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Employment Today™"WILL GREEDY JOB HUNTER'S WIN IN THIS JOB MARKET?Dear Kathryn: Settle this argument my coworkers and me are having-- A few of us are interviewing for new jobs and haven't handled salary negotiations in ages. Half of us believe that we should present our credentials and have the employer be the one to propose the salary. If the offer's great, take it. The other greedy half says no matter how good the offer, you should always negotiate as in this job market, you should get it while you can. What's your take on this? Also, how do we get around the question "salary expectation" on the application?ANN L., RHONDA T., & others, Bridgeport, CT Dear Negotiating Neophytes: If you follow your greedy co-workers theory when presented with a great offer, you might not have to worry about deciding whether or not to take the job, as there's a good chance the offer will be rescinded. While employers-even in this economy-are certainly willing to pay for good talent, they're not always in a "negotiating mood", or stupid. Of course, you don't want them to think you're greedy by sneezing at a great offer. How to recognize if it is a good offer? You need to know what your competition's getting paid. Couple the salary information you gather along with your track record of achievement and come up with a realistic range. On the application "desired salary" inquiry, put "open" or "negotiable." When the employer nails you on your answer, respond that it's dependent on the entire package. Bonuses, benefits, perks, exempt vs. non-exempt status, potential as well as initial starting base salary should all factor in. Good luck, job hunters!Dear Kathryn: You've always advocated "no office romance", however that's where I meet the opposite sex. Half the couples with successful marriages I know met at work. My company doesn't have any written policy and I've started dating a department supervisor. Any advice other than breaking it off? Sara O., Bristol,CTDear Sara: Act professionally at all times and remember you're at work and being paid to perform work duties. Your employer is not paying you to practice the latest moves you picked up in the "how-to" guide about snagging a hot guy or future husband. For further insight as to how to handle your workload and the men in your department and successfully manage a workplace romance, pick up the interesting book called, The Office Romance: Playing With Fire Without Getting Burned (Amacom), a very interesting read. Good luck.Dear Kathryn: My fifteen years of dedication to my employer has resulted in them dumping the entire cost of my own and my family's insurance policy in my lap. First, I can't afford it. (Especially with no notice, when I've been paying nothing all these years.) Second, since raises here are minimal, can I ask them to add the insurance costs to the normal lousy scheduled increase of my next raise? Do I have any leverage here? HELP!RHONDA D., West Hartford, CT Dear Rhonda: Consider yourself lucky for not having to make any insurance contribution for fourteen years. The entire premium landing in your lap so abruptly is understandably a nasty shock, however. As to your options- 1. See that your insurance payment is pre-tax so as to make the hit somewhat more palatable.2. When you go in for your next review, forget using the insurance premium as bargaining power for a bigger increase. Instead, be super -prepared with the long list of accomplishments you've racked up during this past year along with others your planning for the up-coming year. Base the request for your big increase on your track record, not on what you need for your budget. If a decent increase isn't the result after your strong selling performance, start looking. Don't wait, this job market won't last forever. You can still find companies where at least 50% of your insurance cost will be covered. |