10 Things You Should Negotiate Other Than Salary

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Be Sure to Consider Your Entire Compensation Package When Negotiating

Employer Won’t Budge on Base Pay? Try Elsewhere

You’ve gone through several rounds of interviews and have finally landed the job of your dreams. The problem is; your dream job doesn’t come with a dream salary.

But before you pass on the position, there are many non-salary benefits that you can negotiate. Combined, they might make your potential position seem quite palatable. The good news is these benefits come at a low — or no — cost to your company. Here are the top ten benefits that you can and should ask for during the negotiation process.

10. A Better Title

Let’s face it: the title “secretary” just isn’t sexy. Nor does it look amazing on your resume.

But “corporate executive assistant” sounds a little better. So ask if you can have a title change that accurately reflects what your workload will be. Not only will you feel more content having a better title, but that fancy-sounding title will also help you when you start looking for another job in the future.

9. A Wardrobe Allowance

No, we’re not talking about those Manolos you’ve been eyeing or that Brioni men’s suit that costs thousands of dollars.

You can petition for a clothing stipend to be built into your contract — especially if you’re in the position of meeting with lots of high-end power clients. After all, the company will want you to look your best since you are representing them.

8. Transportation Reimbursement

It’s not cheap to commute into work. And if you’re traveling by planes, trains and automobiles, the costs add up quickly.

Calculate the travel expenses you plan to incur each month, and ask for a stipend to help ease this expense. Your company might add this onto your contract if it means you’ll be in the office each day — and on time.

7. Housing Subsidy

If you will be commuting a few hours into work each day, it’s a good idea to ask for some sort of housing subsidy.

Different from asking for your company to cover your transportation costs, this perk comes in the form of a company apartment that you might be able to crash in if you’ll be pulling late nights at the office. Or you might be able to get your boss to pick up the tab if you stay overnight at a hotel.

6. Guaranteed Severance Package

Times are tough, and there are no guarantees that the job you’re saying yes to today will still exist in a year from now.

So ask the hiring manager if you can get a guaranteed severance package written into your contract should the company become bankrupt or lays you off due to no fault of your own. This protects you should you lose your position with the company, and it might make them think twice before laying you off, especially if you’ve negotiated a generous severance package.

5. An Office

Well, you might not snag the corner office as soon as you sign your contract, but that doesn’t mean you can’t try.

Depending on your job level, you can try to avoid the bleak gray cubicle life by asking for a snazzier spot in which to work. For some employees, having a window with fresh sunlight streaming in — and not looking sallow in fluorescent lighting — is an awesome perk that can make a real difference.

4. Tuition Reimbursement

Everyone wants to grow and be challenged in their positions. One great way to do just that is through continuing education paid for by your company.

From workshops to seminars, conferences to even paying for your Master’s degree, you can ask your boss to help continue your education and foot the bill. Many companies are willing to do this, since they view it as a direct investment back into the company.

3. Daycare Reimbursement

Babysitting costs can be a killer, especially when they can almost eat up an entire paycheck.

So ask what child care options the company offers. Maybe there’s onsite child care or an allotted amount given to workers with young children. If nothing of that nature exists, inquire about getting a partial amount of your child care costs paid for by your company.

2. Flexible Scheduling

One of the best non-salary perks is by far a flex schedule.

Maybe you won’t be able to work full-time from home, but you might be able to score a part-time telecommuting schedule working 2-3 days from home. The savings you’ll find in not having to commute in each day — plus having a more relaxed schedule — might be enough to make up for the lower base salary.

1. Additional Vacation Time

Maybe the company only offers 7-10 days of paid vacation each year. Find out what the company offers in terms of vacay days and ask them if they would double it. Getting a few extra vacation days to lie on a white sandy beach staring at crystal blue water might be worth more to you than a higher salary.

How to Negotiate

Whether you’re negotiating salary, vacation time, or other benefits, the point is negotiating in general is crucial. Yet many people either don’t negotiate or they’re unprepared. To assist you, Salary.com is offering the following: