Can I Renegotiate My Job Offer?
When you seek a new job, it's important that you find one that not only makes use of your skills but also provides adequate compensation. You may have a sense of what your skills are worth from previous jobs, but this can vary from one employer to another. When you receive a job offer, feel free to negotiate the terms of your employment. This is a process you should only go through once, however.
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Evaluating an Offer
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When you receive a job offer, one of the first things you should do is consider its terms and decide whether negotiating is even necessary. You'll often have a general idea of what the job entails before you receive an offer. Questions about pay, benefits and expectations may be part of the job listing or come up during an interview. Review the offer to make sure everything is the same as you discussed earlier or expected. If the offer is significantly below your expectations, plan to negotiate.
Negotiation Process
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You can negotiate a job offer by contacting the human resources representative who sent you the original offer. Before making contact, decide what you will ask for, as well as the minimum offer you'll accept. Besides salary figures, factor in benefits. Even if the person you negotiate with can't offer you a salary above a certain level, she may be able to offer additional benefits that weren't part of your original job offer, such as a more comprehensive health insurance plan or a moving allowance to cover your relocation costs.
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Accepting an Offer
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If negotiations go well, you'll be able to accept a new job offer on the spot. If your new employer uses an employee contract as part of the hiring process, review the new contract to make sure it includes all of the details that were part of your negotiations. If neither you nor your new employer require a contract, you'll be able to begin work on the date you specify together. Once you accept an offer, any reluctance or push for further negotiations on your part appears unprofessional, so only accept an offer that you feel needs no further changes.
Ongoing Negotiations
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Although it may damage your credibility to attempt to renegotiate a job offer immediately, your negotiations don't have to end when you accept an offer. Certain job offers include probationary periods, after which you're able to meet with a manager to review your performance and negotiate benefits or a salary increase. Even if your job offer is open-ended, you can negotiate for a raise. And if your employer offers a cost-of-living wage increase, you can still renegotiate your salary if you learn new skills, when you feel your performance warrants it or when you reach a senior level within the business.
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