When should you negotiate your employment contract?
You generally sign a letter of intent to hire; however, the contract itself should be negotiated as soon as the hiring process is complete and signed as soon as possible. Otherwise, information is often lost, and commitments made during interviews may be forgotten or omitted from the contract. It is therefore wise to request that the contract be drafted as soon as the hiring process is complete or to include all important clauses in the letter of intent to hire.
Which terms are negotiable?
Salary: Negotiate firmly from the start, as waiting until you’ve gained experience to ask for a raise is often a strategic mistake
Variables: Insist that the rules be clearly defined in the contract—what are the performance metrics you’re expected to meet? Do these variables depend on your individual performance or that of the team?
Remote work and flexible hours: Leave no room for ambiguity during negotiations
1. Analyze your position and your market
. Conduct a comparative study to find out the average salaries in your industry. Also compare working conditions: benefits, bonuses, remote work policies. Knowing what your competitors offer will give you a broader perspective; the more comprehensive your analysis, the stronger your case will be during negotiations.
2. Assess your value
: Identify your key skills and past achievements, and explain how they had a measurable impact in your previous positions; quantify your successes and highlight them to justify your expectations.
3. Define your negotiation priorities
Not every aspect can be negotiated, so identify the ones that will have the greatest impact on your professional well-being and career advancement. And once the contract is signed, don’t stop there—start planning now how to renegotiate and adjust these terms with each new opportunity.
inspired by " Welcome to the Jungle"