Leverage depends on how good you are/your skill set(s)/how much they want you. If the institution is looking out for itself and is playing the game smart, the institution will hold their cards close to their chest and in this situation, you will not know how much leverage you have.
Your leverage can be influenced by whether you have other offers. That is probably your strongest negotiation tool at this point. That being said, I suspect your leverage may be limited since you said you are one of two candidates being considered. I remember encountering this language when applying to a faculty position at an “elite” department on the east coast when I was told, “you are one of our top two candidates” even though I knew from an insider that I was the top candidate. It’s a tongue in cheek way of implying they have the upper hand and can play to your fears especially if you don’t have any other offers. Not sure if this applies to you but figured I mention this.
It never hurts to ask for things because this is the one shot you have to ask for things. If you don’t ask, they will not give it to you.
A few things to look into and ask for include but are not limited to:
1. Startup package - I asked for startup funds but did not specify amount. This is important for you to help get off the ground running during the first year of your job circumventing the need to dwell over applying for funding while you adjust to the first year of being an attending (which is hard enough as it is). I ended up getting more than $200000 split over the first few years of my appointment. I was flattered but learned after joining that I was not the only one who got this. I got this because I asked for it.
2. Signing bonus - you can present this as helping with your move and getting off the ground running in terms of your personal transition to the area you are moving to.
3. Language regarding protected time in the offer letter or contract. Not sure what they are willing to give you and hard to enforce at the end. This is because at some point, if there is a short staffing situation, your service time will go up anyway.
4. Increase in salary - hard to pull off unless you have other competing offers. If successful, whatever increase you are able to negotiate will be modest anyway. But worth a shot.
5. Relocation assistance - moving costs, help with getting your old place off your hands (if you bought property during training)...the latter is a long shot and likely an impossibility.
When you ask for things, do so respectfully and try not to come across as a dick. But at the same time, you don’t want to come across as a limp noodle too. It’s a hard balance and I don’t claim to be an expert at this since I only had to go through this negotiation once when going through the process of securing my previous first job straight out of training.
Good luck!
Gentleman,
I'm sipping on some Balvanie DoubleWood12 this snowy Saturday evening and hoping for your advice. I'm currently a fellow and have interviewed for an assistant professor position at a large academic medical center. I am one of two candidates. If I get the offer, I am starting to think about points of negotiation. I understand that there is often not much room for starting salary negotiation in academic medicine (but maybe a little?). However, what else should I be prepared for in potential negotiations? New scope? (do most hospitals just give you the scope of your predecessor or get you a new one?) Fancy objectives (suggestions)? Mounted camera? Protected time?
Would love to hear what you negotiated for, what you wish you would have tried for, and any advice on the process in academic medicine. Thanks, I appreciate your help.
