Salary Negotiation: Don't Forget You Might Negotiate Bonus, Vacation Time, Start Date...

When it comes to salary negotiation during the job offer stage, here's a tip to remember:

Salary isn't the only thing that might be negotiable.

Job title
When I started as a recruiter, the first time I filled a job and got someone hired, they got to choose their job title. It doesn't always happen of course, but in this case my job candidate asked, and got the job title he wanted!

Job responsibilities
Perhaps the actual responsibilities of the job could be increased. I've seen it happen.

Bonus amount
You might be able to negotiate the amount of the bonus or perhaps the percentage.

Bonus frequency
Perhaps you can increase the number of times the bonus is paid to you.

Signing bonus
If the employer won't agree to an increase in salary, perhaps a one-time signing bonus might be doable? I've seen signing bonuses used to bump up a person's first year salary. I once got a signing bonus for a job candidate when the company was unable to increase his salary.

Vacation time
Can you get extra vacation time? Perhaps a few extra weeks or longer might be negotiable?

Timing of salary/appraisal review
Perhaps the employer will agree to doing a salary review in say 6 months instead of 12 months? I've seen this done, too. In one instance, I got the salary review time cut in half so that there was a chance the person would get a raise quicker.

Start date
Maybe you want to get a quick vacation in before you start your new job and need another week. Try to negotiate your starting date.

Work location
If the new employer has one location that would be a better commute, perhaps you could negotiate to work at the closer location, perhaps several days per week if they won't let you work there everyday.

Work from home
If they won't let you choose your work location, maybe you can negotiate to work from home 1 or 2 days per week?

Fringe benefits
Typically, work-related expenses should be covered by the company anyways but maybe you can get an expense account? What about a company car?

Moving/Relocation expenses
If you have to relocate your company might help you with the moving expenses. Perhaps they'll help you move by paying your mover. I've helped several people get moving expenses to relocate paid by their new employer.

Division/department you'll be working in
Does the new company have different locations or divisions in different cities or countries? Could you have a choice as to where you are located?

Reporting structure
I haven't heard of someone being able to choose their boss, but perhaps the reporting structure could be flexible? Maybe your position fits in one area or another (especially if it's a new job) so you might be able to have some flexibility in this regard.

This is just a short list of possible salary negotiation points. Your specific circumstances might dictate fewer or more options.