Offer Letter Redux

[James Barrow]

As a matter of fact I did leave out something, but I thought you were
psychic as well as a guru;^)

After the initial offer was stated, my brain got stuck on that odd dollar at
the end.  I paused because some sort of dyslexic inner child in me was
screaming that this was way too low.  I was just pausing to get in touch
with the left side of my brain, but I guess it came across as disapproving
of the salary because the HR guy bumped it up a little more.  Just a little.

- Jim

-----Original Message-----
From: Gene Kim-Eng [mailto:techwr at genek.com] 
 
But where was the negotiation? It sounds as if they made 
you a "preliminary offer" and you took it.  Or did you leave
something out?

BTW, the $1 over minimum for the next highest grade 
is a fairly standard practice.  The next year's budget will 
usually be based on the midpoints of the grades of the 
current employees.

Gene Kim-Eng


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "James Barrow" <vrfour at verizon.net>
> I was told that 'my preliminary offer - pending the final signature - was
> going to be XXX number of dollars per month', and 'would that be okay?'.
> 
> Since I had my laptop up and running, I thanked them for making me an 
> offer while I quickly reviewed the salary tier.  The salary that they were
> tentatively offering was, interestingly enough, one dollar into the 
> highest tier.  Not the maximum that they could have paid me, but a very 
> good salary and great benefits.
> 
> So I said yes, with a January 22nd start date.
> 
> So, for anyone else who applies for a government job, I guess that salary
> negotiation is possible.