How to Negotiate for Things Other Than Salary When Accepting a Job

Negotiating your base salary is a common part of an employment contract, but what do you do if your employer can't meet your salary requirements? The good news is that your paycheck isn’t the only thing you can negotiate, you also have the option to ask for benefits. The question is how to negotiate benefits for a new job.

Why You Shouldn't Give up if the Salary Isn't Quite What You Wanted

Many job seekers decline the job offer if the salary is lower than expected. However, rejecting the proposal outright is not the right approach. If the employer is offering lower pay, take some time to consider if the money is far below the minimum salary. Or perhaps the money is good but not as much as you would have liked.

In the latter case, look at the bigger picture. Some companies with lower salaries could provide compensation by offering other benefits, such as stock options, huge bonuses, or the entire expense of health insurance. You should be able to negotiate benefits in a job offer to compensate for your lower salary. 

Common Negotiable Benefits to Ask About

Non-salary benefits provide an opportunity to earn more money and allow you to practice your negotiating skills for seeking more benefits in the future. These are some of the most common benefits you can negotiate for:

Commission 

If your job is in sales, you earn a commission based on your sales rate. But you can negotiate for a higher percentage with your employer to make more from your sales. 

For instance, say you make $20,000 in sales per quarter for your company, and your own commission is 10%. But when you ask for a higher commission, such as 15%, you can earn $500 more from $20,000 in sales per quarter.

Travel Expenses

If your job involves traveling, you can often negotiate with your employer to keep travel reward points such as flyer miles or hotel loyalty programs. 

This will save your travel expenses when you go for a vacation or travel with your family. You can also negotiate for more travel benefits, such as staying in higher-quality hotels or traveling through upgraded flights.

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Severance Package

A severance package is a list of benefits an employee gets when a company fires them. You can ask for a severance guarantee from your employer to protect you against unexpected firing. If you negotiate for hefty severance pay, your company will think twice before firing you unexpectedly. 

Equity Compensation

Equity compensation offers employees the company’s performance shares and stock for noncash investment. It protects the employees against any company risk. If you work for a startup or any other company, consider negotiating for its equity. 

Matching Retirement Plan

Many companies offer matching retirement plans for their employees. The company places a fund that matches the employee’s fund in the retirement plan. But the matching rate can vary depending on the type of plan and company. As an employee, you can negotiate for a better matching rate.

Strategies for Negotiating for Benefits

Non-salary benefits are great, but you’ll want to ensure you get the best out of them. Therefore, you need to learn how to negotiate benefits for a new job. Here are the strategies you can apply:

It Doesn’t Hurt to Ask

Fear of rejection is why employees never ask for what they deserve at their workplace. When you receive a job offer, that's the right time to negotiate with your prospective employer. If you're unable to negotiate for a higher salary, don’t be afraid to ask for benefits, as they are easier to adjust. Determine all of the benefits you’d like to ask for before starting negotiations and present them as a complete package - asking for additional perks one at a time is not an effective strategy.

Make Clear Why You Deserve What You're Asking For

It’s not enough to just ask. You need to justify to your prospective employer why you deserve what you’re asking for and why the company should make an extra investment in you. Be specific, clear, and direct about your requests. If you are vague, your potential employer will likely misinterpret your words. 

Ensure that your request is supported by your qualifications and experience that make you the best hire. Explain how your skills align closely with the company’s goals and emphasize why hiring you would be advantageous for the business.

Make It Clear That You're Serious About the Job

Ultimately, if you ask for benefits but are not serious about the job, you won’t get approval for benefits. If the employer thinks, "Why bother when you're not going to stay?" they won’t jump through the hoops for you. 

So, before the interview, take some time to research the organization's culture. Show genuine interest in the company during the interview. Your answers should reflect your knowledge of and excitement about the particular role. Aligning your goals with the company’s mission statement will also indicate your dedication. 

The employer will understand that you are serious about the job, as you’ve made a real effort to dot the i's and cross the t's.

After explaining the benefits you would like, state your desire to find common ground on salary and benefits, as you would really like to work at the company.

Hopefully, you've now learned what job benefits to ask for. Plus, the above strategies will help you land a job offer with non-salary benefits. If you're new to job hunting or haven’t looked for a new job in a while, check out our Resource Center for more salary and benefits articles. You’ll be negotiating benefits for a job like a pro in no time at all!