Negotiation tactics- has anyone asked for a sign on bonus after being offered a pretty generous base salary?

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Thanks everyone for the advice. The sign on was for a very specific reason so that I could start earlier. The company ended up rolling it into my base salary. I’m happy with that as it’s more in the long term and not taxed at a higher rate.

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Yes. I had unvested stock from my previous employer and had to leave it on the table. My point of view (worked in this case): don’t come right out and ask for a sign-on, if you have something of value that you can point to, then ask how the offer addresses that aspect of your total compensation. Eventually you can ask for a sign-on specifically if the back and forth seems too cryptic. Hopefully you have something in hand that is comparable. Bottom line: you won’t receive anything you don’t ask for. Just don’t be arrogant or entitled - you never know what they’re holding back. Also - if you’re going into a role with a sales target, it’s probably expected that you exhaust your options (in a smart way) while still at the negotiating table. Try to get whatever you can.

Again, this is only my POV and it worked out when I left industry. Hope it helps.

Also - depending on what industry and company you’re moving to, odds are that they will give you a sign on. You just need to make for something more than just an ask, if that makes sense. Sorry if my first response was confusing, I was referencing a move in the opposite direction so it might not be entirely helpful...

You shouldn’t ask for a sign on bonus without a reason. Maybe you are leaving money on the table, could be stock, could be bonus. Maybe you have to move and they aren’t paying relo, etc. Your sign on bonus might not pay right away. I have one that was payable at year end (I started late in Oct). Basically I got the YE bonus from the new employer that 8 would have gotten from the prior employer.

If I didn’t have a one time income item (stock, CU bonus) I was trying to replace, I would just ask for a higher salary.

If a candidate demanded a sign on bonus with no rationale, I would move on to another candidate. I would assume it was indication of a high maintenance/risk hire.

Are you losing anything like a 401k match?

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