Don’t Just Negotiate Your Salary — These 13 Things Are Negotiable, Too

You’re in talks for a job, congrats! But did you know you have quite a bit of bargaining power?

It’s easy to get caught up in the flow of negotiations, but there’s so much at stake, you hold a lot more cards in your hand than you believe. You can negotiate your salary, for sure, in most cases, but there are many other things you can work out before you accept the job. Putting yourself first and attempting to secure a better working environment can make the difference between being happy and looking for new work.

According to job boards and HR experts, there are many more aspects of your job you can negotiate.

1. Start Date

One of the things you can usually negotiate right off the bat is your start date. If you’re already in a different job, you might be obligated to give two weeks (or more) notice.

Even if you’re not obligated to give notice, you might want to take an extra week off in between jobs to get your affairs straight, or just to have some time off. Unless a specific start date is outlined in the employment ad, you likely have wiggle room.

2. Moving Expenses

If you’re relocating for a job, you can definitely ask your employer what they offer in terms of moving expenses. You can even ask for more if you’re moving from an inexpensive area to a more expensive region.

Consider the costs of a moving truck, finding a new home, and the cost of storage if you don’t luck out right away.

3. Sign-on Bonus

Not every company will offer a sign-on bonus, but some do. If you’re applying for a position where your experience speaks for itself, take advantage of this.

Many pay a sign-on bonus as a means of luring you away from another employer, so you can up the ante in this case. Don’t be cocky, though, but be professional and firm, let them know what you’re looking for.

4. Office vs. Remote Time

The pandemic really changed the face of the work industry. Many people were forced to work from home during lockdowns and they got used to it. Now, since they know it’s possible to do just about anything at home, they don’t want to go back to the office.

Here’s the perfect opportunity for you to negotiate your office time vs. your remote time. Some companies may be willing to let you work fully remote, while others could offer a hybrid schedule. Figure out what works best for you and try to make it happen.

5. Title

Job titles are typically a formality, but sometimes, they’re also really, really wrong. Here’s the chance for you to define the role you’ll be taking.

Before you bring it up, make sure you have a running list of points why your employer should adjust your job title. You’ll need to make your case for this one, most likely.

6. Tuition Reimbursement

If you plan to do extra education for your role, you might be able to have your company cover the costs. After all, you’re improving for their sake. If it’s not part of your compensation package, you can open up the lines of communication for it to be.

Keep in mind if your company does decide to fund your education, you will likely be committed to working for them for a specified period of time. Make sure you’re aware of this upfront to avoid having to pay back the fees.

7. Phone Allowance

If you regularly use your cell phone for work, you could be entitled to a phone allowance. That would cover the cost of your using it.

Some companies, instead of providing an allowance or stipend, will instead provide you with a phone to use solely for business. That may help them keep their costs down.

8. Retirement Benefits

Retirement is such an important benefit that people often overlook. After all, if you’re young, you’re probably thinking there’s plenty of time for that.

The truth is, it’s important to set yourself up today for the future and that means a robust retirement package. Ask your employer if they have a pension or retirement fund, and if they contribute to it as well. Make sure you know how long it takes to become fully vested, so if you change jobs, you get to keep what’s been paid into it.

9. Commission

If you’re hired for a sales position, you might be able to negotiate your commission percentage. If you can prove you have a very successful past in the field, your employer will likely allow for more.

Your company may, however, also decide to implement a quota. In that case, you’ll have to meet a certain threshold before you receive the higher rate.

10. Travel Benefits

Do you have to travel a lot for work? There are certain travel perks your company may receive for your stays. For example, hotel loyalty programs and frequent flier miles can add up quickly.

I would highly recommend trying to negotiate keeping those rewards, because they will eventually make your personal travel cheaper. Sometimes, they might just agree to bump your flight ticket to a higher class or upgrade your room to a suite. It never hurts to ask.

11. PTO

Every company has a paid time off (PTO) policy. Typically, you earn as you go throughout your first year, then you are granted a week or more on your first-year anniversary.

If you are coming from a company with a more generous policy, you can try to ask your current one to meet or exceed what you had. Many times, they’re willing to give you the time, especially if you were headhunted or come with a strong track record behind you.

12. Daycare Reimbursement

Daycare is expensive. So much so, many parents can’t afford to pay for it on a single salary. However, if you find a company with a reimbursement policy, or better yet, a daycare onsite, you are already ahead of the game.

When you’re in negotiations for your job, as what they have or what they are willing to do in the absence of an established program.

13. Severance Package

Nobody wants to think about being fired or let go, or their company closing. Yet, it’s a real fact of life. You have to be prepared for the eventuality that it could happen to you.

The best way to do this is to ask what the severance package entails, or if they’d be willing to create one for you if they don’t already have one in place.