Job negotiation points-- poll?

[Tuck]

---

Members do not see this ad.

I noticed that several threads deal with negotiation for more money for a job. However, I thought that I would point out that while the actual salary is typically set within a narrow range depending on your area, the benefits usually are more flexible and open to negotiation. I think the hardest thing for most new grads is learning not only what points to negotiate, but where to start and what constitutes a good deal. For those who have been in the field a long time maybe some personal input would be good here. Things it would be helpful to know.

--Vacation benefits (2,3,4 weeks or vacation matching)
--Overtime pay (same vs % increase)
--Healthcare benefits (single vs family costs)
--401k (employer percentage match per dollar contributed and gross percentage of salary matched at given rate)
--Paid holidays, or holidays off, sick pay/days vs personal days.

It would be helpful for those going to interview for the first times to have some idea what is good and what is bad and some of this data is actually had to find. I am curious for those that are in the position to employ new grads what they think are negotiable points as well as what currently employed pharmacists get in the way of these benefits as well. Salary is irrelevent since that varies by geographic region.

 

[MountainPharmD]

Good post. I think every new grad is focused only on money. Most forget about all the important stuff like vacation, overtime pay, staffing ratios ect. Thats the stuff that is really important and effects your life on a daily basis.

 

[Old Timer]

--Vacation benefits (2,3,4 weeks or vacation matching)
--Overtime pay (same vs % increase)
--Healthcare benefits (single vs family costs)
--401k (employer percentage match per dollar contributed and gross percentage of salary matched at given rate)
--Paid holidays, or holidays off, sick pay/days vs personal days.

These are not negotiable when dealing with the major chains. Large corporations have policies and they follow them pretty much by the book. The only wiggle room you have is salary. If you are signing on with a major retail chain, they key is determining your location. You want to be placed in a volume and environment that suits you. Get your self into a location where you can stand out and shine. Once you do that, the increases get larger at review time. Look at the long term, not the sort term. Life is a marathon and not a sprint.

I don't know if the above applies anywhere else, but I know it applies to CVS and I assume it applies to the other major chains.

 

[bananaface]

Salary, schedule, and site placement are 3 big negotiation points.

 

[Tuck]

These are not negotiable when dealing with the major chains. Large corporations have policies and they follow them pretty much by the book. The only wiggle room you have is salary. If you are signing on with a major retail chain, they key is determining your location. You want to be placed in a volume and environment that suits you. Get your self into a location where you can stand out and shine. Once you do that, the increases get larger at review time. Look at the long term, not the sort term. Life is a marathon and not a sprint.

I don't know if the above applies anywhere else, but I know it applies to CVS and I assume it applies to the other major chains.

It definately does not apply around here. A number of my classmates have negotiated different offers even among the same chain. The salary is the same within a $1-$2 range, but the benefits and vacation can be much different. I know of one person who managed to get 4 weeks of vacation since they were short a couple of pharmacists and were paying PRN pharmacists 70-80 an hour to cover shifts. It is usually quite easy to negotiate 3 weeks of vacation around here.

 

[off2skl]

These are not negotiable when dealing with the major chains. Large corporations have policies and they follow them pretty much by the book. The only wiggle room you have is salary. If you are signing on with a major retail chain, they key is determining your location. You want to be placed in a volume and environment that suits you. Get your self into a location where you can stand out and shine. Once you do that, the increases get larger at review time. Look at the long term, not the sort term. Life is a marathon and not a sprint.

I don't know if the above applies anywhere else, but I know it applies to CVS and I assume it applies to the other major chains.

I disagree to an extent. Vacation IS negotiable. Although I don't work for one of the larger chains, it is still a fairly good sized company and I was able to negotiate for an extra week of vacation as well as my sign on (they weren't offering any at the time, but my situation was a little different in that they were trying to hire me back, so I had a little more room to negotiate.

Now, overtime rates and 401K contributions I wouldn't think are as negotiable. Furthermore, depending on the company you are limited by how much you can contribute into your 401K as well due to being a highly compensated employee.

 

[Tuck]

I disagree to an extent. Vacation IS negotiable. Although I don't work for one of the larger chains, it is still a fairly good sized company and I was able to negotiate for an extra week of vacation as well as my sign on (they weren't offering any at the time, but my situation was a little different in that they were trying to hire me back, so I had a little more room to negotiate.

Now, overtime rates and 401K contributions I wouldn't think are as negotiable. Furthermore, depending on the company you are limited by how much you can contribute into your 401K as well due to being a highly compensated employee.

I agree that 401k is typically not negotiable, but plans do vary between companies so it is nice to get some idea of what is available. I think that the contribution limits are not as restricted in a hospital setting since the average wage is typically much higher there, so that is something to consider as well.

 

[MountainPharmD]

These are not negotiable when dealing with the major chains. Large corporations have policies and they follow them pretty much by the book. The only wiggle room you have is salary. If you are signing on with a major retail chain, they key is determining your location. You want to be placed in a volume and environment that suits you. Get your self into a location where you can stand out and shine. Once you do that, the increases get larger at review time. Look at the long term, not the sort term. Life is a marathon and not a sprint.

I don't know if the above applies anywhere else, but I know it applies to CVS and I assume it applies to the other major chains.

Not true at all. At Walgreens and Wal-Mart vacation is negotiable. In fact it has been my experience at most places pay is fairly well set the only thing they will negotiate on is vacation and possibly a signing bonus. Of course it all depends on where you are applying and how badly they need/want you. I think you have the least amount of negotiating power as a new graduate. It is pretty much take it or leave it.

 

[alwaystired]

Not true at all. At Walgreens and Wal-Mart vacation is negotiable. In fact it has been my experience at most places pay is fairly well set the only thing they will negotiate on is vacation and possibly a signing bonus. Of course it all depends on where you are applying and how badly they need/want you. I think you have the least amount of negotiating power as a new graduate. It is pretty much take it or leave it.

New graduates have a lot of negotiating power in my area. Several of the chains try to outcompete each other so much, that they try to get us to sign on NOW and we don't graduate till June.

I'm curious to see the offers. I don't think 401K is negotiable, but we will see on pay, vacation, and sign-on bonus. It's less that I want to "negotiate" a higher this or that, and more that I want to be compensated fairly (not get shafted compared to my classmates), especially since I feel that I'll be an asset to whatever company I work for and not just a warm body/rx checking machine.

 

[Sarapary]

Not true at all. At Walgreens and Wal-Mart vacation is negotiable. In fact it has been my experience at most places pay is fairly well set the only thing they will negotiate on is vacation and possibly a signing bonus. Of course it all depends on where you are applying and how badly they need/want you. I think you have the least amount of negotiating power as a new graduate. It is pretty much take it or leave it.

What is the best way to negotiate your vacation time?