Negotiating wages?

[goob3r]

I just received an offer for a full time position after graduation. I know the flexibility in negotiating a wage depends from company to company, but what have people's experiences been with their first job after graduation? Have you been successful in demanding something a bit higher?

What is the approach to neogtiating?

[philelmo]

tough tough question. Usually it depends on how much they need you or like you. You can see their reaction during the interview. How many vacancies are there? Are you the only candidate they offered to? Is it a smaller company? Are you slightly over qualified?

These are all factors that help your position during negotiation. If you have these at hand, don't be afraid to demand more.

[mingming]

If the initial salary does not satisfy your standards, would you really like the job and actually take it?

Even as a co-op student, salary is one of the major factors in making my decision. I would think for a full time position it's even more important.

[Happy13178]

Depends what the offer is like. Most of the time, you can negotiate if you're dealing with corporate headhunters, because they're given some wiggle room. Since you're just out of school, its unlikely that's the case. Is it a minimum wage salaried position? Like, $24,000 a year to start? If so, you may have a *small* amount of room to negotiate, and it depends on what the job is too. But most of the time you're in a better position to bargain when you're already in the company.

[krash322]

Forget bout it. Unless you came out of a hot-shot university, with a hot-shot degree, and there are very few qualified like you, you have zero chance. Companies are really tight these days on salary. Even if you perform well in your evaluation, they might not give you any raises. For someone not even in the company yet, they'll just laugh if you ask for more pay. There are so many other people out there who's willing to take your job. Just be thankfull you have a chance at any job. I know that's a crappy attitude to take but that's reality.

[sw1ft]

Forget bout it. Unless you came out of a hot-shot university, with a hot-shot degree, and there are very few qualified like you, you have zero chance. Companies are really tight these days on salary. Even if you perform well in your evaluation, they might not give you any raises. For someone not even in the company yet, they'll just laugh if you ask for more pay. There are so many other people out there who's willing to take your job. Just be thankfull you have a chance at any job. I know that's a crappy attitude to take but that's reality.I agree.. If you are a recent grad, you prob don't have any experience in the work environment..

[krash322]

It's not even really the experience, cuz other people will have similar experience. When it comes down to it, it's basic economics. If there are a lot of you out there capable of doing this job, meaning the supply is high, then you have no bargaining leverage and salary will be low. So unless you have a specialty or a niche, you don't have much to stand on.

[sleepyguy]

If this is a career job YES... always negotiate... do not EVER demand.

Remember it isn't always about $$$ to negotiate... other things to consider...

- negotiate a laptop, so you can work from home if there is an accident or terrible weather (or don't feel like coming in... :))
- BIG ONE HERE - negotiate vacation time, prioritys/length/carryover/etc
- negotiate work schedule (time in/out... make-up time/etc)

Sometimes it is best to do negotiations after your first performance review though... this way you can show them what you got (or don't got!) :)

[SquealADeal]

Forget bout it. Unless you came out of a hot-shot university, with a hot-shot degree, and there are very few qualified like you, you have zero chance. Companies are really tight these days on salary. Even if you perform well in your evaluation, they might not give you any raises. For someone not even in the company yet, they'll just laugh if you ask for more pay. There are so many other people out there who's willing to take your job. Just be thankfull you have a chance at any job. I know that's a crappy attitude to take but that's reality.

Not true. In the business sector they never come to the table with their best offer, even if it is a non "hot-shot".

You have a much better chance negotiating a higher salary in the beginning than you do negotiating a raise later... In-fact, many companies have policies around the maximum % that an internal employee can have their pay raised by.

[goob3r]

Thanks for the responses. I already had a belief that there isn't any wiggle room with my salary, I just wanted to see what everyone thought. It's for a large firm and they are hiring several dozen people at once. Obviously there are a lot of other willing people that would scoop up the job in a sec. I have the experience for the job that I'll need to do, but since it's not within the scop of the industry, they said they wouldn't count my internship as experience when deciding on salary.

Definitely I'm not their lowest candidate, but I'm not their top candidate either. In one of the interviews, I was asked if I would reject the job if I was given an offer due to salary (the interviewer took a look at what I wrote down first). I told them it was negotitable. That gave me the belief that they weren't going to be able to meet my expectations. It turned out that what they offered me was right at the botom end of the salary range I asked for. Which leads me to wonder if I was given a little more than the average since it fell in my range. What's a good site to look up industry averages for positions?

Which leads me to wonder, do companies tend to offer their top candidate the higest tier of pay, and then work their way down the list and pay the ones on the bottom the least? Anyone work in HR have any insight? Just curious.

It's a good job that will definitely build me a solid network for future career options.

[Sylvestre]

as a recent grad, it's not worth it to haggle over salary. as of right now, you have zero experience (no, co-op and the like don't count). Experience in your field is way way more important than money. Truth is, you won't see much difference in your paycheque with a 5K diff.
As a recent grad, your typical salary will be between 40-50K. So really, asking for 5K more is akin to asking for 10%. That's likely more than a company will want to give a junior.

After you have some experience and are looking at other jobs, that's the time to think about negotiating.

[ji2o0k]

as previous posters mentioned, it really isn't worth the hassle of negotiating that little extra salary increase. Just how much are you looking to increase ? Just say you got an additional $3000. Net after taxes (depending on tax bracket) is something around $1500. Spread over the year and it is only a couple of hundred of dollars per month.

But if you negotiate more, they might say no or maybe withdraw the offer (highly unlikely but still the impression isn't good). It isn't worth it in my opinion.

From my experience, you see a large salary increase when you move to different departments in large organizations or to different competing organizations. You will have been working for some time, gained some experience under your belt and if you establish a reputation, people will come looking for you. That is when they offer you significant increases in salary to lure you away. At least that is the case from what I have experienced.

Good luck !

[Jaytee]

First job is always the hardest to get. I would not negociate. Work hard and they will make wage adjustments. You just dont have leverage with your very first job.

My current job, I turned down the first offer and they came back with $15K more and another week of vacation. No joke.

[rayesyn]

i would try and negotiate using a standard and see if they'll match it. its good to have facts to back your request with.

[SquealADeal]

Now for personal opinion, since when did the world owe you anything, take what you can get before you can't get it anymore.


That's no way to look at life.

[Jaytee]

What's the worst that could happen while trying to negotiate, they then flat out decline you?

Yes and they offer the job to someone else.

You didn't lose anything, since you didn't have the job to start with.

He would lose the future earnings and experience associated with having the job.

[Kerlo]

I'll post info on this again:

http://www.collegegrad.com/offer/index.shtml

Job Offer Negotiation - In the excitement of the actual job offer, the tendency for many grads is to make the costly error of accepting the first offer that comes their way. However, the time frame from when the initial offer is made to when you accept is a golden opportunity for negotiation.

There is alot of good info on this site for new grads. It's geared to a US audience, but almost all of it is aplicable in Canada as well.

[Montague]

As a recent grad, your typical salary will be between 40-50K.
:eek: :eek: :eek:

I graduated university several years ago and I "just" make 40K. :(

(least my job lets me surf RFD alot during the work day - that is way I seem to be online alot! :cheesygri ).

[divx]

:eek: :eek: :eek:

I graduated university several years ago and I "just" make 40K. :(

(least my job lets me surf RFD alot during the work day - that is way I seem to be online alot! :cheesygri ).
40k? that's it? ouch

[goob3r]

Yes and they offer the job to someone else.

Will a company actually do that? If you try and negotiate they say, "sorry, we can't give yout hat. We're now going to consider another candidate. kthxbye"?

To me, an extra $1k or $2k isn't a deal breaker as the job is good and the money decent.

[Jaytee]

He didn't lose anything, because the job was never his.


It depends on how you look at it. The job is his if he wants it. He was offered the job. Hence it is his if he accepts the offer he has a job.

Perhaps looking back, not getting that job could have been a major benefit. He could get a better job at a better company.

Well sure he might find a better job, but he also could also be looking for work for the next few years. Here is a sure thing where he is earning money and experience. If he doesnt like the job because of the salary, he can continue to look for a new job WHILE getting paid and gaining experience.


If you try and negotiate they say, "sorry, we can't give yout hat. We're now going to consider another candidate. kthxbye"?


No, its more likely they will just say, thats the max we will go. Take it or leave it. If they gave you the offer, then they think you are the best candidate. But if you have no experience and the employer can get a equally skilled person for a cheaper, they why wouldnt they.

There are so many factors, its hard to generalize, but I try :lol:

[konfusion666]

:eek: :eek: :eek:

I graduated university several years ago and I "just" make 40K. :(



once again, everyone who posts on RFD is always thinking with their field in mind... he could be an engineer/software developer... you could be a English/History major... whatever :twisted:

[Oni-kun]

You should try this. Its win win.

http://www.collegegrad.com/jobsearch/21-10.shtml

[goob3r]

You should try this. Its win win.

http://www.collegegrad.com/jobsearch/21-10.shtml

Some good advice, but I am doing everything through HR. This is actually a position as an entry level consultant for a consulting firm.

I've told them that I'll make my decision within a day of receiving the offer package. Originally I was going to respond today but figure I might as well read through everything clearly before making any decisions.