Four steps for negotiating a job offer

　　Step One: Evaluate your job

　　The actual job content.

　　Your boss.

　　The salary and benefits.

　　Fringe benefits: insurance, child benefits, retirement plans, tuition assistance, paid holidays and other bonuses.

　　Find out when your salary is reviewed, usually once every 12 months, and your potential for salary growth.

　　Your co-workers, the location of the company and how a typical working week is structured.

　　Consider the flexibility of the organization you are thinking for working for; is it overly rigid and will it alter your lifestyle.

　　Step Two: Make a budget

　　Do some market research in order to find out how much your skills are worth. Everything is negotiable but the more information you have, the more powerful your position will be.

　　Step Three: Ask questions

　　about how your work will be evaluated and what opportunities there are for advancement. Copy the initial offer.

　　Practice what you are going to say and be reasonable in your approach; the ideal outcome should be a win/win situation.

　　You should aim for the top of your salary range, but be prepared to accept less.

　　Be prepared to barter; higher salary for fringe benefits or vice versa.

　　Step Four: Signing

　　Make sure you get the final offer in writing. You too should write a formal acceptance letter.

　　If at all possible, have someone, who is experienced with job contracts, check through everything, before you finally sign.