Are There Enough Quality Employees to go Around?
Even though the economy is still in a recovery, some leaders are asking themselves, “What happens if I don’t give in to the demands of the candidate to whom I have offered a position?” Qualified candidates seeking a new position do have some leverage based on their skill set. However, they should not hold you hostage when it comes to negotiating a job offer. At the time, it may seem as though they are the only candidate for the job, but they are not. Listed below are some strategies to consider when negotiating with a potential new employee:
- If the candidate’s requests are reasonable, give them to him/her. When hiring a new employee, employers want to appear responsive to reasonable offers. If you can accommodate, do so. Employees in this recovering recession may be looking for the small things and you want to get the relationship off to a good start.
- It is appropriate to counter-offer. If a potential employee demands a higher salary, company car, cell phone or some other tangible item that is not within the scope of their new job, negotiate. Let them know what you are willing to provide and put the ball in their court. In most cases, they are trying to evaluate how much you are willing to give.
- If the requests appear abnormal for the position, be prepared to walk away. With any negotiation comes a time where it may be necessary to walk away. Do not be afraid to walk away if the demands are so high that hiring this person will have an adverse impact on the organization.
Hiring new employees is an art and not a science. The employee you have in front of you is not the last one available with the skill set you desire. While no one likes to drag out a recruitment, in some cases it may be necessary. Do not sell your organization short because you are afraid this is the last qualified employee who will apply for a position. It is not.
