Negotiating a job offer??

Sleepr56 · #1 (**permalink**) 03-01-2008, 10:34 PM

Sooo I got the job offer I was looking for, well its my first job offer at Carrier corporation as a Mechanical Engineer. I have been there for almost a year now as a co-op, part time during the semester, and full time on breaks.

It sucks to stay in Syracuse, but its a pretty easy engineering position, my boss is cool, and I can get free Grad school out of it. So I will most likely take the position, work for 4-5 years till I get my masters, and move onto something more fun and interesting (i hope)

The question is, now that I have my offer, I want to negotiate it some. Not to be a greedy bastard, because its a solid salary for me starting out of school, but i would be making the exact same of what some tool electrical engineer technician makes that just took his offer when he finishes at rit. He was able to get 2k more from his original offer by negotiating.

I have a B.S. ME degree, an engineering degree, not a MET the technician degree, which usually gets you a lower salary by 1-5k depending on what and where.

The next problem is I didnt get any type of signing bonus like everyone else who was hired in the last year, and I would loose my "official start date" which should be may 2007, to june 2008, which would bone me for future vacation days after a few years. Plus its kinda a slap in the face, they have an experienced person in the company to hire and invest in, and they dont spice up the offer at all?

So I would only start with 1 week vaca, and get 2 weeks after jan 09. The electrical kid bitched about that, and they gave him the full 2 weeks vaca as a special circumstance even though he will start the same month I do.

So say I want to squeeze 1-2k onto the salary, get a signing bonus, and get that additional week vaca......is that greedy? How the hell do I do that and not sound like an ass? I cant really say I know what so and so got because thats far from ethical. I know the avg start me salary out of school is also about 700 more then what they offered me......hmmm

Haha with all my confusing bitching, how do you negotiate a job offer???? Im a noob

Silver · #2 (**permalink**) 03-01-2008, 11:01 PM

I haven't ever done much negotiating with job offers, but it does sound a TAD on the greedy side. I would sit down and really think over what you want most: 1-2k extra salary, signing bonus or additional vacation time, and aim for getting just that one. From what I have experienced in the past, getting one of those would be fairly normal, but all three is a little much.

mikecentola · #3 (**permalink**) 03-02-2008, 12:14 AM

You can ask for whatever you want, as long as you're prepared to lose the job because of it.

FWIW, I never negotiated and I have two bachelors degrees in engineering and a masters degree.

JClark · #4 (**permalink**) 03-02-2008, 07:43 AM

I just finished doing this two months ago for my job, my I'm an independent contractor, not an employee, so it's different.

I would lose the sign on bonus and ask for a bigger salary. That way they dont have to come up with a big chunk of cash now and can pay you over time. They would rather negotiate in vacation time than $ so take your pick. Try to get your start date moved back to May 07 too as it will pay dividends in the future when you buy a house, etc.

Dont be a douchebag, but dont be scared of them either. They want you to work there so they need you too. Negotiating the contract is part of the deal and they know that.

mikecentola · #5 (**permalink**) 03-02-2008, 08:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JClark

I just finished doing this two months ago for my job, my I'm an independent contractor, not an employee, so it's different.

I would lose the sign on bonus and ask for a bigger salary. That way they dont have to come up with a big chunk of cash now and can pay you over time. They would rather negotiate in vacation time than $ so take your pick. Try to get your start date moved back to May 07 too as it will pay dividends in the future when you buy a house, etc.

Dont be a douchebag, but dont be scared of them either. They want you to work there so they need you too. Negotiating the contract is part of the deal and they know that.

I agree, but engineers with little experience are a dime a dozen these days. The vacation would be easier to negotiate. I haven't heard of signing bonuses in the engineering industry in like 8 years, but I could be mistaken because of our different industries, so take what I say for what its worth.

I also think, Jesse, it's obvious that as an independent contractor you have more ability to negotiate contract, that as a new hire.

JClark · #6 (**permalink**) 03-02-2008, 08:19 AM

Certainly, it's very different. I have a LOT of negotiating room being an IC since I cost every company I work with much less money than an employee would.

Still tho, good people are hard to find and taking a risk on a new hire sucks. But Sleeper has been there for awhile and they obviously want to keep him. You can still propose the changes you want, the worst they can say is no.

Just my $.02. Feel em out and give it a try.

mikecentola · #7 (**permalink**) 03-02-2008, 08:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JClark

Certainly, it's very different. I have a LOT of negotiating room being an IC since I cost every company I work with much less money than an employee would.

Still tho, good people are hard to find and taking a risk on a new hire sucks. But Sleeper has been there for awhile and they obviously want to keep him. You can still propose the changes you want, the worst they can say is no.

Just my $.02. Feel em out and give it a try.

yeah absolutely. Best thing to do is feel them out.

Sleepr56 · #8 (**permalink**) 03-02-2008, 09:49 AM

Yea they wouldnt be pulling the offer if I went and asked for more, they need me more then I need them at this point.

But like I said I dont want to look like a greedy asshole either, but it def. sucks to loose a year's worth of work time, and like I said they have given the last 6-7 people that started fresh with those bonuses. At the same time I shouldnt feel to bad, because Carrier is just a big corporate bitch of a company, its not like some small engineering firm. (owned by UTC)

I am in a new compressor development group, doing work that no one else has done in the company. Granted it inst brain science, but if they dont hire me they have to find some other kid and hope he works out. Plus my boss has been pushing big time to get me hired.

xceebeex · #9 (**permalink**) 03-02-2008, 01:29 PM

Like Mike said, if you are going to try and ask for ALL of the stuff you mentioned, be prepared to lose the job. You may think they need you more than you need them, but do you have another offer on the table? If not, I wouldn't say they need you more. They is always someone out there thats smarter and just as good of a fit for the job.

When I got my job at Lockheed, I got a signing bonus, 3 weeks vacation, plus lots of other cool things like Flex time and whatnot. I didn't negotiate starting salary or anything because I got a pretty good offer starting out, but I know someone who did negotiate their pay BUT he had another offer that was higher.

All that being said, even if you get more money starting out, the company will make up for it come appraisal time. Like Mike suggested, its not too bad to ask for one, maybe two of the things you want, but you may come across as a jerk if you ask for too much. You can't use what you know about other new hires directly, so you have to come up with some sort of case.

Good luck either way.