I Got a Job Offer Today, Need Negotiation Tips!

[CELL]

Take the job only if you're in a situation where you can cope with the possibility of being unemployed at the end of your contract. I wouldn't take a chance with my health, you'd need to weigh that out as well, can you afford to maintain your health (God forbid that you become terminally ill)?

Save, save and save. Other than that, not much else to tell you. Is extra money worth the lack of stability for your health and job prospects 6 months down the line? Opportunities will come and go throughout your life, there's no need to rush for no other reason than a, 'fresh start.'

How much is 8k extra REALLY?

 

[OSUBaneBrowns]

For me personally, I wouldn't leave a full time job for a contract one. The new firm can decide that you not a good fit and let you go without any regards. Also, from my experience, any company that hires you on the spot has a high turnover rate.

I was let go from my previous company last May and it took me SEVEN months just to land a temp gig at another company making bullshyt money. I'm still doing interviews for something full time and I hope that I can land this full time job that I interviewed for on Tuesday. This economy is still horrible and it a buyers market. Look for something that is permanent, not contact.

 

[Silver Surfer]

Its real out here. The temp job is no real gurantee.........but.....this time a year and half ago I moved to a different city for a temp-to-perm position.

As far as negotiations go....what do you feel like is some possible wiggle room to explorer?

Are is the pay increase in line with your current title and years experience?

 

[Solano707]

It's funny. I don't see it as being greedy, since all the risk is on me...as you said 10 other people being me waiting for a job. I see it as me making sure I have some cushion should they choose to hit me with the okie doke.
Not only that, but i'm sick of hearing 'be happy you have a job'...My current employer basically told us that...I think it's a way of mind fukking you into staying where you are, under their circumstances longer. fukk that...I know my worth


I've been working on defense contracts since 2009 and you're right, they all work differently but so far, I've been fortunate to have been picked up twice and never went a day without work. I've never not been paid for hours worked, evah! My issue isn't that this position is a contract position, but a temp to permanent one.


1) According to my latest performance review, yes...but our Program Manager has the "cog" philosophy...everyone is a cog and is replaceable. I know if I leave a huge knowledge bank will be gone, but overall I'm as replaceable as anyone else. They'll suffer for about a year until another person gets up to date with how things work in our lab. All that being said, I've put my feelers out there to see what's available on other projects...I know I wouldn't be so unsure if this was a permanent position...
2)You're right and those 4-6 months would be my time to show off and if I hated it, it would show LOL

Your missing the point. Get your foot in the door and then take of the hinges when you are inside. Let your work ethic and performance get you that raise and full time position.

I interviewed and hired GS civilians when I was in the middle east for IT. All though applicants wanted to be a GS9 or 10 wtih a few steps in as their way of negotiating, I would tell them 'no', because I want to know what type of worker you are. I am not wasting government dollars on someone who 'thinks' they deserve more without me even verifying and seeing their potential. Unless you are coming in upper management with a graduate degree and at least 10+ years of experience with a proven track of improving the organization, then you are in no position to negotiate - and that's a fact.

Remember, the employers are not desperate for work. If you are sick and tired of "at least you got a job", maybe you should read between the lines and understand why people are telling you that. I would say 'good luck' to you, but it looks like you already going to shoot yourself in the foot - so 'do you' lol ctfu

 

[DemureNatural]

Its real out here. The temp job is no real gurantee.........but.....this time a year and half ago I moved to a different city for a temp-to-perm position.

As far as negotiations go....what do you feel like is some possible wiggle room to explorer?

Are is the pay increase in line with your current title and years experience?

All I'd like to negotiate is my start date: They want me to give two weeks notice on Monday...I need 3 weeks. And I need the pay increased by $1. I did the math and after taxes, I'd only have $300 more monthly at the rate they want to pay me. That's not a lot considering I'll have no health insurance or any other benefits.

 

[beenz]

I'm sorry, but 8K more in cash does NOT make up for no benefits for 6 months. OP is kinda taking a pay decrease in total compensation. Last 3 jobs I have had all have benefits within 30 days.

 

[DemureNatural]

I'm sorry, but 8K more in cash does NOT make up for no benefits for 6 months. OP is kinda taking a pay decrease in total compensation. Last 3 jobs I have had all have benefits within 30 days.

And no 401K contributions for 1 year...Seemingly, even though I'd be getting a raise, I'd be getting a pay cut since I'll have no benefits for a while. I think I'm going to pass on this one.

 

[Silver Surfer]

If you feel like you have exhausted your opportunity at the current job....I dont see the problem with asking the contractor for your terms. Your terms are not unreasonable

 

[Silver Surfer]

Plenty of IT jobs in ATL

 

[⠀⠀⠀]

if the HR people white. you need to get advice from white people on negotiating because you need to get into a cac's mind and know how they think.

 

[beenz]

And no 401K contributions for 1 year...Seemingly, even though I'd be getting a raise, I'd be getting a pay cut since I'll have no benefits for a while. I think I'm going to pass on this one.

yeah, I was referring to that as part of the total loss in compensation. they need to step it up if they really want you. I have had temp (2 yr long term contract) job offers where they wanted to pay me over $50/hr so that'd be like over 100K, and that's definitely more than I make now, but I declined, cuz I'd lose all benefits if I were to take them.

also, I assume you wouldn't have vacation days either during that 6 months. that's another benefit you are losing, cuz vacation days = cash money.

 

[DemureNatural]

If you feel like you have exhausted your opportunity at the current job....I dont see the problem with asking the contractor for your terms. Your terms are not unreasonable

Thanks for that! Folks around here responded like what I was asking for was being greedy. I'm just trying to look out for myself because no company will.

 

[beenz]

ironically, the last time I switched jobs, I only got about an 8K increase at my current job. However, I was going from a permanent job to another permanent job. a non-profit company to a for profit fortune 500 company, and still was getting benefits. I lost some vacation time (tried to negotiate for it, but they wouldn't have it), however, the biggest benefit, is I went from a job where I was commuting 2-3 hours a day, to a job where I work from home. that extra 15 hours a week that I have back really is worth a lot of money and couple that with the fact that I no longer have to pay for fuel for commuting to and from work.

 

[Primetime21]

ironically, the last time I switched jobs, I only got about an 8K increase at my current job. However, I was going from a permanent job to another permanent job. a non-profit company to a for profit fortune 500 company, and still was getting benefits. I lost some vacation time (tried to negotiate for it, but they wouldn't have it), however, the biggest benefit, is I went from a job where I was commuting 2-3 hours a day, to a job where I work from home. that extra 15 hours a week that I have back really is worth a lot of money and couple that with the fact that I no longer have to pay for fuel for commuting to and from work.

What was your experience like working with a non-profit?

 

[beenz]

What was your experience like working with a non-profit?

I'm in health care, so most hospitals are considered non-profit. I worked for a smaller one for like 7 years. that was cool. but it was damn near all nikkas, and the pay was below average. I was able to negotiate more money, and they celebrated a lot of paid holidays, and I walked in the door with 3 weeks vacation and went up to 4 weeks vacation. after like 5 years, I hadn't taken enough vacation, and I accumulated so much, they said I had to get it down to 160 hours. at the time I had like 340 hours stacked, so I took like 6 weeks off one summer. it was AWESOME!!!. when I left that job, I got a HUGE check, cuz I had damn near 300 hours of vacation stacked up again.

next non profit was the largest hospital system in illinois. I liked that job a lot. learned a lot. really good opportunity. and even tho I worked from home once a week, the commute to the office (hospital) I worked at was brutal due to the traffic. however ,they were going thru a merger, and I was working on a team of 4 people. 1 transferred to another hospital. one left the company, and the other left the company (he works where I currently work and recruited me after he bounced). so I was doing the job of 4 people, at the end of the job, and they weren't trying to hire anyone and they wouldn't let me take vacation days even tho I was maxed out. I got the offer for my current job, and when they refused to really negotiate with me as far as work location, work from home days and salary, I had to leave.