Needy but Not Desperate
The facility where I worked for almost 5 years shut down in March. I received "severance", and am now receiving unemployment. So far I'm making do. My problem is potential employers know my situation and think I'm desperate. I received an offer for the same money I earned at my last job. I am not that desperate that I would take on additional duties for the same amount of money. Under my supervisor at my last job, I acquired a lot of knowledge and skills.....skills that this potential job is interested in. Actually, it seems rather insulting to me.
How do I negotiate when I'm viewed as desperate? I go in tomorrow to meet with one other person, but I plan to stop in to discuss the salary. If they don't budge, I'm ready to pass on this offer. I NEED a job, but I'm not DESPERATE!
At this point, I think you can ask if the offer that was made is negotiable and see what they say. If it's not, I guess you keep looking. If it is negotiable, propose a salary range that's 10% to 15% higher than you were earning before. I'd also be prepared to make the point that the job that was offered includes more responsibilities, but I'd also be prepared to highlight how well my experience, training, skills, and education match the expended responsibilities of the job that's been offered. You need to make the case that your qualifications for the job are a great match for the requirements of the job. If the offer isn't negotiable, however, you might want to ask about a performance and salary review in 6 months. If they're willing to give you the review, I'd be tempted to take the job because you'll have plenty of time to prove that you can not only handle the job's extra duties, but that you can also perform at a level beyond their expectations. That way you can earn an increase based on your own performance - and you'll obviously be no worse off than you were before the other place closed. Make sense?
Paul W. Barada
The Negotiation Expert
You can act like you have other interviews to go to and you're not desperate. Take a look at the difference between UI and what you are being offered. If you're losing 50% a week by not working, at a 10% increase, it takes 5 weeks to make up for every week you were off. Then again, if you enjoy the free time, it's not all bad.
I really don't think it's a good idea to fake it and pretend that you have other offers pending if you don't. It is possible that this employer could tell you to take one of them if you come off as too cavalier about wanting this particular job.
Paul W. Barada
The Negotiation Expert
That completely makes sense but I didn't want to start with a promise of a review in 6 months and then when the time came, they put it off for my annual. I did talk to her though and told her that although she matched what I was previously making, I was looking to make a little more. Through conversations that mimicked negotiations, we finally agreed on a 7% increase and instead of waiting 2 and a half months for my benefits, they will begin the first of next month which saves me a huge chunk on COBRA. So I finally did accept those terms and thanked her for "squeezing" a few extra dollars out of the budget.
Thank you so much for your input. I think you give great advice and think I may visit from time to time just to see what you're talking about. I'm a sponge always looking to soak up some knowledge!
Thanks again.
Kali
That's true about what I would be losing, but in the long run what would I be losing by selling myself short now? We were able to come to an agreement though that gives me a 7% increase and benefits 2 months sooner which saves I don't know how many percents on COBRA!!!
Thanks for your input as well. Paul is straight forward and business-like. You tend to put a comedic spin on your replies. (I've read a few of the others!) Y'all should hook up and play Good Cop ; Not so Good Cop
.
Actually, I did let her know that I had a second interview at a place that was interested and I told her what they were offering. I didn't expect her to match because her benefits are cheaper yet comparable, plus she was a 15 minute drive compared to 30 minutes. If she wouldn't have budged, I was prepared to pass on her offer because it really didn't feel like progression to me. I know sometimes you have to take 1 step backwards in order to take 2 steps forward, but it just seemed to me with the knowledge I was bringing to the position, it was worth something. I would be the go to person for all queries and reports for the department in addition to my basic duties. Only 1 person in the department has learned this new system, and that's the person that's leaving.....soon to be me. It would have been senseless for me to take on additional responsibilities for the same pay.
Where I do make out though is one of the people I will be working very closely with is completely swamped with a lot of stuff. Not necessarily hard, but more so tedious. I told him I was interested in gaining experience in some of the things he does which he loved, so I'll be gaining more experience, knowledge, and skills to take with me when I move on!
First, I think you need to have a realistic view of what the market value of the job may be. Don't compare it to your previous job, for which you were paid for gained knowledge at that company. Look at the same or similar jobs in your area that require the same or similar education and experience and see what they are paying. That should be your starting point.
If they are paying what you made at your previous job, then that is what you can expect to be paid. If you see salaries that are higher, don't accept an offer from this company and go after those jobs. But you had better be sure that you can get those jobs.
As for looking desperate to the potential employer, they will obviously know you are not working, but they don't have to know whether you are collecting unemployment compensation or still on severance. Just say that you received a generous severance package that has allowed you to look for the right job.
Hey, I have a wonderful sense of humor! I was voted as one of the two people in my senior class with the best sense of humor!
Paul W. Barada
The Negotiation Expert