UPDATE (in comments): How to approach a blind salary negotiation? Help!

loro929 · September 2015

Next week I have a meeting to negotiate a salary that I have no idea what could be. How would you approach this?

Some background: I am currently finishing my Ph.D, dissertation already submitted, just need to have the defense, which is already scheduled for next month. About a year ago, I was offered an opportunity to intern at a small company in the field of which I am obtaining my Ph.D. It was a dream opportunity because I have only had experience in the academic field (I have been a "professional student") for the past 6 years and I was extremely interested in obtaining experience in the private sector, both for professional growth and to see what sector I wanted to jumpstart the next step of my career in.

Long story short, this company offered me a full-time position of which I will start in a few weeks. It worked out great for me because I enjoy the work I do and I have decided that I prefer to be in the private sector for the time being. However, there has yet to be any discussion on the terms of what the contract that I will be offered entails. I have some numbers floating around in my head that are what I feel are appropriate for my title, skill sets and the position. However, I have been earning as an intern the past months, so very little, basically working for free, and I have no idea what kind of salary they are going to offer me.

I feel like it could go either way, 1. what I am looking for or 2. wayyy off base (meaning much lower than what I would like). If scenario #2 occurs, I am not sure how to approach the topic. I have never had to negotiate salary before and I don't want to come off sounding greedy or say something silly that later I might regret. The company is small (5 people), so I would be working on a daily basis very very closely with all of the members of the team (including the owners whom will be negotiating with me next week).

It is such a delicate topic and since I am really going into this meeting blind with what they are going to say, I am not sure how to prepare myself for it.

Has anyone else been in a similar situation? If so, what did you do or, if not, what would you do?

I need advice!

[Deleted User] · September 2015

Do not accept the offer unless it's what you are looking for. If it's not, thank them for the offer, let them know you are excited about the work and tell them you will carefully review the offer and respond by X date. Then do just that. Know what your "walk away" number or package is.

Get creative and decide what you could live with. If their number is close but not exactly what you want could you live with a six month review? Would you take a signing bonus? I don't know if these things are realistic in your field- do you?

Are there salary guides you can check? Someone you trust in the private side who you could run your numbers past to see if you're possibly expecting too much?

If you're going to counter their offer and ask for more money always think you should be able to say why- and I don't mean because "my husband only works part time or I have three kids." None of that is the company's decision/problem. Now if you've done a ton of work and added value as an intern and have already PROVED what you're capable of doing by working essentially for free (though you did benefit from it, just not monetarily)- yeah ask for more and give examples of what you contributed.

I seriously hope you're not going to be expected to sit in a room and negotiate an offer- that just seems rude to me. Good luck!

ETF words

kvruns · September 2015

to be honest this sounds like every interview for a job I've had. While I might have a bit of a better idea on the salary if it is something similar to what I currently do, most jobs don't post salaries or even ranges so you go into it blindly. You interview and then sometimes you find out salary but other times not until the offer is made and then you decide if it is doable. You have your number in your head (based on personal experience, research, networking, etc) and then their offer is less than yours you decide how to meet in the middle or decide if they can't budge on $$ are there other perks that would make up some of the value (extra vacation time, lower insurance costs, flexible hours, etc). Or you decline if you cant find common ground.

I guess it is a bit more nerve-wracking if the true reason for the meeting next week is salary negotiation, that seems a little weird to me but maybe that is how this company or your industry does it? Do your research on the position and industry don't just pick a number that you think sounds good.

This is one of those things where "it's not personal it's business" comes into play. Don't let feelings and emotions get in the way of things. They need a person to do X and can pay Y; You can do X but need Z to feel good about accepting the position.

loro929 · September 2015

Thanks for the sound advice. I have no idea how this "negotiating" meeting will go. I hope it is along the lines of "here is our offer take a few days and get back to us". The thing is though that I am already scheduled to start soon, without knowing what the contract terms will be. I asked about it to my direct contact person and he told me that I will just sign the contract on the first day of work and that they already have all of my information from my internship contract. Because it is almost assumed that I will be working there, is what makes me feel nervous about how to approach the whole situation next week.

I can just cross my fingers and hope its around what I want, but in case it is not, I have already looked up what the minimum is in my area for someone with an advanced degree in this area, which has helped me to come to my "signing the dotted line" numbers. I am just anxious regarding not knowing what is going to happen at all and feeling a bit in the dark about the whole thing.

To be honest, I don't know if this is how it is generally done since it is my first non-academic job. All of my jobs up to this point have been paid based on a publicly-defined scale, i.e. no salary negotiations and my salary is publicly accessible to whoever is interested in knowing it. This is a whole new game for me :S

MyNameIsNot · September 2015

Does your program have a career services office? Some are hit or miss for what they can help you with, but the one thing they should be able to give you are salary ranges for previous graduates. (Schools are serious about collecting this, because it's a huge marketing tool for admissions.) It might still be a range, but you could at least ballpark that the number you're floating is market-typical.

If there's any way possible, get them to make the first offer. A company isn't going to react emotionally if you give a number that's too high. They'll just say something like "well, we budgeted this position for the X-Y range" and see if you'll take the lower number. If you throw out a number that's lower than their range, you're leaving money on the table.

kvruns · September 2015

loro929 said:

Thanks for the sound advice. I have no idea how this "negotiating" meeting will go. I hope it is along the lines of "here is our offer take a few days and get back to us". The thing is though that I am already scheduled to start soon, without knowing what the contract terms will be. I asked about it to my direct contact person and he told me that I will just sign the contract on the first day of work and that they already have all of my information from my internship contract. Because it is almost assumed that I will be working there, is what makes me feel nervous about how to approach the whole situation next week.

I can just cross my fingers and hope its around what I want, but in case it is not, I have already looked up what the minimum is in my area for someone with an advanced degree in this area, which has helped me to come to my "signing the dotted line" numbers. I am just anxious regarding not knowing what is going to happen at all and feeling a bit in the dark about the whole thing.

To be honest, I don't know if this is how it is generally done since it is my first non-academic job. All of my jobs up to this point have been paid based on a publicly-defined scale, i.e. no salary negotiations and my salary is publicly accessible to whoever is interested in knowing it. This is a whole new game for me :S

that is just weird to me! did you accept the job without knowing anything about the pay/benefits/etc? I can see how this may have just unknowingly flowed into hey you're awesome now that you're graduating we want to hire you, ok great how about I start Oct 1, awesome! but you need to back the truck up and make sure this is a situation you want to be in. I'd reach out to your contact person and be like I know you said you have all of the info you need from me to start day 1 but I need to know the pay and benefits of the job before officially accepting the job. I'd like to have that information in advance of the meeting next week so I can review ahead of time and we can make sure and get it all settled at that meeting and it doesn't delay my start date.

loro929 · September 2015

kvruns said:

loro929 said:

Thanks for the sound advice. I have no idea how this "negotiating" meeting will go. I hope it is along the lines of "here is our offer take a few days and get back to us". The thing is though that I am already scheduled to start soon, without knowing what the contract terms will be. I asked about it to my direct contact person and he told me that I will just sign the contract on the first day of work and that they already have all of my information from my internship contract. Because it is almost assumed that I will be working there, is what makes me feel nervous about how to approach the whole situation next week.

I can just cross my fingers and hope its around what I want, but in case it is not, I have already looked up what the minimum is in my area for someone with an advanced degree in this area, which has helped me to come to my "signing the dotted line" numbers. I am just anxious regarding not knowing what is going to happen at all and feeling a bit in the dark about the whole thing.

To be honest, I don't know if this is how it is generally done since it is my first non-academic job. All of my jobs up to this point have been paid based on a publicly-defined scale, i.e. no salary negotiations and my salary is publicly accessible to whoever is interested in knowing it. This is a whole new game for me :S

that is just weird to me! did you accept the job without knowing anything about the pay/benefits/etc? I can see how this may have just unknowingly flowed into hey you're awesome now that you're graduating we want to hire you, ok great how about I start Oct 1, awesome! but you need to back the truck up and make sure this is a situation you want to be in. I'd reach out to your contact person and be like I know you said you have all of the info you need from me to start day 1 but I need to know the pay and benefits of the job before officially accepting the job. I'd like to have that information in advance of the meeting next week so I can review ahead of time and we can make sure and get it all settled at that meeting and it doesn't delay my start date.

This is exactly what happened

. Since the job was basically tailored to what I have been researching in my Ph.D, I was so happy that they offered me the opportunity to stay on full time. I was patiently waiting for the info re. contract terms, but it was never mentioned. Yesterday, I did speak with my contact person, who is the person that organized the meeting for me next week with the appropriate people... So, I guess it will be during that meeting that everything is discussed but, yes, as it is so close to when I am supposed to start it is making me feel anxious. I might add here that I am not in the US, so there are different norms/ways to do things. I am generally used to the way of doing things here, mainly everything is slower and more relaxed; but, during these types of situations the American side of my brain kicks in and I just start going crazy.

kimmiinthemitten · September 2015

The number one rule to negotiating is you will never get what you don't ask for. I agree with the PPs, ask around, do some research on what a suitable offer would be and then ask for a little bit more. Reference your work and value as an intern, the cost savings in promoting an internal employee vs hiring from the outside, and use specific examples of your value (numbers if applicable. Good luck!

[Deleted User] · September 2015

Just remember that you don't have to answer right then even if they do expect you to negotiate in person in that room. Even if they say they want answer right then- you don't have to give one.

(Why would you want to work for someone who would put you on the spot like that? That tactic makes me feel like they're just trying to push you into something that they know may not be very good, or they're desperate. I don't know the situation, but it's what would cross my mind if it happened to me- though you've been interning there so you can probably read that situation a bit better.)

And here's the thing, even if it's not what you want but you "have to" accept b/c you don't have other offers lined up, you can accept and then start an actual job search. Nothing to feel guilty over- people do this every day. If you're employed, very few people quit first to start looking for a new job; they do their job in tandem with their search. It might also look good to future employers that your internship employer was willing to hire you. There's a few hiring managers at my company who constantly ask new grads why their internship employer didn't offer to hire them- they kind of assume the person must have sucked, even if that's not the case. So even if the salary isn't great, taking the job for a bit for that reason could help you.

Practice the mantra: "Thank you for the offer; I'm very excited about the work. I will carefully review the details and get back to you by x date." That way, you're prepared to say it and it won't sound like you're stalling; you'll sound level-headed and practical and professional.

Good luck!

teddygirl9 · September 2015

I think you need to request to see the contract ahead of your first day. That seems very weird that you have no idea what the contract entails but you are already signed on for working? I'd send an email back that says something like 'I'd like to review the contract ahead of my first day' and maybe throw in that you can be more prepared, etc. for you rmeeting next week.

[Deleted User] · September 2015

teddygirl9 said:

I think you need to request to see the contract ahead of your first day. That seems very weird that you have no idea what the contract entails but you are already signed on for working? I'd send an email back that says something like 'I'd like to review the contract ahead of my first day' and maybe throw in that you can be more prepared, etc. for you rmeeting next week.

Good idea.

loro929 · September 2015

So, I had the meeting and it did not go as well as I expected. I basically had to turn down their "preliminary" offer and I was told that they were going to have to crunch some more numbers and get back to me with a counter-proposal. I was told that on Monday (i.e. today) I would receive an offer to go over and discuss when I get in the office on Tuesday (i.e. tomorrow, I do not work in the office on Mondays). It is now approx. 4 PM and I still have not received any counter offer and I am starting to get anxious.

It is a strange situation because technically, as of now, I do still work there so I see all of these people on a daily basis. Would you write a mail asking for the offer? If so, when would you write it and what would you say/how would address the topic? I am truly at a loss.

Thanks in advance for any comments/feedback. This has truly been such an awkward experience for me. You guys have given such great advice, and I have tried to follow it as much as possible, but it still doesn't wipe away the sting of awkward that I have experienced. Any advice on how to approach this forth-coming round-2?

ETA. As I mentioned in PP, this has been my first "out of university" job offer/experience, so it has been a real rude-awakening on how things can work outside of academia:/

STARMOON44 · September 2015

I would wait. When they have a counter offer ready they will tell you. Go in tmrw, do your work, be your usual level of friendly, and at some point stop by your bosses office and check in.

I also don't think it sounds like it went badly. That's how a negotiation works. They offer x. You request y. They consider it and get back to you.

kimmiinthemitten · September 2015

loro929 said:

So, I had the meeting and it did not go as well as I expected. I basically had to turn down their "preliminary" offer and I was told that they were going to have to crunch some more numbers and get back to me with a counter-proposal. I was told that on Monday (i.e. today) I would receive an offer to go over and discuss when I get in the office on Tuesday (i.e. tomorrow, I do not work in the office on Mondays). It is now approx. 4 PM and I still have not received any counter offer and I am starting to get anxious.

It is a strange situation because technically, as of now, I do still work there so I see all of these people on a daily basis. Would you write a mail asking for the offer? If so, when would you write it and what would you say/how would address the topic? I am truly at a loss.

Thanks in advance for any comments/feedback. This has truly been such an awkward experience for me. You guys have given such great advice, and I have tried to follow it as much as possible, but it still doesn't wipe away the sting of awkward that I have experienced. Any advice on how to approach this forth-coming round-2?

ETA. As I mentioned in PP, this has been my first "out of university" job offer/experience, so it has been a real rude-awakening on how things can work outside of academia:/

Are they expecting you to do your new job or your current job in the interim? If it's your current job, I agree with StarMoon.

If the negotiation is holding up you starting your new job, or if you're doing the new job while in negotiations, then I would sit down with my boss and ask for a reasonable timeline.

loro929 · September 2015

Technically the start-date should be in 2 weeks- so there is some more time on that end. I am just anxious to see what it will be because the first-round was a bit more off-based than I would have expected. Thus, this second-round needs to come a bit closer or a plan-B will need to be taken. DH and I are prepared if there might be some months where I am out of work/looking for a job; but in my field (and especially when starting out) I feel that it is important that any working-gaps are few and far-between, which is why I am sitting here on the edge of my chair waiting for what they tell me.

I know I should already start looking, but as I explained in PPs, I have been there for a while and I am comfortable and really enjoy my job there. However, the package proposed would make it difficult for me to stay there - even while looking for other work for a couple of different reasons, mainly lack of benefits.

huskypuppy14 · September 2015

Is the salary they offering you way too low? How are you arriving at the number you want? You said you looked at the minimum in your field, and is this number they are giving you below that?

You said it was a small company, so they may not have the resources to pay you the salary you would like. Sometimes it's a balancing act of getting the money you need to live and would make you happy and enjoying where you work. Are the benefits good? I'd take a lower salary if the benefits were excellent and you enjoyed your colleagues and the work you do. If there not even in the ballpark though, you may want to ask why.

loro929 · September 2015

huskypuppy14 said:

Is the salary they offering you way too low? How are you arriving at the number you want? You said you looked at the minimum in your field, and is this number they are giving you below that?

You said it was a small company, so they may not have the resources to pay you the salary you would like. Sometimes it's a balancing act of getting the money you need to live and would make you happy and enjoying where you work. Are the benefits good? I'd take a lower salary if the benefits were excellent and you enjoyed your colleagues and the work you do. If there not even in the ballpark though, you may want to ask why.

The problem is that the number they are giving me is way below the minimum in the field with no benefits for the first few months. So, I would be taking a pay-cut and losing benefits, which may not matter so much in the short term but definitely affects me a lot in the long term.

It is a small company, so I am aware of the limitations. However, they also want someone highly qualified (i.e. PhD level) in this position, for which they are offering no real increase to what I am being paid currently as an intern.

I do enjoy the job and the colleagues and the atmosphere; but at the same time I feel that I need to value myself and what my skills are worth (also, I feel that without a bit of balance, also from their end salary-wise, having a higher degree, in general, becomes devalued; especially if a PhD is expected to get paid the salary of a under-grad university work-study in a private company). So, I whole-heartedly agree with you, but I also feel that I need to feel compensated and properly valued for the work at the level of which I would be entering, if that makes sense?

kvruns · September 2015

loro929 said:

huskypuppy14 said:

Is the salary they offering you way too low? How are you arriving at the number you want? You said you looked at the minimum in your field, and is this number they are giving you below that?

You said it was a small company, so they may not have the resources to pay you the salary you would like. Sometimes it's a balancing act of getting the money you need to live and would make you happy and enjoying where you work. Are the benefits good? I'd take a lower salary if the benefits were excellent and you enjoyed your colleagues and the work you do. If there not even in the ballpark though, you may want to ask why.

The problem is that the number they are giving me is way below the minimum in the field with no benefits for the first few months. So, I would be taking a pay-cut and losing benefits, which may not matter so much in the short term but definitely affects me a lot in the long term.

It is a small company, so I am aware of the limitations. However, they also want someone highly qualified (i.e. PhD level) in this position, for which they are offering no real increase to what I am being paid currently as an intern.

I do enjoy the job and the colleagues and the atmosphere; but at the same time I feel that I need to value myself and what my skills are worth (also, I feel that without a bit of balance, also from their end salary-wise, having a higher degree, in general, becomes devalued; especially if a PhD is expected to get paid the salary of a under-grad university work-study in a private company). So, I whole-heartedly agree with you, but I also feel that I need to feel compensated and properly valued for the work at the level of which I would be entering, if that makes sense?

Makes total sense to me and sounds like you are sticking to your guns. Seems weird to want to pay someone FT the same they would pay a student?? What if they offered same salary but with more benefits - would that change your mind? Or higher salary but still no benefits?

STARMOON44 · September 2015

Start looking. You should have been looking all along and you know it! Get cracking!!!

loro929 · September 2015

kvruns said:

loro929 said:

huskypuppy14 said:

Is the salary they offering you way too low? How are you arriving at the number you want? You said you looked at the minimum in your field, and is this number they are giving you below that?

You said it was a small company, so they may not have the resources to pay you the salary you would like. Sometimes it's a balancing act of getting the money you need to live and would make you happy and enjoying where you work. Are the benefits good? I'd take a lower salary if the benefits were excellent and you enjoyed your colleagues and the work you do. If there not even in the ballpark though, you may want to ask why.

The problem is that the number they are giving me is way below the minimum in the field with no benefits for the first few months. So, I would be taking a pay-cut and losing benefits, which may not matter so much in the short term but definitely affects me a lot in the long term.

It is a small company, so I am aware of the limitations. However, they also want someone highly qualified (i.e. PhD level) in this position, for which they are offering no real increase to what I am being paid currently as an intern.

I do enjoy the job and the colleagues and the atmosphere; but at the same time I feel that I need to value myself and what my skills are worth (also, I feel that without a bit of balance, also from their end salary-wise, having a higher degree, in general, becomes devalued; especially if a PhD is expected to get paid the salary of a under-grad university work-study in a private company). So, I whole-heartedly agree with you, but I also feel that I need to feel compensated and properly valued for the work at the level of which I would be entering, if that makes sense?

Makes total sense to me and sounds like you are sticking to your guns. Seems weird to want to pay someone FT the same they would pay a student?? What if they offered same salary but with more benefits - would that change your mind? Or higher salary but still no benefits?

Although the low-salary would sting, I could deal with it for the short-term (i.e. while most likely looking for something else), but the lack of benefits is a real deal-breaker for me. Where I am located we tend to pay higher taxes but have access to lots of great public services, including free health-care, public pensions, good unemployment benefits etc., so each individual day that I work counts toward this. If I am not paying into the public system or paying less taxes, due to the fact that they basically want to pay me hourly, even if it is for a short amount of time, it does not count toward my pension/unemployment benefits etc.

I know that I should feel very fortunate to have an offer and an opportunity, so I hope that I am not coming off as selfish and only after a large salary (trust me this is not the case). I just want a opportunity that is fairly compensated and currently, I feel that it is not, which is disappointing and obviously making me a bit anxious.

loro929 · September 2015

STARMOON44 said:

Start looking. You should have been looking all along and you know it! Get cracking!!!

I know!!! In retrospective it is all so clear. I was saying this to DH the whole time, but I just had such high hopes. Learned a good lesson the hard way, but at least I learned it early on in the game.

kimmiinthemitten · September 2015

loro929 said:

kvruns said:

loro929 said:

huskypuppy14 said:

Is the salary they offering you way too low? How are you arriving at the number you want? You said you looked at the minimum in your field, and is this number they are giving you below that?

You said it was a small company, so they may not have the resources to pay you the salary you would like. Sometimes it's a balancing act of getting the money you need to live and would make you happy and enjoying where you work. Are the benefits good? I'd take a lower salary if the benefits were excellent and you enjoyed your colleagues and the work you do. If there not even in the ballpark though, you may want to ask why.

The problem is that the number they are giving me is way below the minimum in the field with no benefits for the first few months. So, I would be taking a pay-cut and losing benefits, which may not matter so much in the short term but definitely affects me a lot in the long term.

It is a small company, so I am aware of the limitations. However, they also want someone highly qualified (i.e. PhD level) in this position, for which they are offering no real increase to what I am being paid currently as an intern.

I do enjoy the job and the colleagues and the atmosphere; but at the same time I feel that I need to value myself and what my skills are worth (also, I feel that without a bit of balance, also from their end salary-wise, having a higher degree, in general, becomes devalued; especially if a PhD is expected to get paid the salary of a under-grad university work-study in a private company). So, I whole-heartedly agree with you, but I also feel that I need to feel compensated and properly valued for the work at the level of which I would be entering, if that makes sense?

Makes total sense to me and sounds like you are sticking to your guns. Seems weird to want to pay someone FT the same they would pay a student?? What if they offered same salary but with more benefits - would that change your mind? Or higher salary but still no benefits?

Although the low-salary would sting, I could deal with it for the short-term (i.e. while most likely looking for something else), but the lack of benefits is a real deal-breaker for me. Where I am located we tend to pay higher taxes but have access to lots of great public services, including free health-care, public pensions, good unemployment benefits etc., so each individual day that I work counts toward this. If I am not paying into the public system or paying less taxes, due to the fact that they basically want to pay me hourly, even if it is for a short amount of time, it does not count toward my pension/unemployment benefits etc.

I know that I should feel very fortunate to have an offer and an opportunity, so I hope that I am not coming off as selfish and only after a large salary (trust me this is not the case). I just want a opportunity that is fairly compensated and currently, I feel that it is not, which is disappointing and obviously making me a bit anxious.

Never apologize for wanting compensation that matches your experience and your education (go read Lean In by Sheryl Sandberg everytime you start doubting yourself)! Your requests are completely reasonable and like @starmoon44 said, I would start job searching now.

STARMOON44 · September 2015

loro929 said:

kvruns said:

loro929 said:

huskypuppy14 said:

Is the salary they offering you way too low? How are you arriving at the number you want? You said you looked at the minimum in your field, and is this number they are giving you below that?

You said it was a small company, so they may not have the resources to pay you the salary you would like. Sometimes it's a balancing act of getting the money you need to live and would make you happy and enjoying where you work. Are the benefits good? I'd take a lower salary if the benefits were excellent and you enjoyed your colleagues and the work you do. If there not even in the ballpark though, you may want to ask why.

The problem is that the number they are giving me is way below the minimum in the field with no benefits for the first few months. So, I would be taking a pay-cut and losing benefits, which may not matter so much in the short term but definitely affects me a lot in the long term.

It is a small company, so I am aware of the limitations. However, they also want someone highly qualified (i.e. PhD level) in this position, for which they are offering no real increase to what I am being paid currently as an intern.

I do enjoy the job and the colleagues and the atmosphere; but at the same time I feel that I need to value myself and what my skills are worth (also, I feel that without a bit of balance, also from their end salary-wise, having a higher degree, in general, becomes devalued; especially if a PhD is expected to get paid the salary of a under-grad university work-study in a private company). So, I whole-heartedly agree with you, but I also feel that I need to feel compensated and properly valued for the work at the level of which I would be entering, if that makes sense?

Makes total sense to me and sounds like you are sticking to your guns. Seems weird to want to pay someone FT the same they would pay a student?? What if they offered same salary but with more benefits - would that change your mind? Or higher salary but still no benefits?

Although the low-salary would sting, I could deal with it for the short-term (i.e. while most likely looking for something else), but the lack of benefits is a real deal-breaker for me. Where I am located we tend to pay higher taxes but have access to lots of great public services, including free health-care, public pensions, good unemployment benefits etc., so each individual day that I work counts toward this. If I am not paying into the public system or paying less taxes, due to the fact that they basically want to pay me hourly, even if it is for a short amount of time, it does not count toward my pension/unemployment benefits etc.

I know that I should feel very fortunate to have an offer and an opportunity, so I hope that I am not coming off as selfish and only after a large salary (trust me this is not the case). I just want a opportunity that is fairly compensated and currently, I feel that it is not, which is disappointing and obviously making me a bit anxious.

You're not being selfish at all!

lyndausvi · September 2015

It's not unusual for no benefits for the first few months at any new job you take. Even if you are going from a part-time/internship type position to a full time position within the same company. The last 2 jobs DH took we had to wait 90-days for the benefits to kick in.

The below average starting salary would be more of an issue for me. Unless the benefits are amazing once they kick-in.

DH is getting paid higher than average salary. In addition his benefits rock (100% paid medical and they pay 80% of mine). Plus a lot of other benefits. Not having benefits for 90-days sucked, but the pay out when then kicked-in were worth it.

loro929 · September 2015

lyndausvi said:

It's not unusual for no benefits for the first few months at any new job you take. Even if you are going from a part-time/internship type position to a full time position within the same company. The last 2 jobs DH took we had to wait 90-days for the benefits to kick in.

The below average starting salary would be more of an issue for me. Unless the benefits are amazing once they kick-in.

DH is getting paid higher than average salary. In addition his benefits rock (100% paid medical and they pay 80% of mine). Plus a lot of other benefits. Not having benefits for 90-days sucked, but the pay out when then kicked-in were worth it.

This is my issue. They would be the same as I have now. I am living in a country where benefits are public. So, unless you, as an individual, wants something private - your benefits are exactly the same as any salaried worker (no matter what their salary). So, I could deal with the lower salary for now, but taking all of the benefits away is the real deal-breaker because it will later affect my pension, and any future unemployment needs.

lyndausvi · September 2015

loro929 said:

lyndausvi said:

It's not unusual for no benefits for the first few months at any new job you take. Even if you are going from a part-time/internship type position to a full time position within the same company. The last 2 jobs DH took we had to wait 90-days for the benefits to kick in.

The below average starting salary would be more of an issue for me. Unless the benefits are amazing once they kick-in.

DH is getting paid higher than average salary. In addition his benefits rock (100% paid medical and they pay 80% of mine). Plus a lot of other benefits. Not having benefits for 90-days sucked, but the pay out when then kicked-in were worth it.

This is my issue. They would be the same as I have now. I am living in a country where benefits are public. So, unless you, as an individual, wants something private - your benefits are exactly the same as any salaried worker (no matter what their salary). So, I could deal with the lower salary for now, but taking all of the benefits away is the real deal-breaker because it will later affect my pension, and any future unemployment needs.

an earlier post you said no benefits for a few months. This sounds like it's gone forever. No benefits for a few months is not as big of deal as never getting them again.

UPDATE (in comments): How to approach a blind salary negotiation? Help!

Re: UPDATE (in comments): How to approach a blind salary negotiation? Help!

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