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Message
negotiating first salary
Posted on 6/27/13 at 4:28 pm
Posted on 6/27/13 at 4:28 pm
So I just graduated with my PhD in chemistry and have started getting some offers (industry and national lab). What's the best way of going about negotiating salary after getting a verbal (but not yet written) offer? They gave me a list of benefits which appear constant dependent on your promotion band/level. Is it still true that "everything is negotiable?" They are both offering fantastic relo packages, but I'd like $5-10k more annually since I realize my lifetime earnings are dependent on where I begin.
Any suggestions would be appreciated. I need to contact them by probably July 8 at the absolute latest
Any suggestions would be appreciated. I need to contact them by probably July 8 at the absolute latest
13
Posted on 6/27/13 at 4:44 pm to The Easter Bunny
No advice....just wanted to say congrats. Huge accomplishment. 
Posted on 6/27/13 at 4:46 pm to The Easter Bunny
Look at whoever has the best 401k plan (best means whoever has the highest match).
Check health insurance plan differences.
Most important advise, if you like a certain company.....go to work for them. Even if the salary is lower. You will be happier in the long run.
Check health insurance plan differences.
Most important advise, if you like a certain company.....go to work for them. Even if the salary is lower. You will be happier in the long run.
Posted on 6/27/13 at 4:50 pm to nelatf
quote:
Look at whoever has the best 401k plan (best means whoever has the highest match).
Check health insurance plan differences.
Most important advise, if you like a certain company.....go to work for them. Even if the salary is lower. You will be happier in the long run.
I like this advice.
As for your question:
quote:
Is it still true that "everything is negotiable?"
I would say it is normally not that true for entry level positions, but I'm not very familiar with your field and qualifications so it might be. You would probably know better than me. If I had tried to negotiate at my first job, they would have told me to GTFO
Posted on 6/27/13 at 4:52 pm to The Easter Bunny
quote:
just graduated with my PhD in chemistry
You sure it's not in Physics?
Posted on 6/27/13 at 4:54 pm to The Easter Bunny
Look at fringe benefits that can end up saving you a lot of money/stress.
-Relocation Cost allowance/reimbusement
-Gym Memberships
-Additional Vacation Time
-Asking for addtional performance reviews for raises at a more frequent interval
-Health/life/supplemental insurance benefits
-Childcare subsidies
-Bonuses
-Pensions (possibly?)
Company I am interning at provides all those benefits to employees and they aren't found everywhere. For a PhD in Chemistry that is in high demand, I'd imagine companies could offer you these even if it isn't typical
-Relocation Cost allowance/reimbusement
-Gym Memberships
-Additional Vacation Time
-Asking for addtional performance reviews for raises at a more frequent interval
-Health/life/supplemental insurance benefits
-Childcare subsidies
-Bonuses
-Pensions (possibly?)
Company I am interning at provides all those benefits to employees and they aren't found everywhere. For a PhD in Chemistry that is in high demand, I'd imagine companies could offer you these even if it isn't typical
Posted on 6/27/13 at 4:56 pm to The Easter Bunny
get in where you fit in if you know what i'm saying
Posted on 6/27/13 at 5:01 pm to The Easter Bunny
Do you have other options? Better options? I'd be careful for first job. 5-10k isn't that big a deal in the long run and you can easily make up that amount in a couple of years if you do a good job and become marketable enough to leave for better opportunities (i.e., your employer will do what it takes to keep you).
Posted on 6/27/13 at 5:08 pm to elposter
^
What he said. Starting salaries really isn't that big of a deal. Good company is a bigger concern for smart/educated folk. If demand Is there, you'll get paid soon enough.
What he said. Starting salaries really isn't that big of a deal. Good company is a bigger concern for smart/educated folk. If demand Is there, you'll get paid soon enough.
Posted on 6/27/13 at 9:40 pm to The Easter Bunny
Ask them if they can just drop you an email with the verbal offer.
Come back and say "This opportunity excites me, however, with my background and experience I would like to discuss a salary of XXX"
Make that XXX a couple thou more than you'd really like.
If they say "no, it's fixed" or "we can't offer more than that" say "Thank you very much, it is a great opportunity so I would like to take a day (or whatever you think you can reasonably respond in) to talk it over with my family".
Come back and say "This opportunity excites me, however, with my background and experience I would like to discuss a salary of XXX"
Make that XXX a couple thou more than you'd really like.
If they say "no, it's fixed" or "we can't offer more than that" say "Thank you very much, it is a great opportunity so I would like to take a day (or whatever you think you can reasonably respond in) to talk it over with my family".
Posted on 6/27/13 at 11:32 pm to The Easter Bunny
Not typically negotiable at entry level...with about 5 yrs exp it is.
Posted on 6/28/13 at 12:27 am to cwill
quote:
Not typically negotiable at entry level...with about 5 yrs exp it is.
Posted on 6/28/13 at 12:50 am to The Easter Bunny
How much were you offered?
How much time off with each?
How much time off with each?
Posted on 6/28/13 at 1:15 am to The Easter Bunny
I was in your shoes in 2007. I haven't been in the job market since then but according to ACS/CENews, multiple offers like you are describing are rare. Congrats.
I went into industry at a small company with no Post Doc. I did not negotiate (market was terrible at the time) but the offer plus benefits was on the Associate Prof. level. Honestly I was just happy to get a decent offer and it was in the same town where I did grad school.
Consider the stability of the labs/company in your view of the offers. I am in small biotech, which is pretty much the most unstable of positions. In your case, with multiple offers, I would be more willing to push them on salary.
But in the end, if the two offers are relatively close, pick the one where you would be happier. The difference between even $90k and $75k is not worth dreading work.
I went into industry at a small company with no Post Doc. I did not negotiate (market was terrible at the time) but the offer plus benefits was on the Associate Prof. level. Honestly I was just happy to get a decent offer and it was in the same town where I did grad school.
Consider the stability of the labs/company in your view of the offers. I am in small biotech, which is pretty much the most unstable of positions. In your case, with multiple offers, I would be more willing to push them on salary.
But in the end, if the two offers are relatively close, pick the one where you would be happier. The difference between even $90k and $75k is not worth dreading work.
Posted on 6/28/13 at 7:22 am to cwill
quote:
Not typically negotiable at entry level...with about 5 yrs exp it is.
I think with a Chemistry PhD, it is very negotiable. It's not like he just finished undergrad in Chemical Engineering.
If they've invested a lot of time into you already, and since it sounds like there is a limited pool of candidates (it's not like every university is churning out hundreds of PhD's in Chemistry every year), it wouldn't hurt to ask for 10K more in salary, and settle on 5K. This is particularly important if your raises are based on percentage of salary (if based strictly on merit, it's not as important, but doesn't hurt).
Posted on 6/28/13 at 7:44 am to GaryMyMan
quote:
You sure it's not in Physics?
Physical Chemistry, but both job titles are for physicists
Posted on 6/28/13 at 7:46 am to cwill
quote:
Not typically negotiable at entry level...with about 5 yrs exp it is
Thanks to the PhD it isn't entry level (though not super high either). Scientist 3/4 positions instead of a scientist 1. I guess in some ways it is still entry level
Posted on 6/28/13 at 7:51 am to Ric Flair
quote:
it wouldn't hurt to ask for 10K more in salary, and settle on 5K. This is particularly important if your raises are based on percentage of salary (if based strictly on merit, it's not as important, but doesn't hurt).
That's pretty much exactly what I was thinking of doing.
Another question, is this something to bring up with the hiring manager or with HR?
Posted on 6/28/13 at 8:15 am to The Easter Bunny
quote:
Physical Chemistry
Bless you, sir.
Posted on 6/28/13 at 9:29 am to The Easter Bunny
Consider the locations very carefully. Cost of living can change the economics of equal salaries for different locations. Quality of life and permanence are factors to consider. A national lab is not going to move, but you may be able to take temporary assignments at other locations over a career. Employment in industry may require relocation at some points during your career, and the locations may not all be attractive to you and/or your family.
With multiple offers you have some leverage. $5,-10k is aignificant to you, but it really isn't significant to your prospective employers. So ask for it from all of them. The relocation packages while attractive are of limited value since you probably have few possessions in the way of furniture, appliances, etc. that increase the costs of moving.
Congratulations on earning your PhD, and best of luck with your career.
With multiple offers you have some leverage. $5,-10k is aignificant to you, but it really isn't significant to your prospective employers. So ask for it from all of them. The relocation packages while attractive are of limited value since you probably have few possessions in the way of furniture, appliances, etc. that increase the costs of moving.
Congratulations on earning your PhD, and best of luck with your career.
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