This is my freak-out with every new job
I can't recommend highly enough, nabbing a copy of Emily Koltnow's book 'Congratulations, You've been fired.' [link] when negotiating into or out of a gig.
The book is out of print, which means you can pick it up, for wicked cheap, on amazon.
It features a fairly comprehensive list of things you can ask for and how to ask for them. Emily is pretty old-school, and the book is geared toward women, but it really is useful both emotionally and practically, for just about anyone getting a new job or leaving an old one.
Congratulations to teacup guy, sj! Time to partay!
Cash, that does sound like an awkward place to be in. I don't do that kind of work, so I'd say that Vortex definitely has the inside track on how to handle it. I'll keep vibing job~ma your way so that you both get paid in a timely manner and, most of all, get the job.
As for negotiating salaries? I suck. Only once have I gotten what I wanted and that was by sheer luck. I was worth it, but their ideas of why they thought I was and my ideas of why were two totally different ideas. When I left that position, the person that took it after me had to take a $4 an hour paycut.
Yay and congrats to sj and TG!!
He's fine with the "no" answer, but I think he is more worried about the "no we no longer want you to work for us" answer.
It's not likely that just asking for a few more perks or a counter offer of salary would result in a complete reversal of the job offer. Not if they really want him.
This exactly. When I offer someone a job, I don't take it badly if they need a day or two to think about it or if they counter-offer on the salary. Only one time have I said thanks but this isn't a good fit when a prospect counter-offered, but that was because I offered him $25K and he countered with $36K. There was no way I could come even close to his counter, so why bother.
Am now imagining shopping at Lush and then having lunch at CPK
Sumi, I'd totally meet you at Oakbrook for that.
Teacup Guy got the job offer!!! The money is good too!
Okay, I'm a bit late with the above! Yay!!!
As for negotiating salaries?
Eons ago, when negotiating into a job (I was a temp and the boss said,"I'm not exactly sure what it is you do, but I want you doing it for us."), I went for broke in the salary negotiation...basically asking for 50% more. What they had offered was fair, but not what I needed. I figured, if I could not get what I needed, then I should be elsewhere.
They went for it.
But, even better, a few weeks after I became salaried, the other!boss came into my office (I'd negotiated myself out of a cubicle too) and said, "You did yourself a big favor by pushing back. If you didn't value your skills enough to ask for more, why should we?"
I was 29 at the time and that lesson has informed many a job decision since.
sj! YAY!! I'm so very happy for the both of you.
WOO HOOOOO!
Yay for TCG and sj! I'm so glad he got the job.
