The Perfect Job

By Matt Krumrie, Star Tribune Sales and Marketing

Last update: February 27, 2005 - 10:00 PM

You've finally been offered your dream job. You would be doing exactly what you want in the field you desire, the commute is perfect, the hours are just right, and the company is a solid, reputable organization.

Everything's perfect – except the salary.

Now what?

"Before any job offer is accepted, you must have an idea of the type of salary you can accept in order to survive," says Jack Chapman, a salary negotiations expert (www.salarynegotiations.com), career coach, and author of "How to Make $1,000 a Minute." "If the job is great but the salary doesn't meet your needs, then you have to carefully evaluate the job offer, no matter how great it is. If you can survive on the salary offered, then take the job with hopes your work and effort will garner a raise in the future."

Melanie Keveles, president of Aligned Advantage Business and Personal Coaching (www.onlinecoaching.com), says many people get stumped by the salary offer.

"Tell the truth to the potential employer – everything is perfect except the salary offer," says Keveles. "Ask how the salary was determined. Perhaps you have something in your background that would justify more compensation."

If the company stands firm, Keveles says, ask for these perks:

Are there other ways to provide compensation to you – more vacation time or paid time off?
Can the company pay for outside training or professional memberships, lease a car for you, buy a home computer, contribute more to your 401K or offer a mileage allowance?
Can the company include in the package a hiring bonus, or offer a larger year-end bonus?

"Get creative – you may find streams that will lessen your tax bite in the process," says Keveles.

Keep in mind, though, some organizations budget for a position and don't take into consideration experience, work ethic, or a job well done. They simply want to hire someone to fill the position, and have numbers plugged in to the yearly budget regardless of job success.

If that's the case, then maybe this just isn't the dream job you thought it was.

Matt Krumrie is a freelance writer from Inver Grove Heights, MN, and has seven years of experience reporting on the employment industry. The first Sunday of each month this column will be devoted to readers' questions. E-mail questions or subject ideas for this column to AskMatt@startribune.com.

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