Negotiation after a job offer

Submitted by Mandy Naughton
in
Career Management

BLUF: How much negotiation is acceptable having been made a job offer?

Having worked for the same company for nearly 20 years, I recently applied for a new position elsewhere.  The reasons for my wanting to move are quite complex, not purely salary or job role, but due to changes in current management and the state of the organisation itself.

The role I applied for was on a similar salary, and advertised as full-time.  I did make them aware that I did slightly less hours in my current position, which was something to factor in if they wanted to take my application further.  They verbally offered me the job full-time and I successfully negotiated the hours down (this actually equates to 3 hours less per week than full time). 

I am now waiting for full details of the job offer to arrive.  My question is that if the rest of the package is less than what I have now, is it out of order to go back to them again to discuss?  I'm guess I'm mainly talking about number of days holidays.  When the job was advertised it appeared to come with the same number of holidays as I currently have, but I have a feeling they actually include bank holidays whereas mine do not.  If this is correct, I would stand to lose 8 days paid holiday by moving jobs.

I don't want to appear cheeky and taint the whole process by being seen as arrogant or demanding, especially as I have already had an input by reducing the hours.  Do I just suck it up if what they are offering is less than what I have now, and decide purely on the job and salary they are offering, or do I get back to them to see if there is anything I can negotiate? 

Thanks in advance for any advice on this.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Submitted by Tom Waltz on Monday January 28th, 2013 8:14 am

It's only negotiation if you can offer them something more.
You've already told them that you will only work a certain number of hours per week, which puts a limit on your value to the company. Those hours had better be the most productive of anyone on their group, or you will be left behind by people who might be less efficient but work as many hours as a task takes.
If you tell them that you want more money or more vacation time, what can you offer that says you will be worth it? What do you offer that someone else, who might take less money and work more hours, does not?

Submitted by Michael Peterson on Monday February 4th, 2013 12:55 pm

Since the issue has not come up, you would still have sometime to clarify that you were assuming that the holidays would be equivalent.  Once they tell you the offier, I think the window for getting it changed has closed.  But prior to them giving you the offer, you could let them know that you assumed those days would be part of the offer.  We all understand that giving up vacation days can be painful and it can be easier to sell the more vacation days if someone already has it, especially if the roles and pay are similiar.  Losing 8 paid days is nearly equivalent to a 4% change in salary.  Although, some people might value the vacation more then the pay if given then choice.  Some may think of this as negotiating, but in my mind I don't think it really is.  Just my thoughts. 

Submitted by Mandy Naughton on Tuesday February 5th, 2013 6:41 pm

Thanks for your advice guys. 
My thoughts were more on the lines of yours MJPete, but I understand where you are coming from TomW.  It's difficult when you haven't been part of the job market for such a long time, and there's no set rules to play by!
To give you the end to this story, I never did get to query number of days holidays with them.  The company advertised themselves as very employee-friendly (which is why I was surpised when they seemed to be confirming their holidays equating to the statutory minimum - not clear from their job advert)... but weren't. 
I asked them to send me a copy of the terms and conditions of the offer and copy of the contract in the post - they said they would, but it never arrived. 
They emailed it to me but it had my hours as full time on it. 
When I spoke to their HR on the phone, they re-confirmed the reduced hours and said would send me the revised details out, again in the post.  
I *ALMOST* handed in my notice, but decided to wait still and see it in black and white.  
The very next day they called me back again and said I'd have to make up the missing 3 hours by working extra, either early in the mornings or later at night. 
I withdrew my application.  At best it was incompetence, at worst I think it fairly despicable, especially as they had been pushing for me to confirm a start date and complete their forms throughout the process, up to and including the day they re-confirmed my reduced hours were OK. 
I count myself as having had a lucky escape and have learned a great deal about negotiating and accepting any future job offers!