Creative Career Negotiations (Part One of a Two-Part Series)
No Salary Increases? Ask for Perks
With talk of a recession, negotiating a higher salary might be difficult. But you don’t have to give up your hopes of earning a promotion just because the market seems to be slowing down. One way to approach negotiations is by seeking job perks. Depending on the perks you secure, they might be worth more than a raise would be. Here are 5 things you might consider requesting:
Health benefits. If you already have health benefits, this is non-negotiable. But if you’ve been working without, this would be a good “perk” to ask for, especially if you’ve proven yourself valuable to an employer.
Increased vacation days. Paid time-off is a great perk. While this does cost an employer, it’s considerably less than a substantial raise would be. Consider asking for 10 to 14 additional vacation days per work year.
Flexible work schedule. This costs your employer nothing. However, it can be difficult to ask for greater flexibility in your work schedule simply because your employer doesn’t want to allow every employee the same luxury. But don’t let that stop you. Depending on your personal situation and work history, you may have proven yourself trustworthy enough to earn an unconventional work schedule.
Permission to telecommute. Like a more flexible work schedule, this one may be avoided by some employers. But for the past few years, many companies have come to realize that affording employees greater work flexibility makes for a more productive work environment-even if for some employees that environment is at home. Before you approach an employee for this perk, have your ducks in a row. Is your home a suitable work environment? Do you have all the necessary equipment to function from home (internet connection, fax, and computer with all the necessary software)? If you approach your employer requesting costly equipment for your telecommuting work space, you may find yourself at an instant disadvantage.
Training. This perk is a win-win. You receive the training necessary to boost your resume and your employability while your employer gains a more skilled employee. Universal Accounting Center has a number of training programs you might consider. All would increase your value to an employer; all would be a valuable personal investment as well.
Introduction to the Professional Bookkeeper Program
The Professional Bookkeeper (PB) Program is one of those courses that will increase your employability. This course will teach you everything you need to know about accounting, and more specifically, small-business accounting because most organizations have less than 500 employees. Most accounting professionals have been trained in corporate accounting which doesn’t address the unique needs of these small businesses.
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ot only that, but in taking this course you could also receive professional certification, evidencing to current and prospective employees your newly acquired expertise and skills. And if you approach your employer, you may find that they are more than willing to pay your tuition. To learn more, watch our video “Introduction to the Professional Bookkeeper Program.” Order the video today or watch it online for free. This may be just the convincing your employer needs to enroll you in this valuable course.
Come back next week when we’ll share tips on negotiating for a promotion, a raise, or additional perks.
