Tips for Negotiating the Benefits and Perks of a Job Offer
By
infocvconsulting

When it comes to accepting a new job, negotiation is key in today’s tight job market.

It’s no secret that a wide range of industries, including Engineering and Manufacturing, are currently experiencing candidate shortages. In May 2022, the UK Labour Market Statistics reported the number of open positions had increased to a new record high and for the first time since records began there were more job vacancies than unemployed people.

This environment creates an employee market where talented and in-demand candidates have excellent opportunities to negotiate their new contracts.

This means there may be room for other benefits, accommodations or perks in a contract that may not have been considered before. To help you better navigate the intricacies of these discussions, we’ve put together our top tips for negotiating perks and benefits with your job offer.

Identify Negotiables and Non-Negotiables

Before you begin the process of negotiation, you must understand your own priorities. Write a list of things that are important to you – such as being able to collect the kids from school – and see whether your new job could have a negative impact. You can then talk to your recruitment partner or negotiate directly with your prospective employer to implement flexible hours that work around school runs.

Another example could be avoiding a long commute to the office. In manufacturing, many roles need to be site based so a work-from-home request can be tricky for the employer. However. flexing your working hours around peak times to make your commute more achievable is more reasonable, and likely to be accepted.

You should be able to articulate your reasoning for why you want certain benefits in your contract. By linking the proposed perk to the advantage you can bring to the organisation, you will increase the likelihood of having it added to your package.

Investigate the Possibilities

When you hear the words’ benefits’ and ‘perks’, the possibilities can seem overwhelmingly endless. Is pizza lunch once a month counted as a benefit? Or what about a massage chair in the break room? While these are lovely additions to any job, they’re unlikely to be the perks that add real value to an engineering compensation package.

The benefits available to you will vary based on your experience level, role and the company, but some of the most common engineering industry benefits include:

  • Increased leave
  • Flexible hours
  • Remote working
  • Professional development and training opportunities
  • Performance bonuses
  • Signing-on bonuses
  • Company vehicle
  • Health or life insurance
  • Stock options or equity percentages
  • Home office set-up contribution or phone/internet contribution
  • Better job title
  • Later start date to accommodate a break
  • Onsite childcare
  • Parental leave
  • Employee wellbeing programmes
  • Gym membership reimbursement
  • Profit shares
  • Discounts on company products

Some companies may include a full description of the company job benefits package as part of the job offer. Other companies may be less clear with what they offer – and it might be worth asking for a full picture of the benefits included with the job.

Ask the Experts

If you’re still unsure where to start when negotiating rewards and benefits, make the most of an excellent resource you have at your fingertips – your recruiter.

Experienced, specialist recruiters have a solid understanding of your industry and will know what is appropriate and feasible. They will also have an existing relationship with the employer, so will know what is likely to get approved. For example, as a Maintenance Engineer, requesting to work fully remotely is a near-impossible ask and might not even be worth requesting but the employer might be open to flexible working hours.

Building a relationship with a recruiter over time has many advantages when looking for a new role. You can talk to them early on in the process about your needs, and share the list of priorities you have already put together. Using that information, alongside your skills and experience, they can offer solid advice based on their knowledge of the market and their clients, and work hard to match you with a role that works for you.

Summary

As an engineering professional, you aren’t alone in seeking help to negotiate a great package for your job offer. CV Consulting is a boutique recruitment agency in the UK for Engineering and Manufacturing professionals and would welcome the chance to help you with negotiating the best perks and benefits to suit your needs.

Our team has more than 25 years of experience in engineering recruitment. If you’re looking to enter negotiations with a prospective employer or are just keen to discuss your options, reach out to our UK team today for a no-obligation chat. Contact our recruitment specialists today.