Good news! You just heard back from the company you interviewed with, and you got the job. Your resume was perfect, they loved your personality during the interviews, and now they’ve put together a job offer tailored just for you. It’s time to negotiate.
Most often, the first negotiating factor that comes to mind is salary. However, there are far more things you should negotiate in a job offer besides the money. It’s vital to consider your entire compensation packages like health insurance or vacation time.
So, here are 10 things you can counteroffer before accepting a new job.
1. Flexible Work Hours or Scheduling
According to a survey by Staples of 1,500 Americans, workplace flexibility accounts for 38% of employee motivation. This was the top motivating factor among both women and single (non-married) individuals.
So, if you find yourself aching to ask for flexible work hours, you’re not alone. Maybe you need to pick your kids up from school early or have a loved one to take care of. The good news is that companies are more willing than ever to provide flexible scheduling to their employees.
2. Vacation Time
Do you need extra vacation time throughout the year? Maybe you have personal obligations you have to show up for and need an extra day for traveling or whatnot. So, ask about vacation when negotiating your job offer.
Now, don’t push it if they’ve already been lenient with you. In America, two weeks of vacation is the norm. Some companies might offer three weeks or extra time off to handle your personal matters.
3. Retirement or 401K
Does your potential new employer offer retirement benefits? While your prospective salary might appear like a shining gem in the present, you’re going to want to prepare for the long-term too. It’s vital to think about how your employer can help better prepare you for retirement.
For example, ask about 401K plans or retirement savings matching programs they might offer. Pensions can be useful, and some companies still offer them, but try to negotiate for a better plan like one of the ones we mentioned above.
4. Stock or Investment Options
This negotiating point can also tie into your retirement benefits if you play the long game. Let’s say you’re receiving a job offer from a company that is publicly traded on the stock market. They will likely have stock options for their employees.
You can potentially negotiate a stock investing matching plan or free stock options. Usually, this is already included in your compensation package, but if not, you should definitely ask about it.
5. Start Date
A not-so-obvious thing you can negotiate in a job offer is your start date. If you are moving across the country or have other obligations to tend to, try asking for a start date extension. Unless the company is crunched on time and needs you to begin work immediately, they should adhere to your counteroffer.
A lot of companies will ask you upfront during the interview when you can start working, so you should factor in any extra time-drainers when giving them that date (plus or minus a few days).
6. Travel Expense Reimbursements
Let’s say you got a job offer in a different state and will need to pack up and move. If you’ve ever moved, you know the costs can add up quickly. We’re talking about transportation, airplane tickets, packaging materials, gas in your vehicle, and more.
Most companies these days will reimburse you for travel expenses up to a certain amount. If you don’t use the entire relocation offer, you must return it to the company. You could negotiate a higher relocation amount if you foresee a lot of extra expenses.
7. Childcare
If you have a child at home, you can negotiate childcare in your job offer. It can be quite expensive to send your kid to daycare or hire a nanny to watch them every day while you’re at work. If you’re lucky, the company will already have some type of in-house childcare program.
If not, you can easily negotiate this factor by emphasizing how it will boost your productivity and morale by having the means to take care of your children.
8. Professional Development
Professional development is a hard hitter and something you should negotiate if it is important to you. It can be anything from building relationships with people or taking a class to boost your skills.
You can easily argue this point because professional development will make you more valuable to their company. Ask if they have any in-house professional development programs or if they can provide an allowance for furthering your education.
9. Health Insurance and COBRA
Many employers will offer multiple health insurance options. You can usually customize your unique plan to meet your needs or go with one of the base packages your employer provides. Healthcare is one benefit that is very negotiable.
If you are experiencing a lag between jobs, ask your new boss to provide COBRA health insurance premiums. This will help you pick up healthcare costs while transitioning from one company plan to the other.
10. Anything Else
Your entire job offer and compensation package are up for negotiation. That means you can provide a counteroffer or present your ideas about anything in that offer- or anything that’s left out. Remember to be specific about what you want, and be reasonable as well.
Always ask politely and know that since they want you to work for them, you have full reign to ask for what you want within reason. Don’t be shy.
Skip the Interview and Go Straight to a Dallas Recruiter
Are you looking for a job in the sales industry in Dallas, Texas? Our team can help you find the perfect sales position that aligns with your objective, future goals, and current skill set. We will connect you straight to hiring companies to expedite your job search.
If you are trying to fill a sales-based role within your company, Sales Recruiters Dallas can also help you hire the perfect candidate. We use a hands-on approach that’s proven to get results and makes the hiring process a breeze.
Learn more about us to hire talent or get hired sooner rather than later.