Benefits Unknown, How 2 Initiate ConvoMy employer hasn' t spoken with me about benefits yet, so how do I initiate a conversation to find out what benefits I will receive? Do I initiate it or wait for my boss to bring it up? Also, can I negotiate for tuition reimbursement even if they don' t offer it? I' m currently taking three grad classes, and my semester isn' t over yet. I' m starting work before the semester ends, so can I ask for reimbursement for the present semester? As a 25 year old, I desperately need insurance. Besides this, are there any "Musts" that I must have or try to get? (401K, dental, etc). Thanks in advance. Have they made you an offer yet? When/If they do is the time to ask about benefits. No, you probably will not get tuition reimbursement if they don' t offer it. If they do, you may have to wait a year or more before you' re eligible anyway. I highly doubt that even if they do have a program and even if it starts right away that they will back date and pick up courses that you started before you came to work for them. If they have a medical program, they most likely have dental. If they' re any significant size they probably have a 401(k). If they don' t have any or all of these things, they' re not going to create them for one employee. If what they have doesn' t meet your needs, you' ll probably have to move on to something else. You are unlikely to get them to pay for the current semester, but I' d sure try to get them to pay the next one. When a salary offer is made, assuming you' re not told what' s in the benefit package, just politely ask what' s included. Then make your decision about what to do next. If a tuition reimbursement program isn' t mentioned, you can politely ask if it could be part of the benefit package, but my bet would be that they won' t create one just for you, no offense intended. Also keep in mind that tuition reimbursement plans usually come with some strings attached, like agreeing to stay with this employer for X amount of time or having to pay the tuition expense back to the employer. As a final note, the benefit package is what' s it' s going to be. Few companies will add benefits that only apply to one employee - other employees tend to not like that... | |
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