Job Offer Terms In Writing
I have received a job offer from a small business. They offered me a specific base salary and 25% commission and then "the base will decrease by $5k, the commission rate will stay the same, but if all goes well, I may in the future be offered an ownership interest in the business as well." I want to get these offer terms in writing. Even though the company has been around for 10 years and seems trustworthy, you never know... How do I ask for this in writing without insulting this "family" small business? THANKS! What is it that you think they're going to write down? If all goes well then maybe we'll offer a partnership at some mythical point in the future? Would that make you feel better? Does that read as silly put that way as I think it does? You either take the job on with the thought (not promise) that you might have advancement possibilities here or you don't take it. Writing something down on this does not mean a thing. Tess
Thanks for your input. Well, I only really wanted the $45k to be written down for now. But, you're right. I'll have to trust in the fact that they've advanced other people. Have a good weekend! I've primarily worked for small- to mid-sized businesses over my 32 years in the workforce, and with perhaps one exception, they have never issued "offer letters." It's not customary to do so in many small businesses. You cannot treat a small, family-owned business the same way you would a large corporation, in terms of your expectations as to protocol. Personally I would not ask them for this; it may give them the impression you don't trust them--not a good way to start out. And Tess is right, anything they put in writing doesn't mean anything anyway--unless it is a bona fide "employment contract," which a written offer letter is not. What I don't get, though, is why you would accept a structure that would in reality decrease your pay, without any immediate offset. If I understand you, your base will decrease and you commission will stay the same. Why would that be? I understand that in commission-type jobs, often the base goes down once the employee is up to full speed, but then the commission goes up. If they expect you to take a 5% cut in pay, with nothing to compensate for it other than a "maybe you'll be a partner someday," I would be very, very hesitant to take this job. Or at least I would tell them that I'll take the cut in base pay with a corresponding increase in commission so that you are not losing money.... This sounds very strange to me. Don't worry so much about getting it in writing, just make sure you have a common understanding. The commission is 25% of what? When do you get it? When does the base go down, after a month, a year, after your commission exceeds the $5K? I'd forget about the ownership interest. How much is that going to cost you? What are you selling that you can make 25% commission on anyway? Is it good stuff? This ownership interest, does it include making you a member of the family? Will you be a 'made man'? Does it include a "you can check out any time you like, but you can never leave" retirement plan? I have worked as a sales/marketing admin for several years, and I have known of companies who provide a larger base for the first few months, during which time the sales rep is to build their client base. Its not a drop in salary per se, but an early concession that eventually goes away. I don't find that strange at all. Also, of the companies I have worked for, they ranged from very small to mid size, every single one provided sales reps the details of their compensation plan in writing. Perhaps not a formal offer letter, but every single company had something in writing. Is this company new to having sales people as actual employees? I know sometimes when companies go from using '1099s' to hiring a sales staff there can be some bumps in the road. Good luck!! It would be a mistake to ask for what you were told to be put in writing. You can make notes on what was said, but as Tess pointed out, there are some "ifs" ands "maybes" in what you were told. Anyway, putting it all in writing doesn't make what was said any more binding on either party than a verbal offer. Frankly, if you do ask for what was said to be put in writing I think you'll insult the hell out of the people who own the business. With all the questions being asked lately about demanding that employers put their offers in writing, the concept of "trust" must be an increasingly rare virtue. Even if some of what you were told was reduced to writing, what makes you think the "ifs" and "maybes" will go away? If I were the employer and agreed to an offer letter, I'd write something like, "If this happens, we might consider doing that." How is that any more specific than being told the same thing? Paul W. Barada The Negotiation Expert Not every job offer is in writing so here's what I would do. Send an email or letter confirming your acceptance of their offer. In it, outline your understanding of the offer, the salary, commission, what the commission is based on, time lines, future ownership possibilities, etc... Don't make it look like a job offer letter... keep it more conversational. "I'm very interested in the future ownership aspect that you mentioned in our conversation. I would hope that the company can do well enough to meet the suggested five-year point to implement this." This (and an offer letter) is not a legal contract but just a way of making sure you and the company are on the same page. You don't want to find a discrepancy when you get your first pay check. Chet: I think you've proposed an excellent way to "confirm" the terms of a verbal job offer! It would be a simple matter to make notes on the salary offer and what's in the benefit package, assuming the benefits aren't outlined in a policy manual or company handbook, and to also make note of any special incentives that "might" be forthcoming. Then reduce all that to a polite e-mail and send it to the employer - using a conversational tone - as you suggest - just to make sure the candidate heard and understands what was said. Great idea... Paul W. Barada The Negotiation Expert | |
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