Advice needed re job offer
#1
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Hello. I have been offered a job in Canada and currently going through the paperwork etc. The salary figure still needs to be discussed but I am slightly shocked to see the no. of holidays the company is willing to offer in the package. Its not even half of what I currently get in the UK
. I know North American employers can be very stingy when it comes to the no. of days they let you take as annual leave but I am wondering if its acceptable to negotiate that upfront? This offer is from a very big company so I am sure they have set rules and procedures for these things. Are they likely to bend them on case to case basis or do you just have to accept what they give you.
PS. This company approached me themselves if that makes a difference.
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PS. This company approached me themselves if that makes a difference.
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#2
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Hello. I have been offered a job in Canada and currently going through the paperwork etc. The salary figure still needs to be discussed but I am slightly shocked to see the no. of holidays the company is willing to offer in the package. Its not even half of what I currently get in the UK
. I know North American employers can be very stingy when it comes to the no. of days they let you take as annual leave but I am wondering if its acceptable to negotiate that upfront? This offer is from a very big company so I am sure they have set rules and procedures for these things. Are they likely to bend them on case to case basis or do you just have to accept what they give you.
PS. This company approached me themselves if that makes a difference.
![Huh?](https://britishexpats.com/forum/images/smilies/huh.gif)
PS. This company approached me themselves if that makes a difference.
Most companies I have dealt with are negotiable on this.
Just don't ask in a way that could be interpreted as an ultimatum.
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#3
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In all the jobs I've been offered in Canada, I've attempted to negotiate both salary and vacation time. Sometimes it's been successful, other times not. You're correct in assuming that larger companies are less flexible for vacation time, but you should still ask, especially if they only offer 2 weeks per year - then go for 3. If they offer 3 or 4 weeks, there's little more you could expect, but always try.
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#4
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Hello. I have been offered a job in Canada and currently going through the paperwork etc. The salary figure still needs to be discussed but I am slightly shocked to see the no. of holidays the company is willing to offer in the package. Its not even half of what I currently get in the UK
. I know North American employers can be very stingy when it comes to the no. of days they let you take as annual leave but I am wondering if its acceptable to negotiate that upfront? This offer is from a very big company so I am sure they have set rules and procedures for these things. Are they likely to bend them on case to case basis or do you just have to accept what they give you.
PS. This company approached me themselves if that makes a difference.
![Huh?](https://britishexpats.com/forum/images/smilies/huh.gif)
PS. This company approached me themselves if that makes a difference.
Surely the vacation time is not a shock to you ?
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#5
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It really does depend on the company and what their policies are, yes the vacation is rubbish compared to the UK but if you want to come to Canada then that might be the sacrifice you have to make. I've learnt to use the stats when I book time off and that stretches it out.
By all means counter back to the company on your vacation, but be clear that it's not a make or break for you.
By all means counter back to the company on your vacation, but be clear that it's not a make or break for you.
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My position on this in simple. Why do you want to go to Canada. Is it to take holidays or is it because you live and work in Canada (with all the associated pros and cons).
I've no experience of negotiations with Canadian employers so I can't help you with that.
If it was me, and I wanted to go to Canada, I'd take it. It's always better to pissing out from the inside than it is to be pissing in from the outside.
I've no experience of negotiations with Canadian employers so I can't help you with that.
If it was me, and I wanted to go to Canada, I'd take it. It's always better to pissing out from the inside than it is to be pissing in from the outside.
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My position on this in simple. Why do you want to go to Canada. Is it to take holidays or is it because you live and work in Canada (with all the associated pros and cons).
I've no experience of negotiations with Canadian employers so I can't help you with that.
If it was me, and I wanted to go to Canada, I'd take it. It's always better to pissing out from the inside than it is to be pissing in from the outside.
I've no experience of negotiations with Canadian employers so I can't help you with that.
If it was me, and I wanted to go to Canada, I'd take it. It's always better to pissing out from the inside than it is to be pissing in from the outside.
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#8
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2 weeks is pretty standard in most places from what I've seen. Some places tend to offer more as you accrue more years, others just have a default amount that doesn't vary.
I know people who have decent management level positions in government agencies who were delighted to have worked up to 3 or 4 weeks off after some ridiculous amount of years in. The 4-5 weeks we were accustomed to back in the UK is for the very lucky few here it seems.
Not much you can do about it. The laws are different and companies work within them.
The company I work for gives 2 weeks but usually offers extra time between Xmas and New Year on the basis that a skeleton crew works each of the "normal days" and you divide it up so that you usually end up only working 1 day and getting close to an extra week off.
I know people who have decent management level positions in government agencies who were delighted to have worked up to 3 or 4 weeks off after some ridiculous amount of years in. The 4-5 weeks we were accustomed to back in the UK is for the very lucky few here it seems.
Not much you can do about it. The laws are different and companies work within them.
The company I work for gives 2 weeks but usually offers extra time between Xmas and New Year on the basis that a skeleton crew works each of the "normal days" and you divide it up so that you usually end up only working 1 day and getting close to an extra week off.
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Cheers for the replies guys. I have basically been offered a 'relocation' package so I am pleased to say that the initial expenses like airfare and the first few weeks of accommodation etc will be covered.
But I want your opinions on negotiating the salary please. In the interview they asked for my current salary and me being the most honest person in the world told them the truthful figure. And they added 15% on top of it. Now apart from the salary trend factor in my field, do you guys think I have got a fair deal or is there room to push for a bit more. If negotiating job packages is such a common thing in Canada, then can somebody tell me what percentage of the initial offer are employers generally willing to go up to.
But I want your opinions on negotiating the salary please. In the interview they asked for my current salary and me being the most honest person in the world told them the truthful figure. And they added 15% on top of it. Now apart from the salary trend factor in my field, do you guys think I have got a fair deal or is there room to push for a bit more. If negotiating job packages is such a common thing in Canada, then can somebody tell me what percentage of the initial offer are employers generally willing to go up to.
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There is no set amount for negotiation. Some companies will, others won't.
The most relevant number is the going rate for people in your industry with your sets of skills. If the going rate is $70k, and they have offered you $80k, and you try and negotiate it to $90k there will come a point when the employer decides they might as well hire someone locally. However, if the going rate is $70k and they have offered you $60k then go ahead and ask for more. Until you know what the going rate is you are in the dark.
The most relevant number is the going rate for people in your industry with your sets of skills. If the going rate is $70k, and they have offered you $80k, and you try and negotiate it to $90k there will come a point when the employer decides they might as well hire someone locally. However, if the going rate is $70k and they have offered you $60k then go ahead and ask for more. Until you know what the going rate is you are in the dark.
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#11
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My position on this in simple. Why do you want to go to Canada. Is it to take holidays or is it because you live and work in Canada (with all the associated pros and cons).
I've no experience of negotiations with Canadian employers so I can't help you with that.
If it was me, and I wanted to go to Canada, I'd take it. It's always better to pissing out from the inside than it is to be pissing in from the outside.
I've no experience of negotiations with Canadian employers so I can't help you with that.
If it was me, and I wanted to go to Canada, I'd take it. It's always better to pissing out from the inside than it is to be pissing in from the outside.
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#12
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Probably teaching you to suck eggs, but don't forget to look at the whole package, including benefits if they are provided. This can add $$$ to your total compensation. A Relocation package is also costing the company a lot of $$$ for one position. If they offered 2 or 3 weeks vacation, ask for 4. Is that really a deal breaker for you though?
I'd be more inclined to ask if there are any other perks on offer, like Xmas days, or a bonus, or an annual pay review coming up before a year is complete. Are you evaluated on annual anniversary dates, or is it just, for example, July 1st across the whole company?
Congrats on the job offer. What does you gut say about the company? That's important too!
I'd be more inclined to ask if there are any other perks on offer, like Xmas days, or a bonus, or an annual pay review coming up before a year is complete. Are you evaluated on annual anniversary dates, or is it just, for example, July 1st across the whole company?
Congrats on the job offer. What does you gut say about the company? That's important too!
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#13
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Probably teaching you to suck eggs, but don't forget to look at the whole package, including benefits if they are provided. This can add $$$ to your total compensation. A Relocation package is also costing the company a lot of $$$ for one position. If they offered 2 or 3 weeks vacation, ask for 4. Is that really a deal breaker for you though?
I'd be more inclined to ask if there are any other perks on offer, like Xmas days, or a bonus, or an annual pay review coming up before a year is complete. Are you evaluated on annual anniversary dates, or is it just, for example, July 1st across the whole company?
Congrats on the job offer. What does you gut say about the company? That's important too!![Wink](https://britishexpats.com/forum/images/smilies/wink.gif)
I'd be more inclined to ask if there are any other perks on offer, like Xmas days, or a bonus, or an annual pay review coming up before a year is complete. Are you evaluated on annual anniversary dates, or is it just, for example, July 1st across the whole company?
Congrats on the job offer. What does you gut say about the company? That's important too!
![Wink](https://britishexpats.com/forum/images/smilies/wink.gif)
Can you guys tell me if thats also something common with Canadian employers.
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#14
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I've heard of having to work extra hours to earn flex days, or where you are allowed to take every third Friday off for example.
Two weeks vacation, on a 40-hour week is tough. I'd at least ask for three - they may not even consider 4. Ask them how many years you need to work there to earn more vacation time. For many companies, it is five years before an increase. Can you negotiate on that?
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#15
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If the company has your position working 37.5 hrs/wk and they consider 40 hrs to be full-time (only excuse I can think of for the figure 2.5 hrs), maybe they're screwing somebody out of benefits. I work 30 hrs/wk in a place where 37.5 is the norm (so I'm working %80 of full-trime) and as far as I know I get paid for all stats + time and a half if I work them.
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