new job written offer negotiations

masraum · 07:47 PM

I went to an interview a couple of weeks back. Prior to the interview I told a friend that works there that a certain figure would probably be enough to get me to move. Her management knows the figure which I'm OK with. It turns out that because the benefits at the new place are considerably less than the current job that I'd need a tiny bit more to leave. I got an email today saying that they'd like to move ahead and if I'm still interested, and the first of the year is good for me, that they'd like to extend a written offer. They've not extended a verbal offer.

In the past at other jobs, I've gotten a verbal, negotiated, and then gotten the final written, but I'm not sure if that's the norm or if I should wait for the written from this new place and then negotiate.

I've considered emailing him with the new number ahead of time, but I think it may be correct to wait for the written and then address any change that I need after I've received the written, but I just don't know.

THanks

Scooter · 11-30-2006, 06:37 PM

Written or verbal, it really doesn't matter unless you accept the offer. Wait for the written offer, then counter with your additional terms, while following up verbally. Good luck!

krichard · krichard's Garage

If you know you're not going to accept the current offer why not go ahead and let them know your terms so that they can extend the written offer that you are willing to accept. No harm there. Otherwise your wasting both yours and their time redoing paperwork.

I'm a manager and always finalize the negotiations with the candidate and HR prior to the written offer. If they counter after the written offer I usually don't bother moving forward.

stomachmonkey · 07:27 PM

Disagree, in my experience which may not be reflective of others experience a written is usually a formality arising from the need for legal protection. It's a confirmation of the mutually agreed to terms and is not a time for negotiation.

I have never extended a written offer to any potential employee until all the details have been hammered out.

I have never accepted a position until I received the written offer that confirmed the negotiated terms.

Written offers are a PIA for HR depts. They don't like doing them more than once.

And ditto krichard, I give you a written and you counter me don't bother hiring a moving company.

Scott

JeremyD · JeremyD's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by masraum
I went to an interview a couple of weeks back. Prior to the interview I told a friend that works there that a certain figure would probably be enough to get me to move. Her management knows the figure which I'm OK with. It turns out that because the benefits at the new place are considerably less than the current job that I'd need a tiny bit more to leave. I got an email today saying that they'd like to move ahead and if I'm still interested, and the first of the year is good for me, that they'd like to extend a written offer. They've not extended a verbal offer.

In the past at other jobs, I've gotten a verbal, negotiated, and then gotten the final written, but I'm not sure if that's the norm or if I should wait for the written from this new place and then negotiate.

I've considered emailing him with the new number ahead of time, but I think it may be correct to wait for the written and then address any change that I need after I've received the written, but I just don't know.

THanks

Steve - since they emailed you - email them back asking for details of their written offer. Just tell them you have some planning you want to do over the holidays. No harm, no foul. If the benefit costs are materially different - that's where you start your discussions.

If they are serious - easy to go from here.

masraum · 11-30-2006, 07:36 PM

Great! Thanks guys. I was thinking it would be better to negotiate or at least discuss the offer/terms before the written, so that's what I'll do.

Nathans_Dad · Nathans_Dad's Garage

The job I just took worked via a letter of intent. They sent me a letter with a thumbnail sketch of terms, including salary, benefits, bonuses, time off, etc. Their original offer wasn't up to snuff so I talked to them and they sent me another written offer. That one was pretty reasonable so I sat on it for a couple weeks while my other offers came in. Then they called me to ask what it would take for me to sign with them instead of waiting on my other offers. I told them what I wanted and they said "Ok". Next day I got another letter with the final terms. I signed it, sent it back and got the formal contract about a week later.

I would think either way would work.

rammstein · 12-01-2006, 06:40 AM

I've always been a fan of up-front too.

M.D. Holloway · 12-01-2006, 06:43 AM

Steve - get it all out in the open prior to going forward. The letter they send you should be the final say so and all the details wrapped up tight. Remember, they want you so they should be willing to listen to reason and work accordingly. If you present you case logically and thoughfully then they should respnd in kind.

Consider this, if they fall short in what you want they may carry that over into other things as well. Somethimng else to consider is that if they comply and give you all you want then they are someone you may want to establish a long relationship with or they may use that as a lever in future dealings - "We bent over backwards to meet your needs now we expect you to do this for us..."

Like the old saying goes, "Ass, gas or grass...nobody rides for free."

morganb · morganb's Garage

Get an informal written offer first (email stating terms and conditons)and then let them know your issues from there. Before that talk to your contact and let him know your concerns over your current understanding and some of them may already be fixed in the wriiten informal offer.

stomachmonkey · 12-01-2006, 08:03 AM

An email or letter stating the opening offer is fine to negotiate. Common if you are geographically to far to do it in person.

If you or more importantly they are under the impression that they are sending you a final offer letter outlining the agreed to terms then you missed a step in the process and need to get in front of it.

Negotiating an offer letter will lead to them pulling it more times than not. Why risk it.

Scott

stomachmonkey · 12-01-2006, 08:06 AM

Now I will say that a friend of mine just had this experience. Got a final offer letter and realized that the benefits package was an issue.

He needed them immediately and the employeer had a 30 day waiting period.

He spoke to them about it and they made an exception for him.

I guess it depends on what you need to negotiate, if it's monetary based I'd do it up front. Something else like a start date is not a big deal.

Scott

masraum · 12-01-2006, 08:49 AM

Thanks all, lots of good info. The guy that I'm dealing with said I could call or email with any questions/concerns. I told him I had a couple of minor things that I wanted to talk about and asked if he preferred an email or call and when would a call be convenient. He said email was fine. I have a family vacation planned for the week after they want me to start, so I opened with that. I had a couple of small questions about benefits and then addressed that because of the benefits that the salary was close, but not quite and asked if there were any thing we could do to work out a specific amount over the number that had been mentioned previously. I mentioned that provisions besides a straight salary increase may be possible and gave him an example from my current job.

masraum · 12-04-2006, 07:36 PM

Well, I think things have worked out well. The guy that I've been working with told me that he would be sending a written offer in the next day or two. I should be starting the middle of Jan. Woo Hoo.