Doctor Who 2 (5/24/2014)
SQLRNNR (5/21/2014)
Aeterna (5/19/2014)
I'd also suggest going over the contract in detail and be prepared to reject any job offer if you don't like the contractual terms. Companies will then either refuse to renegotiate (in which case, your decision is right), will explain the terms, or will amend the terms following a renegotiation.It gives you a flavour of how they will deal with any future concerns you might have regarding salaries, working time, etc.
Very good point.
In addition to nitpicking the contract and asking for what you are worth in dollars and cents, I recommend negotiating the benefits. If you can negotiate and extra week or two of starting vacation, it could be a very worthwhile opportunity even if it is less money than you had hoped to get.
Negotiating starting vacation? I've never heard of that. I just assumed that whatever it was, it was fixed in stone.
I don't usually negotiate the leave days initially, but at raise/review time I will try and negotiate for extra leave in return for a slightly lower increase, assuming of course that the pay is already acceptable (have enough money left over after monthly expenses)
My view there is that having money but no time to spend it is not a situation I like being in.
Gail Shaw
Microsoft Certified Master: SQL Server, MVP, M.Sc (Comp Sci)
SQL In The Wild: Discussions on DB performance with occasional diversions into recoverability