can attack Company A w/ the offer from Company B, you have a lot to work with and they'll realize you'll straight walk unless they can match that offer. Without a counter-offer, research national averages and try to find data leaning on the high side. Take that info with you and use that to suggest a starting salary based on your dedicated, grades, AND the fact that you're already trained (big $$).

Another thing: it's not always about cash. Try to get extra week's paid vacation, or free/discounted health plans, etc. That stuff equates to money as well. Hey, best of luck, and congrats on getting through a tough, tough major!

How cheap is Eastern NC living ? I'm paying $1000 a month for a 3 bed room and no utilities included (CT). Paying $1.50 a gallon for gas.

As to the op, when they make their offer and if it is below 50k tell them you want 50k. If it s above it, you re golden. If it is 50k just take it.

But yeah, get another offer from another company. If you can't you can bluff, but you risk losing the job.

WOW! :shocked:

Agreed, thats just weird. housing is half that here and gas is $2.30, WTFs up with that?

 

[Otaking]

Originally posted by: akubi
getting two companies into a bidding war is a discouraged practice.

if it's around the average just take it and aim for performance bonuses and raises.

Yeah, really tacky. Specify an offer that you're comfortable with, and if they accept, go with that.

I did, and I'm fine with my lifestyle.

 

[EKKC]

Originally posted by: akubi
getting two companies into a bidding war is a discouraged practice.

if it's around the average just take it and aim for performance bonuses and raises.

why? you're looking out for yourself. call me a money whore but there's no need to be afraid to negotiate, you know companies don't give two shvts about you when the time comes to lay people off

 

[Garet Jax]

Originally posted by: EKKC

Originally posted by: akubi
getting two companies into a bidding war is a discouraged practice.

if it's around the average just take it and aim for performance bonuses and raises.

why? you're looking out for yourself. call me a money whore but there's no need to be afraid to negotiate, you know companies don't give two shvts about you when the time comes to lay people off

Negotiate yes - leverage no. If you play one off against the other, then you will end up accepting one of the two jobs and will have potentially harmed the relationship before even starting.

Negotiate for as good a salary as you can from oth places, but do so without holding the one offer over the other's head.

If the place you want to work can't/won't pay your price, but the other one will then approach the first company and say:

"I really want to work with you guys - I think it would be a great fit professionally and personally (give examples why), but I would be more comfortable with X salary."

If they hit it great, if not, you have a choice to make.

 

[Bulldog13]

Meant $2.50 heh

Whoops

 

[GeneValgene]

keep interviewing so you have some leverage. it is hard to negotiate if you don't have a counteroffer, as mentioned above.

however, here is another option if they dont' give you a bump in salary. somtimes you can negotiate in other areas, for example, an accelerated promotion structure. i know someone who accepted the offer, but asked for a performance evaluation after 2 months. the agreement was that if his performance was outstanding, they would give him the salary bump at taht time...that way, both parties win.

 

[jiggahertz]

I'm not sure, but I would think you're benefits (health insurance) wouldn't kick in until you start working. Might want to double check on that.

 

[Yossarian]

Originally posted by: dmw16
So my question...how do you go about negotiating a salary? I am worried they are going to try and low-ball me. I hav done some research and the national salary average for a starting aerospace engineer is about $50k. I would really like to get $52-54k. The fact that they want to make me an offer now indicates that they want me, so I think that is worth something. But by taking an offer now I am limiting my ability to shop around for jobs (and better pay) which I can accept since I like the people and the place. How do I handle myself and them so that I get a fair salary and they don't think I am just being greedy?

Thanks in advance.

well you are being greedy, why do you think you deserve more than average?

 

[SouthPaW1227]

I see nothing wrong with cautious leveraging. You're looking out for yourself. Companies earning BILLIONS each year don't care about ~$10k/year. You will, that's a lot of money.

And I'm paying $375/month for a room in a 3-bedroom place w/ ALL utilities (even internet) included. ~$2.19 for gas.

 

[Kalbi]

Originally posted by: dmw16
Ok, so here is the situation. I am 3 credits (1 class) away from graduating (will graduate this December). This summer I am interning (as an engineering intern) with a large aerospace company and apparently I have impressed them enough that they want to make me an offer within the next month or so. This works out well because once I am part time I go off my parents health insurance so getting an offer and accepting now would mean I wouldn't need to go without insurance or pay out of pocket.

So my question...how do you go about negotiating a salary? I am worried they are going to try and low-ball me. I hav done some research and the national salary average for a starting aerospace engineer is about $50k. I would really like to get $52-54k. The fact that they want to make me an offer now indicates that they want me, so I think that is worth something. But by taking an offer now I am limiting my ability to shop around for jobs (and better pay) which I can accept since I like the people and the place. How do I handle myself and them so that I get a fair salary and they don't think I am just being greedy?

Thanks in advance.

you are dime a dozen. unless they are shortstaffed and you have other offers on the table, they likely will not up their offer.

 

[KEV1N]

Keep in mind that you are not very experienced. If you ask for an above average salary, how would you justify it?

 

[Ausm]

Tell them you come in into work 15 minuites late through the side door

Ausm

 

[habib89]

i'd take it.. finish your last semester.. get some good experience.. you don't have to stay there forever you know.. and once you get a couple years under your belt, you can start looking for a higher paying job, and negotiating salary then.. right now, they can basically hire anyone in any of the classes that you're taking... hell, if you ask for 52k, let them know i'll take 50k and i'll take your job.. =)

 

[dmw16]

Thanks for some of the suggestions. I know my benifits kick in immediatly because it was my asking about benifits that led the HR person to tell me about an offer being in the works.

As for what I have to offer, granted I am (or will be) a new grad, but I will have been here as an intern already and I know how the place works. I also have impressed all of the managers with my work so far, so giving me an extra 2k a year means they know what they are getting.

They are also short staffed. They have 30 open spots right now for engineers (or at least that is what they said in our bi-yearly "state of the union" type meeting).

I have also spoken with a few people about how HR and personel departments work. Usually if they make an offer they have 10-20% "wiggle" room past that offer. And if they make someone an offer and the HR person fails to retain that person they have to answer to their bosses. It isn't like the hiring person is the grand master of hiring - everyone has to answer to someone for something

I should know more tomorrow, so we'll see what happens from here.

All in all it seems like people don't think I'd be in the wrong to try and get a few more thousand from them. Rent in this area is $800-$900 a month for a 1 bedroom before utilities. So an extra few thousand would help a lot. The difference between $50k and $55k is a lot more meaningful to them then to me.

So if they offer me $50k how do I ask for more? What do I say?

 

[Kalbi]

Originally posted by: dmw16
Thanks for some of the suggestions. I know my benifits kick in immediatly because it was my asking about benifits that led the HR person to tell me about an offer being in the works.

As for what I have to offer, granted I am (or will be) a new grad, but I will have been here as an intern already and I know how the place works. I also have impressed all of the managers with my work so far, so giving me an extra 2k a year means they know what they are getting.

They are also short staffed. They have 30 open spots right now for engineers (or at least that is what they said in our bi-yearly "state of the union" type meeting).

I have also spoken with a few people about how HR and personel departments work. Usually if they make an offer they have 10-20% "wiggle" room past that offer. And if they make someone an offer and the HR person fails to retain that person they have to answer to their bosses. It isn't like the hiring person is the grand master of hiring - everyone has to answer to someone for something

I should know more tomorrow, so we'll see what happens from here.

All in all it seems like people don't think I'd be in the wrong to try and get a few more thousand from them. Rent in this area is $800-$900 a month for a 1 bedroom before utilities. So an extra few thousand would help a lot. The difference between $50k and $55k is a lot more meaningful to them then to me.

So if they offer me $50k how do I ask for more? What do I say?

this isn't a small business, they're not going to shortchange you. i'm pretty sure they'll give you market + intern exp. $2k sounds right.

 

[Koing]

Updates?

Koing

 

[91TTZ]

Originally posted by: dmw16

So my question...how do you go about negotiating a salary? I am worried they are going to try and low-ball me.

Any company is going to try to lowball you at first. They'll throw a low figure out there just to see if you'd take it. If you do, then they got a great deal. However, you can probably negotiate them up a bit to what you want.

 

[5LiterMustang]

You dont know if they're going to lowball you or not. I had several companies offer me jobs and non of them lowballed me. I graduated in May of this year and I have to say you need to look at more then money. I had a couple offers from the federal government that over the course of two or three years I'd be making great money. The benefits were amazing. I ultimately decided on my current job because the starting pay was good, but it wasn't the best offer I recieved. I am making 47k + bonuses living in Oklahoma. My other offers that were higher were from northrop grunman, exxon mobile, atmos energy, and the federal government. Starting pay ranged from 55k to 64k on those jobs and they all required that I move. You need to consider things like pay + benefits and more importantly, potential to move up and around inside the company.

 

[GoingUp]

look at salary.com for what people make in your field and in your location..