by Erisa Ojimba, salary.com
Should I counteroffer a negotiated salary offer?
Q.I received an offer lower than my desired salary. I talked it over
with HR, and they met me almost halfway with a second offer. Is
it appropriate to renegotiate to get closer to my desired salary,
or is it time to accept their offer?
A.Itis okay to renegotiate a job offer with an employer if you do not
feel comfortable with their job offer. However, you should be clear
what you're willing to accept. Intensive conversations about a few
thousand dollars may in the end prove to be a waste of time. It
is also okay to ask a company what their final job offer is.
If the company won't meet you all the way, look at other compensation
costs, such as additional vacation days, a sign on-bonus, or additional
training. In other words, if the company can't meet your base pay
requirements, look for other variable pay components they can meet.
In some cases, the variable pay may exceed the amount you are looking
for in base pay, so be creative and flexible in your salary negotiations.
