YAJT: how do i politely counter offer the salary amount?

[Maximus96]

I put down $60k as the desired amount in the application. the new company offered $56k. currently making $52k but due for a raise this month. the previous 2 raises were around 10% each. i want to work for the new company because its 10 minutes away from home as compared to the 100-mile commute now but i want to ask for more money...whats the polite way to ask?

 

[Phokus]

Hold a gun to their heads 😀 (i can dream, can't i?)

 

[konichiwa]

Say you are making 58k in your other job and you need 2k more to make it worth the transition to the new company...negotiation is all about white lies

 

[bradruth]

"56k? Ooo, man, release that tight grip ya got on my balls. Breakin' my balls, man."

 

[aplefka]

Originally posted by: bradruth
"56k? Ooo, man, release that tight grip ya got on my balls. Breakin' my balls, man."

:laugh:

 

[Maximus96]

i already put down that i currently make $52k, but the new place don't know that i'm due for raise this month since its been my 3rd year working at the current job.

 

[konichiwa]

So tell them you're getting a raise to 58

 

[ghostman]

Something along the lines of "I didn't feel the salary that was offered was appropriate for my skill level, but I am interested at working at your company. Perhaps we can discuss whether a higher salary is an option..." And if you're walking away from a partially vested pension, 401k or other perk that is not available at this new company, feel free to bring it up.

But don't be greedy and ask for something you don't actually deserve, since they might ask you to justify a higher salary.

 

[imported_Kensai]

Originally posted by: konichiwa
So tell them you're getting a raise to 58

^

 

[ActuaryTm]

I defer to Terrell Owens.

 

[Descartes]

What did you expect? You asked for $60k and they countered right in the middle between your request and what you previously made. You could counter with $58k, but I would personally be turned off by such a counter, and if I had any doubts about your candidacy that would likely push you out of favor.

That said, what I would do is counter with something else. Ask for vacation before the first 6mos/year. Ask for a bonus. Create a new negotiations path, because the current one is dead.

IMO

 

[Maximus96]

i don't want to end up losing the offer tho' because i do want to switch jobs and work for this new place. can't beat a 5 minute commute, especially at the rate gas price is going. it'll save me a lot not having a hundred-mile commute...but anther part of me wants more money...

 

[sygyzy]

What's great is that your commute is cut by 90% but that's not enough for you. You want it all. That's the spirit. I wholly support you.

 

[Descartes]

Originally posted by: konichiwa
So tell them you're getting a raise to 58

No offense, but please do *not* do this.

Lies are one thing, but such ridiculous ones are another. You started the negotiations in ill favor, because you weren't willing to accept the counter even though you should have known what it would be (if you didn't... that concerns me)! You can't counter again with new supporting arguments (lies); it will look ridiculous, they will know you are lying, and you will fall out of favor... guaranteed.

Your original window of negotiation was small, and their counter leaves you little room. If you want more seek a new window... let this one die.

 

[BRObedoza]

Originally posted by: ActuaryTm
I defer to Terrell Owens.

and hire Drew Rosenhaus

 

[Auryg]

Just go to the new job. 2k isn't worth it, especially because you'll be saving more than that on gas alone.

 

[Maximus96]

Originally posted by: Descartes
What did you expect? You asked for $60k and they countered right in the middle between your request and what you previously made. You could counter with $58k, but I would personally be turned off by such a counter, and if I had any doubts about your candidacy that would likely push you out of favor.

That said, what I would do is counter with something else. Ask for vacation before the first 6mos/year. Ask for a bonus. Create a new negotiations path, because the current one is dead.

IMO

i have no experience with negotiotions. i've been at my job for the past 3 years since i graduated and 3 years ago i took whenever they offer because i was fresh out of school. i was told the new company was 'very excited' about hiring me to join the team and they're #24 in the nation's biggest design firms. what other negotiation paths can i bring up? how would i ask for a bonus before i even start?

i'm a noob at negotiating.

 

[Maximus96]

Originally posted by: Auryg
Just go to the new job. 2k isn't worth it, especially because you'll be saving more than that on gas alone.

you are probably right.

 

[Dacalo]

Originally posted by: Maximus96

Originally posted by: Descartes
What did you expect? You asked for $60k and they countered right in the middle between your request and what you previously made. You could counter with $58k, but I would personally be turned off by such a counter, and if I had any doubts about your candidacy that would likely push you out of favor.

That said, what I would do is counter with something else. Ask for vacation before the first 6mos/year. Ask for a bonus. Create a new negotiations path, because the current one is dead.

IMO

i have no experience with negotiotions. i've been at my job for the past 3 years since i graduated and 3 years ago i took whenever they offer because i was fresh out of school. i was told the new company was 'very excited' about hiring me to join the team and they're #24 in the nation's biggest design firms. what other negotiation paths can i bring up? how would i ask for a bonus before i even start?

i'm a noob at negotiating.

Descartes knows what he is talking about. Ask for other perks.

 

[Maximus96]

Originally posted by: sygyzy
What's great is that your commute is cut by 90% but that's not enough for you. You want it all. That's the spirit. I wholly support you.

yes, i'm a greedy bastard. but if there's no greed, there no motivation and i'll always be stuck at the same place.

 

[redgtxdi]

I'll also throw in that you're right in the *meat* of good salaries these days!!

Be careful you don't price yourself out of the market!

There are folks out there who *were* makin' $60K who are now twiddlin' thumbs at home or workin' part time somewhere wonderin' if their W-2 will even top half of what they were makin' before!!!

Any current job over $50K is going to be a job with some high bidding. If you aren't willing to do it for $58K, they will surely find someone who will!!!!

Just my .02, but I hire & fire so I know a bit about this stuff!! 😉

 

[Descartes]

Originally posted by: Maximus96

Originally posted by: Descartes
What did you expect? You asked for $60k and they countered right in the middle between your request and what you previously made. You could counter with $58k, but I would personally be turned off by such a counter, and if I had any doubts about your candidacy that would likely push you out of favor.

That said, what I would do is counter with something else. Ask for vacation before the first 6mos/year. Ask for a bonus. Create a new negotiations path, because the current one is dead.

IMO

i have no experience with negotiotions. i've been at my job for the past 3 years since i graduated and 3 years ago i took whenever they offer because i was fresh out of school. i was told the new company was 'very excited' about hiring me to join the team and they're #24 in the nation's biggest design firms. what other negotiation paths can i bring up? how would i ask for a bonus before i even start?

i'm a noob at negotiating.

Well, to be quite honest I'm inclined to say it's too late; however, sign-on bonuses are quite common, and there's relatively little harm in asking for one. I generally try to stay away from negotiating the same path that anticipates the same result, so in this case asking for a bonus would still be about the same thing: money. Personally, I would instead ask for an early vacation, or something else equally intangible (in terms of their budget) that operates highly in your favor.

 

[Descartes]

Originally posted by: Maximus96

Originally posted by: sygyzy
What's great is that your commute is cut by 90% but that's not enough for you. You want it all. That's the spirit. I wholly support you.

yes, i'm a greedy bastard. but if there's no greed, there no motivation and i'll always be stuck at the same place.

Be greedy for experience, not money. Money will meet the experience, but not the other way around. If you can find an opportunity that pays less but offers more in terms of experience you will come out far better in the end. In marketing it's called "salting the jar", and I'm sure you've experienced the phenemenon on a regular basis. Have you ever noticed a beggar with an empty cup? Have you ever seen a tip jar empty? They "salt the jar" by operating at a slight deficit, and in so doing they attract further interest and reap greater reward.

Is this applicable? I think so. You "salt the jar" by not asking for the $58k and instead finding more creative ways to recover your perceived losses. You could even find an opportunity that paid substantially less but offered more experience that might propel you into the $75k+ pay range.

My tuppence, as always.

[edit]Giving you a personal example: I am a consultant, so you might expect that rate is something I always have to negotiate with a potential client. I often take a hit to my standard pay rate, and I do it with the expectation that once I'm "in" they will see my value exceeds my current rate. What often happens is that I renegotiate the contract at an even higher rate, and at that point the negotiations start out in my favor; it's like being white in chess: I make the opening move and position myself to control the negotiations. You are not in this position because you are seeking a job, and as a result they are controlling the momentum of the game. After a year or so of expressing your ability you'll find the tables will turn, and at that time you will find yourself taking better positions in the negotiation.[/edit]

 

[Maximus96]

thank you sir for all your advice.

 

[brunswickite]

Originally posted by: Descartes

Originally posted by: Maximus96

Originally posted by: sygyzy
What's great is that your commute is cut by 90% but that's not enough for you. You want it all. That's the spirit. I wholly support you.

yes, i'm a greedy bastard. but if there's no greed, there no motivation and i'll always be stuck at the same place.

Be greedy for experience, not money. Money will meet the experience, but not the other way around. If you can find an opportunity that pays less but offers more in terms of experience you will come out far better in the end. In marketing it's called "salting the jar", and I'm sure you've experienced the phenemenon on a regular basis. Have you ever noticed a beggar with an empty cup? Have you ever seen a tip jar empty? They "salt the jar" by operating at a slight deficit, and in so doing they attract further interest and reap greater reward.

Is this applicable? I think so. You "salt the jar" by not asking for the $58k and instead finding more creative ways to recover your perceived losses. You could even find an opportunity that paid substantially less but offered more experience that might propel you into the $75k+ pay range.

My tuppence, as always.

[edit]Giving you a personal example: I am a consultant, so you might expect that rate is something I always have to negotiate with a potential client. I often take a hit to my standard pay rate, and I do it with the expectation that once I'm "in" they will see my value exceeds my current rate. What often happens is that I renegotiate the contract at an even higher rate, and at that point the negotiations start out in my favor; it's like being white in chess: I make the opening move and position myself to control the negotiations. You are not in this position because you are seeking a job, and as a result they are controlling the momentum of the game. After a year or so of expressing your ability you'll find the tables will turn, and at that time you will find yourself taking better positions in the negotiation.[/edit]

good advice.