Anyone good at job negotiation? Need help!!

Recently I got stopped by immigration at custom, I was told I will have to leave within 30 days if I don’t get job.


Luckily I got an offer in time; however, I was shocked how low the salary is when I was told the amount they have in mind in person. I was told that it is the best they can offer, so I asked to have my work days reduced (it was ‘yes’), equity (since it was mentioned by them), and the percentage of the commission in the future, as well as the commitment of adjusting my pay after the end of fund raise campaign.


Except the work day, the owner just gave all sorts of reasons that the equity means nothing, the percentage of the commission is yet to be done, and they can’t make contractual commitment when they are still in the midst of fund raising activity. And they did put everything on contract, and a separate letter nothing their intentions in the future the next day.


They know I have the other offer and yet still offer me such low salary. I assume that it’s the combination of the fact they are short of money as well as knowing I am more interested in their firm. (as I expressed to them)


Now, I would like to see if they can raise the salary (since I didn’t really push on that before negotiating the work days and other things when discussed in person), before going into the details.


Should I just email him about the pay and wait for their reply before going into other part of the compensation plan? Or I should put in the mail saying ‘if you can’t adjust my pay, then I would like to see….this and that’.


Or what should I do instead? I will have interview with other company next week but I need to get hold of this offer first no matter what. And I have never received any offer as bad as this one..and yet I need it to stay in HK.. Can anyone give me some suggestions?


It will be highly appreciated.. it's hard to share with friend.. thanks!!

to be specific, I used to earn 38,000- 50000hkd and the company is not dodgy.

But perhaps they are just really tight on cash..

there is no right and wrong on a job/salary negotiation. you really need to play this right and think it through.


first you need to understand whether their offer is really low or not:

- what industry is it?

- what role is it?


if they really underpay the market, then there can only be two reasons:

- they are really short on cash or

- they do not value you


for the second point, it would help to understand your background (e.g. nationality, education, experience). sometimes employers know that you might be desperate for a job in order to stay in hk (especially for mainland chinese), so they will play this to their advantage.


if they are really tight on cash, then it matters what you can suggest to them without compromising them on their tight cash. how about a fancy title that will help you find a better job later? how about asking for more people reporting to you? how about an enlarged responsibility of your role?


most important however, is their low offer a make or break for you? or would you accept it anyway? if it's a make or break, then request crystal clear on what you expect at their last offer. if they don't meet it, then you still have the time to accept or forgo it.


my advice would be to settle the important things first:

- working days/holidays

- salary

- job title/role


anything else comes afterwards in my view.

Thanks so much, cookies09. I really appreaciate your feedback. It's been hard for me to discuss with my friends about this low rate after not working for 10 months. I was being selective.. but I don't want to wait any further. And you are right, they are also play the advantage of me not working for a while. (My nationality is not mainland Chinese.) A friend at law firm recently got 50% pay cut for next 3-6 months; oppose to their NY counterparts who was offered a big lumsum for 1 year no pay leave. She can only play along the role to keep the job..


They did specify that they are short of cash and are in the process of fundraising. And I am extremly concerned they can't provide sale commision commitment on the contract but on a seperate letter.


Questions A:

Should my priority of negotiation be

1st- salary

2nd- sales commision commitment to be included on contract

3rd- working days/holidays

4th- job title


Questions B:

Wha'ts the best way to negotiate it.

A mail asking for their last offer on salary. or tell them the lowest offer I can accept? Wait for their response and go for other items if I don't get the amount I am hapy for. Will that be the best way?


In case you may say that I have 'closed the door' of my salary negotiation. I jumped into negotiating working days when he announced the salary in his mind 'by word' before it was proceeded on written contract.


Thanks!

i saw the feedback you got on the other forum. not very helpful in my view


Questions A:

Should my priority of negotiation be

1st- salary yes

2nd- sales commision commitment to be included on contract yes

3rd- job title/role/responsibility (if not good enough in relation to 1+2)

4th- working days/holidays


Questions B:

Wha'ts the best way to negotiate it.


I would write a crystal clear email stating your expectations, e.g. i understand your current offer of x$. my expectations would be y$, because a), b) and c). i hope you can appreciate bla bla bla


do NOT tell them the lowest you need. ask for what you really expect, they will then come back with something else, and then you can decide.

you can wiat for their response as you already have a worst case offer on hand right now which is binding, you can sign and accept.


Wait for their response and go for other items if I don't get the amount I am hapy for. Will that be the best way?


as to your last point, a job negotiation is never close until all aspects are covered. you can always reopen the salary discussion if they do not meet your other conditions, i.e. commission, equity, etc. because you can always say that you only agreed to the lower salary because they were throwing in equity, commission. if that is not happening, then you would expect salary x$

cookies09.


I guess you referred to the response I got on gexxxxx site? no, they are not helpful at all; however it made me especially thankful for your advice!!


I would like to know of your view on this -

In case I can't get my salary raised, would it be unprofessional if I bring up that I should be allowed to engage in other job opportunity to sustain the same living standard and try to reduce my work day from 4 days to 3 days.


Understand if you may be busy that may not able to reply though.

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