Contract negotiations and what to look out for

The art of contract negotiating can be daunting, stressful and at times, complicated. At the end of the day, you want to make sure you are getting the best outcome for yourself.

If you are the successful candidate but only by a small margin and you then start making excessive demands, then this could seriously jeopardise your future at this company. Alternatively, if you are lucky enough to have been offered a role at two different companies, then you may be able to use this as leverage for the company you prefer.

Ultimately though, if you have been put forward for a role at a certain salary level or base rate that was agreed by you during the initial stages, then if you are offered the position, it makes it very difficult for all parties concerned if you try to negotiate a salary that is far above the initial quota.

Every company has different benefits or bonuses, or some may not even have any at all. It is up to you to make sure you are happy with what’s on offer before you sign the contract. Any questions that you may have should be discussed before you sign.

Other things to look out for are your holiday entitlement and notice period. As a general rule, most companies will offer 20 to 25 days holiday pay per year. If it is anything less than this then you might want to consider discussing it. A standard notice period is one month. Some companies may have notice periods of three months, or even up to six months. If you see this as a potential concern for you in the future, then it is worth bringing it up at this point and not later on when you wish to leave.

Overall, just like any legal document, a job contract should be approached with a discerning eye. Make sure you understand all the elements before signing the dotted line and if you have any concerns or questions, feel free to get in touch with your consultant.

Author David Morel Tiger Recruitment Team