Negotiating a job offer

Negotiating a job offer is about finding the right balance between your value and the company's needs.

It's not just about salary—think about benefits, growth opportunities, work-life balance, and the team culture. Remember, your worth is more than just numbers on a paycheck. Know your value, do your research, and don't be afraid to advocate for what you deserve. Here are the questions we think you should ask yourself before you go into any job offer negotiation to help you get the best possible outcome.

What are your must-haves and non-negotiables?

You've got to know your worth. There are aspects of an offer that you simply won't, or in some cases can't, compromise on. This could include a minimum base salary you are willing to accept, or you may need a specific working pattern to fit in with your commitments outside of work or family situation. If you're actively job hunting, you can set most of your non-negotiables as search criteria on job boards so you hopefully won't be involved in any processes that won't meet these requirements. And if you have been headhunted for a role, you should make it clear early on what your expectations are if you were to be made an offer so you can be sure you're aligned from the off.

Everyone's non-negotiables will look a little different, but here's a list of key things that may be a must-have:

    - Minimum base salary
    - Working patterns - particularly if you have young children, you may require flexibility on working hours
    - Benefits - healthcare benefits, car allowances, and childcare options are some benefits that are essential to accepting a job offer

Keeping your non-negotiables in mind when going into a job search or an offer negotiation means you can be more in control of the outcome. Not only does it help you decide which roles are worth applying for in the first place, but it also means you can properly assess a job offer when the time comes to make sure it fits what you're looking for.

Where are you willing to be more flexible?

The next question is sometimes the most difficult to know without being in a negotiation first. Naturally, some things are more important than others, and it's the 'nice-to-haves' rather than the 'absolute musts' that are the areas you may want to consider flexing on for the right role, particularly if the rest of the offer is aligned to what you're looking for. 

Some criteria we may initially set as a non-negotiable you may become more flexible on if it feels like the right opportunity. And that's the key right there. You may want to be able to work from home twice a week, but if a job comes around that fits your skillset and your ambitions for the future (and you are able to adjust your working pattern) then you will know when it's right to adjust your position in negotiations. Which brings us on to…

Is there anything you'd be willing to trade for something else?

This is sometimes the fun part of the negotiation. What are your trade-offs when it comes to a job offer? There may be aspects of your ideal offer you can change, but in return for something else. Here's the most common example we see in negotiations. Candidates may start negotiations asking to work from office 3 days a week and from home for 2. The company may counter asking for 4 days in office minimum. The candidate can go back and agree to this working pattern, but in return they would need an increase in their base salary or bonus structure as a way to offset the additional commuting charges. Knowing what your trade-offs are before a negotiation is crucial to ensure you get a compensation package the best overall value (even if that value comes in other ways than just financial).

Go into it thinking about the bigger picture

With every job offer it's important to think about the bigger picture too. People's priorities shift as their lives change, so if you're in it for the long haul it's worth thinking about the future as well as the here-and-now. Generous parental leave may not instantly benefit you, but could it be something you'd consider essential in a few years? You may also be in a position to renegotiate your contract after 6 months in the role. Could you be willing to work 5 days in office from the start if you can negotiate down to 3 office days after your probation period is over?

Thinking about looking for your next role? Take a look at all our live vacancies here: https://www.fmctalent.com/find-job