So you’ve nailed the interview, and all that remains is for the recruiter to lift the phone and inform you that the client wants to make you a job offer.  Unfortunately, the offer falls short of your expectations – what should you do?  Here’s how to deal with job offer negotiation.

Job offer negotiation

• Look at the overall package. Taking everything into consideration including the bonus scheme and benefits on offer, do some quick calculations. You might find the offer is more generous than you first thought.
• Consider the travel. It is important to consider whether the role is significantly closer or further away than your last role, as the cost of petrol is a major consideration these days. Saying goodbye to a long commute can also have a significant impact on your quality of life if you have a young family for example, so remember to take this into consideration too.
• Ask yourself how much you want the job. If this is the opportunity you’ve been waiting for, bear in mind that asking for more money might result in losing out. Tread carefully and ask the recruiter for their opinion. It might be the case that there is room for a little negotiation, or if not then you’ll be in a stronger position to make a decision either way.
• Find out when your first salary review will be. If it is only a matter of proving yourself for the few months of your probationary period before you receive a substantial salary increase, just bite the bullet and accept it. The client obviously believes in you, but they also want to incentivise you.
• Don’t take it personally. Due to budgetary restrictions, the client can’t always offer you what they would like to, so it is seldom a reflection of what they think of you if they don’t meet your expectations. Again, ask yourself how much you want the role and see what incentives are on offer to get you up to the salary you want.
• Don’t be lured by a counter-offer. Once you’ve made up your mind to leave, don’t waver in your decision. Counter-offers rarely result in an improved working situation and we inevitably find candidates that have accepted them back on the market within a matter of months. To find out more about counter offers, click here.
• Don’t get into a bidding war! Using a counter-offer to negotiate your way to a better offer from the new employer is dangerous territory – so tread carefully. Remember that if you’ve stated your motivation for moving on is a new challenge or the chance to work with different technologies, the client won’t want to find out that your main motivator is money after all!

Ultimately the decision is up to you, and everyone concerned knows how important that decision is! Don’t be forced into a decision that doesn’t suit you and most of all, don’t let a pushy recruiter influence you. Make sure you have all the facts and that you are given space to consider them, and trust your instincts.