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 Hi,

After 4 interviews that dragged along a month, I finally received the offer letter. I am very happy with everything indeed. The only "imperfect" part is, the annual salary package is 5000$ less than I asked for. The whole process will be finalized when I return the offer letter with my signature on it. Now what I am hesitating about is, shall I try to negotiate for an extra 5000$? It really wouldn't make big difference to my bank account but it will make me feel happier as that's the number I asked for in the first place.

So can someone suggest if it is a bad idea? I don't want to be seen as greedy and ruin the relationship before join. It's really only about pride instead of money.

Any comment will be welcome.

Thanks.

Y

mattpalmer's picture

Nobody but you can tell if it's worth the risk of losing the offer over $5k.  For myself, if the money I've been offered is enough to keep me in a comfortable lifestyle, I don't really care about how much above that I get (unless it gets into "independently wealthy" territory).

yanguow's picture

 Thank you for the reply. 5K is really nothing after tax and also divided by 12. In my rational mind, I am actually telling myself it's not worth bothering people to go through all the paperwork again. It's just the ego that playing with my heart. I think I am going to take your suggestion. Thank you very much.

Any different opinions or personal experience/story are still welcome. I think this discussion will also benefit everyone else on the forum.

gpeden's picture

 When you use words like "dragged on' and ' finally' i wonder if this is a place you really want to go. especially if its down to 5K.  In the big scheme of things $5K is nothing.  Are you sure this is a place you really want to work? 

Thanks,

George

DiSC 7511

TomW's picture
Training Badge

Your stance over $5K sounds like that of a five year old who did not get his way.

mattpalmer's picture

Tom, I think you might have been a bit harsh there.  I get the feeling that Yanguow is new to the workforce, and with the huge focus everyone puts on money money money, it's not surprising that some people without extensive experience have an overly narrow view of what is important when considering a job offer.

yanguow's picture

First of all I would like to thank everyone for sharing his/her opinions on this thread. I appreciate it.

Secondly just for your information, I've decided to let go of that stupid 5K stuff and take the offer. 

At last but not least, it's a very interesting experience for me to see my childish perfectionism (yes i admit it for asking my initial question) made some of you think that I am a narrow minded Gen Y (no offence to Gen Y). The job offer is actually nothing close to some 5digits junior role. And it took me four interviews with different part of the company before the offer letter. So, I am very happy with the new job and didn't even think about rejecting for that tiny 5K. I was just curious about what other people do about their salary negotiation.

Anyway, I am grateful for all the helps here. I will chat with you guys in some other discussion on this forum.

TomW's picture
Training Badge

If I was only "a bit" harsh, then I failed to convey my point.

Once someone is in the workforce, new to the market or deeply experienced, they need to learn to make mature decisions about their career, which includes knowing how to pick your battles. My comment was nowhere near as harsh as losing the offer over $5K.

manxomfoe's picture

Not sure what's childish about sticking to what was asked for, and what was agreed upon.I've had experiences where it was the company behaving suspiciously by presenting me with an offer letter that was "whoops" about 5k lower than what I had discussed with the hiring manager.

Was I behaving childishly by saying, "this isn't what we agreed upon.  I can't sign a document without the details being correct" ?

Now I can't say for sure if it was a clerical error, typo, oversight, or sly attempt at low-balling me, but without further clarification on what was discussed, you're making a large (and offensively phrased) presumption, Mr TOMW.

And BTW, saying "No" isn't the same as losing an offer.  That's called "declining" an offer.  Employment is a contractual relationship, not unlike a sales transaction. You get up to the counter at local retailer with less than they asked you for and you go home empty handed.

yanguow's picture

 Thanks manximfoe.

yanguow's picture

 Thanks manximfoe.

yanguow's picture

 Thanks manximfoe.

mattpalmer's picture

Manximfoe, I think the difference in the case you're suggesting is that you have a verbal agreement for a certain salary, and you'd like that agreement to be reiterated in the written offer.  The way I understood Yanguow's situation, there was no agreement as to salary, merely a request for a certain salary, which wasn't reflected in the offer.  The use of the term "negotiate" reinforces that, for me, as I wouldn't "negotiate" for something I believed had already been agreed.

paulrodgers's picture

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