You can even ask for a signing bonus during the salary negotiation.
Word your question something like, "What's the signing bonus
for this position?" rather than "Is there a signing bonus
for this position?" But remember, signing bonuses are taxed
as regular income, so that's something to keep in mind as you settle
on a figure.
Vacation time. Sometimes you can get more than the standard
time going into the job.
Extra time away (paid or unpaid). You can also request extra
paid or unpaid leave for a preplanned trip, for artistic or volunteer
work, or a reasonable personal reason. And of course, you should
get time away for service in the Armed Forces and for jury duty.
Ask and you shall receive
At the end of your first interview, especially with an employment
person, ask about benefits. Negotiate with the hiring manager. But
the best place to get complete information about the benefits package
is from the human resources (HR) person. In addition to health coverage
and vacation time, traditional benefits could include sick time,
short- and long-term disability, life insurance, AD&D (accidental
death and dismemberment) insurance , survivor income, stock options,
retirement plans, and more.
Don't be afraid to ask questions. You may want to know how long
the waiting periods for various benefits are. How long before you
can participate in the 401(k) or other retirement plan? What's the
company match on the 401(k)? When are you fully vested? What kind
of healthcare benefits are there (HMO, PPO, indemnity plan)? Watch
out for preexisting conditions. For example, if you have a child
with diabetes, many plans won't cover the child for at least six
months, if ever. If that's the case, you'd want to negotiate something
else to cover the expenses.
If having super healthcare benefits (dental, vision, prescription
coverage, etc.) is important and the company doesn't have them,
that could be a deal-breaker for you. On the other hand, some companies
have "cafeteria plans," which let you choose what benefits to pay
for. Maybe, for example, you can opt out of life insurance and pick
up three extra days of vacation.
What other benefits would seriously interest you? You should be
able to participate in networking sessions and professional associations,
attend conferences, and receive additional training and other opportunities
for professional growth. Some companies offer subsidized daycare,
emergency daycare, a fitness center, flexible hours with telecommuting,
sabbaticals, or valet service for dry cleaning or groceries.
Startups, those caffeine havens, are fond of stocking the refrigerator
with soft drinks and offering bottomless cups of coffee. Wednesday
might even be pizza day. But you'll probably have to wait until
your first hump day on the job to negotiate for extra cheese.
