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Job negotiation

Candidate

Employer

www.impactnegotiations.org

Today

  • Do nothing/stay in the current job
  • Get another job at a competitor
  • Change to another sector
  • Start a business
  • Start an NGO
  • Do nothing/decide not to hire anyone for the job
  • Hire another candidate
  • Ask a current employee to take up the role
  • Improve productivity of current employees
  • Outsource the job

Current relationship

  • Good initial interactions in tests and interviews: respectful, valuing each other’s time, etc.
  • Limited actual work experience so far

Desired relationship

  • Long-term collaboration for an aligned mission
  • Fair, honest, genuine mutual treatment
  • Positive emotional connection at personal level

Preparation & Opening

  • Meet at their office with plenty of time blocked
  • “I appreciate our discussions and look forward to jointly exploring how we can work together to pursue our mission in the years to come”

Questions to ask

  • What are the organization’s top priorities?
  • What key contributions do you expect from me?
  • What would make hiring me the best decision ever?
  • Motivating, meaningful work/positive impact
  • A stimulating career path
  • Solid career development
  • Continuous learning & development
  • Feel challenged in my job
  • Ability to stimulate my creative side
  • Expand opportunities for the future
  • Sense of achievement, recognition and status
  • Better living standards/purchasing power
  • Fair compensation/fairness with colleagues
  • Long-term financial security (retirement)
  • Health & wellness for myself and my family
  • Peace of mind
  • Balance between work and personal time
  • Quality family time/control over my time
  • Ability to invest in personal projects
  • Enjoyable activities/tasks
  • Friendly workplace culture
  • Work variety
  • Comfortable work space
  • Job security
  • Respect from friends and family
  • ...
  • Long-term financial sustainability
  • Improve profitability/reduce costs
  • Maximize positive impact
  • Satisfy key stakeholders
  • Engage attractive partners
  • Stay competitive and adapt to new times
  • Build and protect the organization’s reputation
  • Pursue the mission & vision
  • Respect the organization’s values and culture
  • Promote a high-performance culture
  • Respect laws and regulations
  • Maintain social & environmental responsibility
  • Treat team members fairly
  • Attract, develop and retain top talent
  • Stimulate intrapreneurship
  • Ensure appropriate talent for key activities
  • Promote excellent teamwork
  • Maintain a happy work environment
  • Reduce staff turnover
  • Do more with less
  • Avoid creating bad precedents
  • Peace of mind
  • ...

Behaviors towards the desired relationship

  • Find a mutual contact to connect me with the decision maker
  • Ensure I am always punctual and follow up as promised
  • Go into an energized, empowered, positive state for meetings
  • Create an informal moment (e.g., have coffee) with them
  • Identify common interests to talk about
  • Volunteer to help with something small that they value (e.g., provide certain information, introduce someone relevant)
  • Send Thank You emails to interviewers and recruiters
  • Leave doors open with positive impressions even if it is a No
  • ...

Messages to send

  • I’d love to cover these topics today: ... What do you think?
  • Your mission of ... is totally aligned with my life priorities: ...
  • My expertise in ... and track record in ... will contribute ...
  • ...

Messages to avoid

  • Alternative opportunities I am exploring
  • Internal organization information received informally
  • Negative comments about previous employers
  • Unnecessary references to my weaknesses/failures: ...
  • Committing early/costly unilateral concessions, ...

Purpose; Finalize mutually agreeable terms to engage me as XYZ Manager

End product; Work contract signed by both

Authority to commit

  • Recruiter to consult Director
  • I decide on my own

Time; Friday, 3-5pm (option for other meetings next week if required)

Potential engagement strategy

  • Informal chats with former and current employees (peer level)
  • Meet with Director through a shared contact to strengthen connection
  • Formal meeting with recruiter to discuss the contract substance

Compensation & Benefits

  • Salary: $75k/year
  • Annual salary review policy
  • Performance bonus: 20%
  • Paid holidays: 30 days/year
  • Unpaid leave: up to 1 month/year
  • Retirement plan
  • Medical, dental, travel insurance
  • Professional expenses allowance
  • Transportation allowance
  • Loan assistance
  • Labor laws
  • Taxes & social security charges
  • Inflation/consumer prices
  • Human Resources policies
  • Standard work contract
  • Financials of the organization
  • Organization’s market positioning
  • My salary in current job: $40k
  • My highest salary ever: $50k

Work arrangements

  • Flexible work hours (8h/day)
  • Flexible weekend days (2/week)
  • 1 day/week for creative work
  • Work from home option (20-80%)
  • Office location at ...
  • Business casual dress code

Career development

  • Learning & Development plan; up to 10 training days/year
  • Budget for external training: $x
  • Assigned mentor
  • Promotion decision after 12 months
  • Participant in mgmt. meetings
  • Participant in committees x y z
  • My fees as freelancer: $350/day
  • Salaries in comparable positions in other organizations: $45-$70k
  • Salaries of future colleagues
  • Organization’s standard benefits
  • Benefits in other organizations
  • Online data and employee reviews
  • Organization/brand reputation
  • Staff satisfaction survey results

Job

  • Position/title: XYZ Manager
  • Reporting to Director
  • 8-staff team, to grow 50%/year
  • Portfolio of 3+ projects
  • Annual budget: $3 million
  • Innovation budget: $500k/year
  • Option for international transfers
  • Key responsibilities: ...
  • Excluded tasks: ...
  • Key Performance Indicators: ...
  • Performance targets: ...
  • Organizational development tasks
  • Public Relations responsibilities
  • ...
  • Best Place to Work Award
  • Informal inputs from employees
  • Standard working hours
  • My years of experience, professional references, academic records
  • CV/career track record
  • My hobbies/personal projects
  • Results achieved in other jobs
  • ...

Agenda

1. Summarize discussions so far

2. Agree on pending issues

3. Explore for each issue

  • Key associated interests
  • Legitimacy to use
  • Potential options
  • Tentative agreement

4. Finalize complete package

5. Sign contract

  • Study full-time/get a scholarship
  • Retire/Take a sabbatical
  • Live with parents
  • Apply for unemployment allowance
  • ...
  • Get a software that makes job redundant
  • Stop doing the activities that require the job
  • Close the department
  • ...

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