How to counter job offer?

[John213]

Just a quick back story, I'm making 90-91k a year including bonuses (base 87k). I have about 5 years of experience in tech and will be graduating for my masters degree next month.

I started looking for a new job for 2 reasons. 1: company is moving in few months and my commute will add 20-25mins one way. 2: im ready to take the next step of my career and would like to work in a bigger company plus im getting my advanced degree.

X Company is going public soon, lets just say they are a huge company in Asia but they have office here in the US. Went to 2 interview, 1st HR with typical behavior and HR questions then 2nd technical interview (I work in tech). I think I did well and they like me for both on site interview. They asked for 3 references which they called and they offered me a job verbally for 100k. They said they will email the offer in writing.

I was upfront in the initial interview that I'm looking for 105-115k depending on overall benefits package. I think based on my experience and education, that is fair. Bottomline, I'm going to be happy with 100k if medical package is excellent or 105k if medical package is okay and depending on 401k.

Their medical package is okay. I also have on site interview with 3 different companies for the next couple days.

Comparing with what we have right now vs their offer

Current job:
Commute: 45-1hr average one way
Base: 87k
Boss: Super cool. Really awesome supervisor
Medical Package: Employer Contribution: $100/month
401k: None
Pressure: Low

X Company:
Commute: 25-30 mins one way
Base: 100k
Boss: Not yet sure
Medical Package: Employer Contribution: $400/month
401k: Yes but they don't match
Pressure: High (The HR keeps telling me its going to be high pressure job, deadlines, fixes, etc)

From the stats, every category is better but I still have this feeling of dissatisfaction with 100k offer. They know that I am making 90k including bonuses so from the sound of it, they think 10% increase is good.

I'd really like to counter 105k. Is this a turn off for them? What should I do?

[Nutria]

Any other job offers?

Not much leverage if you don't have anything better on the line. But if you'll have a MSc in 2 months, I'm surprised you don't have more offers.

Do you mind if we ask what you're getting your Masters in? "Tech" is a tad ambiguous...

[John213]

I had 10+ phone interview in the last couple weeks. 6 of 10 continued to on site interview. The 2nd one, I was top candidate but they end up hiring another candidate. This is the 3rd company and I got an offer. Also, I have 3 more on site interview this week and 2 phone interview. I would say my job search is going good because I'm not really active due to focus on school.

My bachelor and master is both Computer Science.

I would be really happy with $102,500. I'd like to counter their $100k with $102,500.

[Nutria]

I would be really happy with $102,500. I'd like to counter their $100k with $102,500.

Counter with $105K and if they really balk, you'll have something to fall back on.

But I'd really wait on the results of the other interviews. However, I understand impatience...

[LivingAlmostLarge]

Wait and see what turns up unless it's a job of a lifetime. What happened?

[siggy_freud]

Taking a job that pays less than you think you're worth is going to hurt everyday you work. It'll only be a matter of time before you're hunting again. I'm very aggressive when it comes to salary negotiations because I know what I'm worth, and I know that 90% of people out there negotiate passively or weakly. You just have to be confident in your ability to find work elsewhere. The fact that you have a job that you seem to like now gives you all of the power in the negotiation.

If I wanted 110k a year I'd counter and just be up front about it. Tell them you're really eager to work with them, but given the dynamic pace their work entails you're looking for 110k to compensate you for that. Taking a new job is a risk, and if they want your talent, they need to compensate you for taking that risk.

I just negotiated a salary increase where I asked for 7%. After a week or so they said "great news, we got you 4%!" I said "hey that's great, but given my performance and x,y,z with this project, etc. I'd need 7% to feel comfortable, valued, and ensure I could remain focused on the projects at hand." A few hours later I had a 8% (somehow) raise inked and signed. But again, you have to know your position, worth, and have a sense of how much they need you vs you needing them.

Have you asked your current company for a raise? Have you thought about what it would take to make you want to do the longer commute?

[snafu]

I know from experience that contracts with Asian companies aren't worth a lot. I hope you done research and know a lot about the company and it's principals. Will you be required to travel to their home office? That's horrible airport time plus 13 hours of miserable flight.

You need to understand that Asian companies have a different work ethic and their supervisors are not easy going. They are not known for their humanistic management style. They demand a lot and their major concern is their own bonus which depends on your output and success. If you ask for, and get a higher remuneration there will be higher expectations, more demands and tighter deadlines.

I had an e-mail from a former colleague [HKK] earlier today who mentioned 'he's busier than he should be.' That translates to I'm working 20 hours of unpaid overtime and this semester doesn't end until the first week in June.

Asian companies have different benefit packages, have they anything like free hot lunch, staff meetings at the better restaurants, free housing or housing benefit package, supplemented commute costs, company logo apparel, earning 'free' holidays at resorts they choose etc?

Different unedited thoughts based on a different work history.

Will you give your current employer an opportunity to negotiate a new packaged based on your new credential? Working for a ' super cool boss and awesome supervisor' can have you walk in the door smiling every day. The opposite makes getting out of bed to go to work feel awful.

[siggy_freud]

Working for a ' super cool boss and awesome supervisor' can have you walk in the door smiling every day. The opposite makes getting out of bed to go to work feel awful.

+1. Hard to put a monetary value on liking the people you work with/for. For me, having a cool boss who isn't a micro-manager is HUGE. Mainly because I wouldn't tolerate it. A new boss is a new unknown, and unknowns are risks. Insulate yourself accordingly for that new risk. If 110k is enough to make up for the different work culture/boss/risks, then don't settle for less. The last thing you want is to work longer hours, for a worse boss, and only make marginally more money.