Negotiating

woman on a computer and cellphone

Negotiating an academic job offer can be nerve-wracking. Most candidates worry that they will say something that makes the committee rescind the offer. Let me ease your mind! That almost never happens: only 2% of academic offers are rescinded, and you can be on the lookout for red flags indicating a department that might. It is normal for you to negotiate—in fact, it’s expected!—and negotiation often results in a final offer that is much more appealing than the first offer.

Prepare for your negotiation by knowing what you need to succeed, and then by doing your research. Identify dealbreakers early on: what would cause you to walk away from the offer? What would ensure that you accept it? You need to know your dealbreakers and dealmakers so that you know where to focus your efforts, and where you can afford to concede a point.

Red flags: small schools, rural schools, and religious schools may be more likely to rescind an offer, and offers with a tight deadline for response or a chair or dean who seems rigid may be more likely to be rescinded. It’s still not very likely, and if you’re negotiating with a department that shows none of those red flags, they are unlikely to rescind.

Salary is typically the place to start negotiating. Salary builds over time, so the decision to accept a low salary offer early in your career can follow you. Other areas you can negotiate include teaching load or releases, start-up Ìýor internal research funds, a junior sabbatical to help your publication goals, conference or travel funding, support for your graduate students, summer funding or bonus, a paid house-hunting visit, space provisions, delayed start, immediate health insurance coverage, spousal hire, and more.

Context matters: expect a better offer from an R1 than from a small regional college. Don’t try to negotiate R1 benefits at a small regional PTI—but also, don’t accept a small regional college offer from an R1.

Questions to get you started:

  • What is a normal salary range for this post?
  • What will my moving and housing costs be? Does the university offer housing allowance or assistance for new hires?Ìý
  • What are the typical start-up costs for a post like this in your field, and how long do you need this start-up funding to continue (i.e., how long will it take to apply forÌýand receiveÌýexternal funding)?

The answers to these questions will help you assemble your desired package, check it against the total compensation offer, and identify key areas for negotiation.

Remember that this is business! Everyone wants you to succeed. Negotiation is you and the department working together to make sure you will have what you need to succeed. Offer business reasons for your counteroffer, such as prevailing compensation for similar positions, key skills or abilities, or the importance of the item under discussion to your ability to succeed. It often seems less aggressive to couch a counter-offer in language that stresses feelings or comfort, but that softening effect can undermine your business case.

Key takeaways:

  • Negotiate in good faith.
  • Express appreciation and enthusiasm while keeping in mind your value and your needs.
  • Send (or ask for) follow-up emails after verbal conversations that summarize the discussion and indicate any conclusions reached.
  • Be clear with yourself about the difference between things youÌýneedÌýand things youÌýwant,Ìýand be willing to compromise.
  • Work to find win-win solutions.

Do your research, know your dealbreakers and dealmakers, and be prepared to make a business case, so that you can succeed in your academic job offer negotiation.