Hi guys n gals,

Just been offered a great role at ITP publishing but concerned about poor salary and non-existent 'package'.

Oh and they are keen to get me out there in four weeks, when I have lots still to sort here before moving!!

Don't want to turn this down but equally don't wanna sell myself short, and be unable to make ends meet.

Any advice for negotiations?

yeah, tell them you're celibate...

MM, xx

If it is an advertising job for them, then try not to follow the previous employee by shagging on the beach.

Ha ha ha.......yeah ok. No seriously?

give us some more details about the offer.....

Can I PM you? Dont really want to put all my details on here in case.

Basically no flights home, housing allowance or dental care. Just basic sal, which I can send details of.

a lot of companies do a 'lump sum' each month, so thats not new.

Offering an all-in lump sum each month is very common for media companies in Dubai, but the lack of flights home each year seems unusual. That said, different companies cover flights in different ways; some will actually buy you a ticket on request, others (such as the one I work for) define part of your monthly salary as "flight allowance", the idea being that you save that and at the end of the year you've got enough for a return ticket.

The housing issue, though, is going to be your biggest concern. When you say "no housing allowance", does that mean that they won't even advance you money against your salary (in effect an interest-free loan) to pay your rent? If that's the case, then you're either going to have to pay for your rent out of any savings you may currently have, or get a bank loan, which will obviously attract interest. Or share a place, which will obviously bring your rent costs down considerably.

Sadly, the spiralling cost of offering housing advances is meaning fewer and fewer companies are providing them, at least not at realistic levels.

ITP are notoroiously bad payers

Just seems odd, being bad payers is one thing but offering someone who is relocating, no assistance at all is quite another.

He also seemed to expect me to accept and sign the contract without actually meeting him or visiting the office, which I also found odd.

Gonna try and get a flight - although the fares are all sky high at the mo - and meet the boss and talk face to face about my concerns. Job is great but lack of financial assistance is a real concern.

Why are they such bad payers? Do they have a high employee turnover?

No thats all pretty standard stuff for ITP. Personally I wouldn't touch them with a bargepole (look for example how they treated Michelle Palmer), but plenty of people come and work for them.

Is your offer in editorial (they have an incredibly high turnover of staff I think) or sales?

Offer is in editorial. Great career opportunity. Coming over to visit them and the office on the 25th - 29th providing I can find a bloody flight!

Thanks for that advice. Will bear it in mind. At least i'll be going in to this meeting with eyes wide open.

So they have a real bad rep then? Have you worked for them?

Try KLM - they have some cheap flights (just over £300) at the moment but you need to book by the end of today.

Hi BT,

I have some freelance work for a Cricket Journalist.

Have you done any TV?

I need three posts to PM you so I'll just bump this thread.

Cheers...ink

Bump