Q: I've got a problem that I feel very lucky to have, especially in today's job market . I've been offered two good jobs , both of which have their pros and cons. I've gone over all the issues involved, and just can't decide which job I should take .
Most workers think of negotiating as a win/lose proposition that requires fighting for what they want , followed by ultimately beating or losing to their opponents. In reality, however, a successful negotiation is a communication process , where both parties strive for a mutually acceptable result.
Karen Chopra knows all about the dangers of "first-offer-itis." It's a condition in which job seekers itch to take the first position they are offered , said the Washington, D.C.-based career counselor. And in this time of high unemployment, more people are inclined to do just that.
Suppose a potential employer gives you a low-ball salary offer , but then ups the ante when you decline. Should you refuse the new job because anyone who offers less than what you're worth initially is probably a long-term Scrooge?
Have you ever been made a counteroffer by your current company to keep you from moving to a new job ? What did you do? Take the money and be glad to get it? Wonder why you had to "leave" to generate some financial appreciation?
Less than a year after becoming office manager of a testing firm in Chicago, Linda Sullivan was ready to quit. She believed her marketing skills were being wasted in an administrative position, and she felt underpaid to boot.