Salary negotiations

[Jacuzzme]

A neighbor kid I help out with stuff like letters, applications, resume writing, etc just got out of trade school and got a job offer with one of the big local employers, a hospital, in a maintenance capacity. They offered him what I consider a nice salary for his age, but he thinks it could and should be better. $28/hr is the offer.

IMO he should just take it, but he’s emailing me for grammar/structure help in writing a reply to their offer, asking them if there’s any room for salary negotiations. I don’t think he should send it, because the salary probably is what it is and they could just rescind the offer and hire someone else. Maybe I’m wrong and negotiating is appropriate, idk. Any advice from those who have gone through this would be appreciated.

[HDGristle]

He wants to ask, so let him learn and apply his own risk/reward rationale.

What's he countering with $ wise?

[Green_Mountain]

It’s a touchy one.

On the one hand if the hiring manager will entertain they often times have to go back to HR or may have to get some type of approval. It can be enough for the manager to rescind and offer somebody else the job.

If the kid can find hardcore evidence of being underpaid like on Glassdoor he can carefully choose his words and inquire.

His best bet may be to take the job, work his ass off for 6 months and then politely explain to the manager why he thinks he’s underpaid. If he’s proven an asset the manager should consider his ask and there’s close to zero percent chance they get rid of him at that point, based on his ask.

[Jacuzzme]

Originally Posted by HDGristle

He wants to ask, so let him learn and apply his own risk/reward rationale.

What's he countering with $ wise?

It wasn’t specific, only asking if there was any room to negotiate. Here’s what he wrote, in part.

[onawbtngr546]

If they are applying to UPMC or AHN, then the hiring managers have literally zero say when it comes to salary negotiations.


This kid is a kid. I'm not going to say he's a dummy, but if you're not employed and you are turning down an offer, that is without a doubt unwise.


Also, attempting to renegotiate a higher salary later, at a very big org like a hospital, isn't going to work. Your manager doesn't have a say in what you get paid. They can ask HR or the lead of their department, but it isn't their decision. They'll say no, the newbie will be upset, then what? 'What are you going to do? Quit?'
Not saying this isn't going to go well with smaller companies, but anywhere national, anywhere that you're one of of three thousand employees, anywhere that you're just an employee number in payroll, nah. That's stupid.


Tell the kid to accept the offer now. He might not get another one. You need to be on your feet and have a steady base before you try to look for greener pastures.


It's easier to find a better job when you have a job. "Can you explain the 8 month gap in your employment history?" 'Nah bro I just didn't want to work for 28/hr, I'm entitled'

[Jacuzzme]

Originally Posted by onawbtngr546

Tell the kid to accept the offer now. He might not get another one. You need to be on your feet and have a steady base before you try to look for greener pastures.

This is where I’m at too. The job is one of the places you mentioned.

[HDGristle]

Originally Posted by Jacuzzme

It wasn’t specific, only asking if there was any room to negotiate. Here’s what he wrote, in part.

I see that exact ask all the time. It's easy to say no to and it doesn't give me a sense that he knows his worth or what the market rates are.

He may, but time is money and the signal is that he wants a dialogue.

[onawbtngr546]

By all means, I think the best course for him to take would be to take the job and ask if there is the possibility in a raise to their salary after 6 months or a year.


Get it in writing.


If they agree, great! Short term is taken care of! If not, then they know to keep looking for a better job even after they are working at the hospital.


It's win-win for him. Would he rather spend 6+ months looking for a better job while also being unemployed? That's the big question.

[Charley3]

Take the job and if he’s not happy with the pay keep looking. 2 years experience and he’ll get the pay he wants.
Young college kids are now using AI for letters. It’s amazing.