Negotiating the Offer

Question:

I just had a great interview at a company I’d like to work for, and they made me an offer. But they can’t match my salary requirements. Their offer is fairly close to what I know I deserve, but not close enough to make the decision easy. What do you recommend?

Answer:

The first consideration is: do you want the job? If not, then you have your answer.

If you do want the job, it’s time to negotiate. Is the offer you have really the best they can do?

Assuming they can’t scrape up another dollar in salary, you can suggest some other ways they could entice you to come on board. Maybe they can cover your health insurance, or membership in a gym, or other wellness expenses. Could they give you a few extra days off? (That might be worth more to you than the money.) Can they help with parking or transportation costs? What about child care expenses?

Is there any training or professional development included in the new job? Will they pay for tuition for your certification or new degree? Or can they put any money toward paying down your student loans?

Can they provide a flexible schedule? Or is working from home a day or two a week an option? You’ll save a lot of money on the commute that way, and possibly make up the shortfall.

Perhaps they can come up with a signing bonus, or stock options. Or they could take the standard six-month evaluation and make it a three-month evaluation instead.

Depending on your priorities, it might be worth asking for an office (or a nicer office), or a housing subsidy. A better job title might be nice. You might like paid time to volunteer. Or (though you obviously don’t want to think about this now) a guaranteed severance package.

One thing is for sure: if you don’t ask, the answer is “no.” Employers expect you to negotiate; don’t disappoint them. Or yourself.