Before You Get the Job Offer

6 Incredible Things to Think About Before You Get the Job Offer

As an experienced professional, you’re no stranger to negotiation. But when it comes to negotiating your job offer, there are a few key things you should keep in mind. Here are the top 6 items you must negotiate on your next job offer.

Salary – This is the Most Important Thing to Negotiate For, and You Need to Know the Fair Market Value of the Job, Not the Value of You Doing the Job

When it comes to negotiating the salary for a job, remember that knowledge is power. Use your years of experience, relationships and what growth potential you bring to the role as leverage, but never settle for less than the fair market value. Know your worth and make sure you negotiate your way into getting what’s deserved – it might not always be in money, so consider other perks or benefits too!

The Signing Bonus Helps You Through the Change

Get paid to make that change and cover your expenses? Signing bonuses can be a smart way to sweeten any job offer and make it more worth your while—think of it as an extra little savings account before you start the first day! Not only does this speedy payout help ease your transition into the new role, but it also acknowledges good news about the position and reinforces that you made the right decision by taking it. The smartest thing to keep in mind? No matter what a company offers you, be sure to negotiate for what is best for you.

Health Benefits – Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance Are Just the Beginning

It’s great that some job offers are offering more than just the basics – medical, dental, and vision insurance – when it comes to health benefits. Gym memberships and other wellness accommodations can be incredibly helpful in maintaining good physical and mental health, so having them offered as a benefit is a real boon. Along with these added benefits, make sure that your basic insurance needs are taken care of by the employer. Having access to affordable coverage is an important foundation for protecting your well-being!

Time Off You Say?

Accruing days off can be a challenge – unless you have the not-so-common luxury of unlimited holidays. But, realistically, most employers give time away in chunks of accrual and extra days for certain holidays or sick days. In the US, The Fair Labor Standards Act outlines the amount of vacation days allotted per year (none). However, many eager employers decide to offer paid vacation time to employees as an employee benefit. With this kind of freedom, it can sometimes be hard to decide exactly how much time off is considered responsible! For me, I’m comfortable with up to two weeks off yearly (including holidays), plus a few additional days if I’m feeling under the weather and need some recuperation.

401K Matching – Does Your Employer Offer Any Kind of 401K Matching Program?

Have you ever wondered what retirement looks like? Does it involve sitting in a rocking chair and reading the paper or do you plan to travel around the world? A 401k matching program might just enable you to do both! Most employers offer some kind of retirement matching program, so why not take advantage of this opportunity? Doing so can give you even more financial flexibility when retirement comes knocking. So if your retirement dreams are bigger than a daily crossword puzzle, ask about your employer’s 401k matching program.

Stock Options – It’s the Option that Pays You Well When the Company is Doing Well

The notion of stock options is a double-edged sword, but it can definitely pay off if the company is doing well. When vested, stock options can result in some serious payouts, turning a portfolio into a surefire way for investors to pad their earnings. So if you’ve been considering whether or not to invest in stock options, just remember that the rewards can be extremely worthwhile – depending on how the company is performing.

So there you have it, the six most important things to negotiate in your next job offer. Of course, every situation is different and you should tailor your negotiations to what is most important to you. And if you need help negotiating or don’t know where to start, that’s what we’re here for. At ECP, we specialize in helping people just like you get the most out of their job offers. So contact us today and let us help you make sure your next job offer has everything you need to not need to look for a job again for quite some time. Good luck!