Section Sponsored by:

In a tough economic climate, many job seekers are simply happy to get an offer. So they forget -- or opt to forego -- negotiating the terms of their employment agreement. However, David C. Miles, SPHR, CMF, chairman of Miles LeHane Companies, an HR consultancy in Northern Virginia that specializes in coaching people through career transitions, told ADVANCE there are plenty of creative ways for savvy candidates to sweeten the pot -- even if you don't think there's room to increase the base salary.

So before you sign on the bottom line, consider negotiating the following 10 points provided by Caroline Ceniza-Levine, career expert, writer and speaker, and cofounder, SixFigureStartR.

1. Salary: "Don't assume that the first offer is all they have," Ceniza-Levine noted.
2. Sign-on bonus: Annual salary for your position may be capped, but there might be extra money that could be offered upfront as a one-time payment. "A sign-on bonus is payable when you start," Ceniza-Levine said. "Other bonuses include a spot bonus (payable ad hoc), quarterly or other timed bonus."
3. Date of next salary review: In the same vein, just because your starting salary is capped at a certain level doesn't mean you need to wait a full year before getting an increase. Negotiate a salary review in 90 days or 6 months, Ceniza-Levine advised.
4. Start date: Your new employer might want you to start right away but you want to give your old employer some transition time or you might want to take time off. "Don't burn bridges," Ceniza-Levine stressed. Your start date should be negotiable, and your new company should be happy to find you are a conscientious employee.
5. Team resources: if your new position requires that you manage a team, confirm that this team exists in the size and scope that you understand it to be, and that people will be dedicated to your objectives. "Otherwise, you might sign up for too much work and not enough support," Ceniza-Levine noted.
6. Budget: Similarly, if you are responsible for a department or unit, and are expected to deliver certain results, make sure you have authority over the budget for what you need, Ceniza-Levine suggested.
7. Scope of your role: Ceniza-Levine cautions job seekers not to rely solely on the job description or what comes up in interviews to determine your role and what you will be expected to deliver. Confirm your responsibilities before you accept the role. "You need to know what it will take to be successful," she said.

   Related Content

   • Conquering First Day Fears

   • First Impressions

   • Do Your Homework

   • Mapping Success

8. Benefits eligibility date: Benefits don't just automatically confer to you when you start. Sometimes there's a waiting period, and certain benefits, like matches on a retirement plan, don't start right away. "If you can start these benefits sooner than later, that's worth money to you and might be something else you negotiate for, if cash is tight," Ceniza-Levine said.
9. Tuition reimbursement: If you're planning to pursue an advanced degree in your field, tuition reimbursement can be a huge financial addition to your salary. This can sweeten the pot on almost any position, giving you room to position yourself to advance your career. Additionally, if you have student loans, some organizations provide loan reimbursement. The money for these reimbursements may come out of a different budget than salaries, enabling you to get more money, Ceniza-Levine said.
10. Training reimbursement: As a healthcare professional, you are expected to pursue continuing education opportunities to remain competitive and to maintain your certifications. You may want to attend conferences or join professional associations. "If your new organization can pay for this, that is effectively additional compensation to you so worth negotiating for," Ceniza-Levine opined.

Remember to focus on being respectful and reasonable during the negotiation process. "The language and tone of voice you use can have a profound impact on your success when negotiating a job acceptance," noted Paula Langguth Ryan, cofounder, Compassionate Mediators (www.compassionatemediators.com).

Kerri Hatt is on staff at advance. She can be reached at khatt@advanceweb.com.