How to negotiate?

[Pleasehireme]

After being made redundant and many, many, many, many, interviews later, things are finally looking positive and I think I may be offered a job!

I have been so focused on interview prep, I haven’t given the negotiation part much thought. I’ve been with my previous company 10 years+ and have no idea where the hell to start!

What kind of things should I be looking out for? Should you always ask for more money? If so, how much % extra?

The deal breaker for me is that I need to work 4 days a week instead of 5. Is this CF behaviour to ask for a 4 day week at offer stage?

TIA.

You / your recruiter should have been clear on the 4 days a week at the outset.

Are you talking about compressed hours or part-time? If it's compressed hours you need to ask about the company policy on flexible working.

If it's part time you should have mentioned this at the interview when you had the opportunity to ask questions so they could weigh up all the pros and cons when choosing the best candidate.
You run the risk now of a straight no, or else they agree but there's no scope to alter the job so you're left trying to do a full time job in 4 days for part time pay

It's too late to let them know you can only do 4 days now. It will likely be a deal breaker for them. If you're out of work and have had lots of interviews, isn't it better to do anything you can do work 5 days and have a job than not have one at all?

Is this CF behaviour to ask for a 4 day week at offer stage?

I don't think so. Lots of part time women I work with did that and nobody thinks ill of them.

Definitely not too late to ask about 4 days a week now. No point in mentioning it earlier as they could just rule you out. If you wait until offer stage then you know you've made an impression and they want you. It gives you more negotiating power.

I’m a big believer in: you should always ask for more money. I’d ask for an extra 5-10% just on principle. Put your best option to them. Just be gracious if they say no.

Also 100% not CF territory to ask for the 4 days now. Assuming it’s not a deal breaker, but a preference, I personally think it’s sensible not to raise it until offer stage. It’s all part of the negotiation. It may be easier to negotiate as well, as it doesn’t cost them anything especially if it’s the kind of job that can realistically fit into 4 days.

You can also use it in combination with asking for a higher salary . So say the offer is for £50k. Asking for £55k but pro rata for a 4 days week, your actual salary is only £44k - so they actually save £6k! Or £60k, which pro rata would be £48k - still saving them £2k.

Decide what is most important to you and then ask for it calmly and clearly. Be prepared to give ground on the things that matter less.

Are there other things you value:

• working hours
• work from home days
• pension
• annual leave (option to buy extra days, for example)
• salary sacrifice benefits like childcare, car etc…

ps I recommend the book “Never Split The Difference”. Great advice on how to negotiate