three US Job offers received, should I negociate?

capitalgain wrote: ↑The offer did not mention if they are negotiable or not.

Just about everything is negotiable. You are very likely to only get what you ask for.

Industry? Different industry and corporate structure have different wiggle room for negotiation, also depends on your department, position, etc. New grad? advance degree? prior experiencce? you unemployed at the moment or jumping ship?

If you are relocating, and you feel the offer is "Fair", try to tackle from the expense angle. Where you headed? NYC? boston? LA? different currency hence standard of living diffs, attack from this angle. SHOW CHARTS, NUMBERS, FIGURES. All part of the game.
And yes, always negotiate don't take anything. Think value.

And don't think for a moment you won't get raise after a few years...who knows, all depends on your work productivity, your relationships with your bosses, his/her bosses, and company's bottom line.

Jayson

is this a junior position?

$5000 for relocation seems pretty low. Do they pay tax on the $5000? if they don't you'll probably get around $3000 after all the tax
At my current job, the relocation package was one month of salary grossed up (meaning I get the full month of salary and they pay tax), moving all my stuffs, ship two cars and 1 month of temp housing.

If they are also shipping your stuffs make sure they pay tax for all the moving expenses as they are treated as taxable benefits.

JaysonHFI wrote: ↑Industry? Different industry and corporate structure have different wiggle room for negotiation, also depends on your department, position, etc. New grad? advance degree? prior experiencce? you unemployed at the moment or jumping ship?

If you are relocating, and you feel the offer is "Fair", try to tackle from the expense angle. Where you headed? NYC? boston? LA? different currency hence standard of living diffs, attack from this angle. SHOW CHARTS, NUMBERS, FIGURES. All part of the game.
And yes, always negotiate don't take anything. Think value.

And don't think for a moment you won't get raise after a few years...who knows, all depends on your work productivity, your relationships with your bosses, his/her bosses, and company's bottom line.

Jayson

Energy Industry, Public Utility, New York City
3-5 year experience, electrical engineering degree, currently employed and jumping ship.

pltz77 wrote: ↑is this a junior position?

$5000 for relocation seems pretty low. Do they pay tax on the $5000? if they don't you'll probably get around $3000 after all the tax
At my current job, the relocation package was one month of salary grossed up (meaning I get the full month of salary and they pay tax), moving all my stuffs, ship two cars and 1 month of temp housing.

If they are also shipping your stuffs make sure they pay tax for all the moving expenses as they are treated as taxable benefits.

The positions are all ranked at the same pay level within the company, although some are actually more senior than others. They are all relatively junior though given that they only need 1-3 years experience depending on the role.

You got everything on your side: leverage, timing, narrowed expertise in specific fields. What's there not to negotiate?

Again, if you said that the positions are all ranked in same pay grade (like most public sector jobs in your case utility), the only way they could push your salary is probably to the highest boundary within your level OR push you up a pay grade (highly unlikely unless they changed your titles as well, which might cause chaos btw your immediate managers and hr, and if they want you that much).

You have a backup plan from all this? You planning to stay in NYC for a while?

JaysonHFI wrote: ↑You got everything on your side: leverage, timing, narrowed expertise in specific fields. What's there not to negotiate?

Again, if you said that the positions are all ranked in same pay grade (like most public sector jobs in your case utility), the only way they could push your salary is probably to the highest boundary within your level OR push you up a pay grade (highly unlikely unless they changed your titles as well, which might cause chaos btw your immediate managers and hr, and if they want you that much).

You have a backup plan from all this? You planning to stay in NYC for a while?

I agree, likely they would only push me to the highest boundary within the level, definitely not into the next title.

No backup plan. I plan on staying in NYC for at least 2-3 years and possiblity moving further south after.

You hate the North that much LOL
Granted, earning USD might be a good implicit "investment move" for next couple of years

Back to the negotiation topic. Dont' just talk to them, show them, got it?

Yep, to be honest I dislike the high taxes of canada, high cost of home ownership and cold weather. NYC isn't much better but it is a stop-off to the lower cost south.

So basically don't ask for the pay increase, but tell them it is required before signing back?

capitalgain wrote: ↑Yep, to be honest I dislike the high taxes of canada, high cost of home ownership and cold weather. NYC isn't much better but it is a stop-off to the lower cost south.

So basically don't ask for the pay increase, but tell them it is required before signing back?

Well that's up for you to decide, since you know them more than I know them. But, keep this in mind: Donn't push your managers to the limit. He/she does have a budget and corporate politics (or melee) to work with. You are there to help, not stroke your ego.

If it's the case like how you presented, then yeah tackle the relocation expense by presenting figures and data. Concrete data i might add, with references.

Cost of living is high in New York. You have to negotiate for every penny.

carmaster wrote: ↑Cost of living is high in New York. You have to negotiate for every penny.

This. I know someone living in central NYC and his rent is like 6000$-7000$/month. He makes about 140k/year and is having a hard time keeping up financially. Also, supposedly, car insurance prices are insane.

Potrice wrote: ↑This. I know someone living in central NYC and his rent is like 6000$-7000$/month. He makes about 140k/year and is having a hard time keeping up financially. Also, supposedly, car insurance prices are insane.

Insane, but everyone's mother's cousins' sons want to work on WS (and other opportunities of course, not to mention the big city limelights). Supply and demand.

Potrice wrote: ↑This. I know someone living in central NYC and his rent is like 6000$-7000$/month. He makes about 140k/year and is having a hard time keeping up financially. Also, supposedly, car insurance prices are insane.

I lived in a 3 bedroom apartment north of Manhattan and it was 6k/month split between 3 of us. This was only 3 years ago. Your friends rent is not realistically true.

Also, who buys a car in NYC? You get around the city faster with public transportation.

Either you're stretching the truth or your friend is very high maintenance.

serious7 wrote: ↑I lived in a 3 bedroom apartment north of Manhattan and it was 6k/month split between 3 of us. This was only 3 years ago. Your friends rent is not realistically true.

Also, who buys a car in NYC? You get around the city faster with public transportation.

Either you're stretching the truth or your friend is very high maintenance.

This. The apartment is very big and he refuses to downsize (I know....don't ask...lol) and yes he is high maintenance. I think he orders more food than he cooks. I wonder how much he pays at the end of the year for take out food...it really adds up.

Potrice wrote: ↑This. The apartment is very big and he refuses to downsize (I know....don't ask...lol) and yes he is high maintenance. I think he orders more food than he cooks. I wonder how much he pays at the end of the year for take out food...it really adds up.

Even at 140k, you can live financially well in NYC. My buddies all have that same life style earning similar amounts. They are still able to save enough.

Potrice wrote: ↑This. I know someone living in central NYC and his rent is like 6000$-7000$/month. He makes about 140k/year and is having a hard time keeping up financially. Also, supposedly, car insurance prices are insane.

Clearly the person your know chose to put himself in a hard financial position. There are nice 1 bedroom apartments in Manhattan for $3000 a month. Friend of a co-worker lives in NYC on 40k a year.

capitalgain wrote: ↑Yep, to be honest I dislike the high taxes of canada, high cost of home ownership and cold weather. NYC isn't much better but it is a stop-off to the lower cost south.

So basically don't ask for the pay increase, but tell them it is required before signing back?

Good move. Think we are so used to paying through the nose for everything here that we don't realize just how bad it is. I'd negotiate the relocation $. It's very low

capitalgain wrote: ↑Yep, to be honest I dislike the high taxes of canada, high cost of home ownership and cold weather. NYC isn't much better but it is a stop-off to the lower cost south.

So basically don't ask for the pay increase, but tell them it is required before signing back?

I also dislike paying 30% of my salary to guys like "oldmarriedguy". Hopefully i can also get out of this socialist hell hole.