Job searching again

[.RJ]

The latter I could see being a big bonus if I had a family or several dependents, but since I don't its not that big of a deal, and I'd rather have the money.

I used to say the same thing - it makes sense until you really need the health care, dont discount that benefit.

[Apoc]

Their big one being a 401k where if I put in 4%, they put in 10%, and no health care premiums.

10% more money and health insurance for free? Sign me up.

[HAULN-SS]

Had 2 offers come in today. I have stopped interviewing (unless the perfect job/place comes along) while I wait to see what all comes of the things from last week. The 10 person company I pretty well ruled out wanting to work there. They were overly eager, and I just think it was a bit risky. Booz allen called me on friday to let me know I'd be getting an offer, but I haven't actually talked to them yet to find out what positon/money is. The company from Thursday left me a message saying their senior most engineer gave me a thumbs up, and they want me to meet the C people (CEO, COO, etc) this week sometime and start talking about salary and whatever. I had an interview Friday with a ~400 person company - met their CEO, interviewed with a few engineers, and talked to their VP of HR about salary and such at the end of the interview. Turns out my old goth roommate's dad is VP of the group i'd work for there. I expect I'll probably get a firm offer from them as well.

Articles I read online say to negotiate, bring it up very gently at first, avoiding talk about salary calculators or other offers. They also gave some advice I wish I had known ahead of time, which was to not state the first number - let the employer throw that out there. 2nd best option was to give a range, which I did. Seems to be that you put what you want in the middle of the range and try to hit that. I guess that's what I'll do, unless some of the offers come in higher than that midpoint already.

[.RJ]

Why bother negotiating? State your number, and take it or leave it. For me that number would float based on the rest of the package - I'd take less $$ for better benefits, no contribution to health care, more vacation, etc.

[Apoc]

Why bother negotiating?

To get more money? Negotiation is generally implied, so people usually state higher (companies lower) than they'll agree on. He clearly is in a position of power, so he should do what he can to take advantage of the situation. He doesn't need a new job and he doesn't need any specific one of these jobs, so why not? Don't you negotiate when you buy a car?

I tried negotiating for my current job and they called my bluff. Them knowing I'd been unemployed for 6 weeks didn't help my cause. :lol:

Also, am I the only one who has had trouble figuring out what the status of the various opportunities are? Either my reading comprehension sucks or the posts are just a stream of consciousness that are hard to follow.

[HAULN-SS]

Part of the problem is, like some of the articles pointed out, all the places (even booz) asked me for some number up front. This is before I have a full appreciation of what the jobs are, what the full benefits packages is like, etc. That's kind of why I think I am going to negotiate. Them asking me up front makes me undersell myself I think, because I dont want to throw out something too ludicrous that will make them stop the process right away or whatever.

"Also, am I the only one who has had trouble figuring out what the status of the various opportunities are?" were you talking about my opportunities, or just saying this in general?

[Apoc]

"Also, am I the only one who has had trouble figuring out what the status of the various opportunities are?" were you talking about my opportunities, or just saying this in general?

I can't really tell which of those listed were the ones with offers. You said an offer was coming from Booz, is that one of the ones you got? How many places are you interviewing with overall?

[HAULN-SS]

Booz and a company called NextCentury have come in with "we want you, lets talk money." I interviewed with 2 other companies, one of which I ruled out wanting to work for, and one called Integrity Applications that I interviewed well with on Friday, and already talked to their HR people some about money, but haven't gotten an explicit offer yet.

[.RJ]

Why bother negotiating?

To get more money?

I guess it could be worth a shot - for me it would depend on who you're negotiating with. I'd be less likely to play hardball with the manager i'd be working for (could be a source of contention later) than with the HR/Recruiting rep of a big company. Either way there's a bottom line, and I think at this point I make enough $$ that the benefits, work environment and vacation time weigh a little more than the paycheck.

[Sijray21]

Their big one being a 401k where if I put in 4%, they put in 10%, and no hIealth care premiums.

10% more money and health insurance for free? Sign me up.

This is what I was talking about with going public. This benefit is amazing, but there were talks of this going away once they go public (at least this is what i heard). I don't know the accuracy of that statement, but i just wanted to throw that out there if this is a big factor in your decision.

[HAULN-SS]

That wasn't booz - i can't remember what their benefits package is off the top of my head

[Sijray21]

That wasn't booz - i can't remember what their benefits package is off the top of my head

Oh, ok. They have something similar.

[.RJ]

I don't know the accuracy of that statement, but i just wanted to throw that out there if this is a big factor in your decision.

When the ownership changes, shit is going to change inside the company one way or another.

The company I work for was bought out by a private holding firm ~2 years ago. Lots of cut benefits.

[HAULN-SS]

So unless something major happens, I think I am not going to go with booz allen. I keep getting the run-around from their people when it was time to talk $$ about the "offer" they were making to me. Kind of pisses me off they make an offer with no solid number attached to it. Then AFTER the offer was made, and I told them salary requirements, I get another manager from there wanting to take me out to dinner (at McCormick and Schmicks) to talk about a different position. I may still go talk to them to get a free meal, but my overall impression so far is pretty unorganized, and low-handed.

I have two other companies to consider. The one is that 60 person place, the other the 400 person place.

And it figures, the week I'll probably decide something, General Dynamics, who I saw some really interesting jobs and applied for, finally gets back to me. I guess I am going to have to tell them they gotta be on a rush schedule. I told the other places I'd let them know within a week, so I have until early next week at latest I guess.

[Apoc]

How is it an offer if there is no salary stated?

[HAULN-SS]

"XYZ Group wants you to come on board, what are your salary requirements?", "$xxk per year"

then no response for a couple days, then the recruiter calling me back with no further details on that position, but telling me about a different position, saying that that new group is very interested, and they want to talk to me, which I did, today.

It was really kind of shitty. They left me with a voicemail saying "Hey, congrats, XYZ group wants to bring you on, call us back" and I did, thinking they'd have concrete details, with a salary, and they put me on the spot asking for a salary..so of course I said more than the minimum I would have taken..no way I was going to undersell myself

[Apoc]

"XYZ Group wants you to come on board, what are your salary requirements?", "$xxk per year"

then no response for a couple days, then the recruiter calling me back with no further details on that position, but telling me about a different position, saying that that new group is very interested, and they want to talk to me, which I did, today.

Oh, well that's not really an offer. That's just saying they are interested in hiring you and want to know your requirements so they can decide what to offer (or not to). Most places take salary requirements in the interview, but I don't think it's that uncommon for them to call after the fact to ask. Either way, sounds like what you asked was too high for the job.

[HAULN-SS]

Well, I'm ok with that anyway. That particular group was at best 2nd on my list of jobs I liked when I interviewed there. Another reason I asked higher than I would have taken in reality. They definitely did already take salary requirements before the interview in some online paperwork I filled out.

[HAULN-SS]

About to turn down another place. I think they are trying to pull a bait and switch. I havent heard them out on all the details yet, but this was a smaller company - about 60 people. They were looking for someone to go to a new customer, who I currently already work with, and set up shop as the first person from them on site. This was really interesting to me. I inquired why in the offer the start date was september - turns out this is a different position, but I am not sure what it is yet. Anyway, the only reason I left them in the running was because the job sounded interesting, so if it turns out to be a way less interesting job, they're done.

[Steve85]

Job switching noob question requiring slight temporary hijack. Last time I switched jobs I had at least one weekday off per week. It was no problem to set up phone and live interviews without tapping into my work schedule. The career before that it didn't matter, toolboxes have wheels for a reason.

I submitted my resume and was contacted today. How do you go about the interviewing and such without tipping off current employer? Do you find companies looking to hire sensitive to the issue and therefore willing to interview after hours? Do you just make up BS excuses? Do you tell them you're leaving and just schedule as PTO and work allows? <--that seems a little premature if you're like 99% of the workforce.

One of my main problems is that I work very closely and eat lunch everyday with my boss. It would be easy if I disappeared every day for an hour, but that isn't the case. Doing one interview or phone call is of course no problem but as evidenced here, it can often mean several trips to interviews to find something.

Cliffs: Need tips an tricks to interview without tipping off current employer.