When you receive a job offer, the negotiation process begins. Most companies expect candidates to negotiate things like salary, benefits, vacation time, etc. One popular negotiation tactic is called “bumping the offer.” But what does bump the offer mean and how does it work? This beginner’s guide will explain everything you need to know about bumping an offer when negotiating a new job.
What Is Bumping the Offer?
Bumping the offer refers to asking the employer to increase or “bump up” certain aspects of the initial job offer, especially salary. For example, if the employer offers you a salary of $50,000, you could respond with something like:
“I’m thrilled you want to bring me on board. I was hoping we could bump the salary offer to $55,000.”
This is directly asking them to increase the amount they originally offered. The term “bumping” refers to nudging the offer up incrementally, rather than making an entirely new counteroffer. Other parts of the offer you could potentially bump include:
- Benefits like more vacation days
- Flexible work arrangements
- Signing bonus
- Relocation package
- Stock options
- Tuition reimbursement
The key is to be reasonable with your bump requests and strategic about which parts of the offer to negotiate. It’s also important to keep in mind that if the offer is an active-offer no bump meaning, there may be limited room for negotiation.
Why Do Candidates Bump the Offer?
There are a few key reasons why bumping the offer can be an effective negotiation strategy:
Maximize value: Bumping allows you to incrementally increase the overall compensation or value of the offer. Even small bumps to salary, vacation time, etc. can add up.
Test employer flexibility: Making small bump requests tests how far the employer is willing to go to meet your needs and make you happy in the role. This shows their flexibility.
Avoid overplaying your hand: Being overly aggressive with a counteroffer could turn off the employer. Bumping is viewed as more reasonable.
Get your foot in the door: If this is your dream job, bumping gets your foot in the door so you can excel and lobby for bigger raises once in the role.
Establish negotiation range: Exchanging bump requests establishes a negotiation range, focusing the discussion on a few key areas rather than starting from scratch.
Overall, bumping the offer is a strategic approach to politely negotiate for a bit more value without appearing greedy or unrealistic.
How Much Should You Bump the Offer?
When preparing to bump the offer, you need to decide how much to request for each component you want to negotiate. Here are some guidelines on bump amounts:
Salary: Typically aim for a 5-10% bump if the initial salary is reasonable or below market rate. Request 10-15% if it’s well below market. Ask for 2-3% if it’s already generous.
Benefits: Add 1-2 weeks of vacation or 5-10 days. Ask for improved health insurance, like lower deductibles.
Bonuses/stocks: Request 10-15% higher performance bonuses or stock options.
Relocation: Bump any moving allowance by 2-3k to cover additional unforeseen costs.
The key is bumping just enough to provide added value without going overboard. Do your research on current market rates and benefits so your requests are reasonable.
How Should You Approach the Conversation?
Once you’ve decided what to bump, it’s time to make the request. Here are some tips for the conversation:
- Be polite and gracious. Thank them for the offer and say you’re enthusiastic about the role.
- Note your flexibility. Say you may be able to accept the original terms but wanted to check if there was room to optimize a few points first.
- Mention your research. Reference current market rates for the role to justify your bump requests.
- Ask don’t demand. Phrase it as asking if they could bump up X component, not demanding it.
- Pause and listen. After making the request, pause and hear their response before replying.
- Compromise if needed. If they refuse certain bumps, prioritize what matters most or suggest alternatives.
- Get any changes in writing. Have them follow up the verbal agreement with an updated written offer letter.
With the right polite approach, they’ll be more receptive to reasonably bumping the offer.
What Are the Best Things to Negotiate Besides Salary?
Salary often takes center stage, but don’t forget about negotiating these other key points:
Flexible work arrangements: Due to the pandemic, hybrid or remote work options are extremely desirable. See if you can get 1-2 days remote per week.
Professional development stipend: Ask for a $3-5k yearly stipend to attend conferences, training, and classes to advance your skills.
Signing bonus: A signing bonus helps make up for compensation lost when leaving your current job. Aim for 5-15% of your base salary.
Performance bonus: Make sure there is a clear structure for performance-based bonuses and push for the full amount to be 10-20% of your salary.
Additional vacation: Having more paid time off improves work-life balance. Bump it by 1-2 weeks if the offer is light on vacation days.
Fertility benefits: If needed, negotiate stipends, improved coverage, and time off for fertility treatments.
Prioritize the benefits and perks that provide the most value to you personally when deciding what to negotiate besides salary.
What’s the Best Way to Handle Rejection of a Bump Request?
There’s always a chance the employer will say no to bumping their original offer. How you handle that rejection makes a big impact. Here are some tips if they refuse to budge:
- Stay calm and polite. Don’t get visibly angry or upset. Thank them for considering the request.
- Ask for their reasoning. See if you can get insight into why they can’t bump the number and see if any flexibility could open up in the future.
- Suggest alternatives. Propose adjusting other components like early salary review periods or different bonuses.
- Request time to consider. Ask for a day or two to think over the original offer before formally accepting or rejecting it.
- Send appreciation. After calling to accept the original offer, send an email thanking them for the negotiation process and reinforcing your excitement about the role.
By remaining calm and professional, you preserve the relationship even if the bump is rejected. And who knows, after further discussion they may find ways to meet your needs that don’t involve immediately increasing the formal offer.
Is Bumping the Offer Too Risky?
Some candidates worry bumping could irritate the employer or even jeopardize the offer. However, bumping is a standard negotiation tactic that companies expect. Here’s why it’s unlikely to backfire:
- Companies budget for negotiations when extending offers. Bumping is part of that process.
- It demonstrates you know your value and will advocate for fair compensation. Companies respect that.
- As long as you remain professional, the discussion creates a positive opportunity for both sides to understand needs and constraints.
- Reasonable bumps show you intend to take the role and want to create optimal mutual benefit. They strengthen your commitment.
- Even if bumps are rejected, accepting the original offer gracefully preserves the relationship.
So don’t let fear of rocking the boat stop you from bumping the offer. Just take a strategic approach focused on reasonable bumps and a collaborative discussion.
What’s the Best Way to Phrase a Request to Bump the Offer?
When making the actual request, wording is key. Here are some examples of polite phrases to use when asking to bump parts of the offer:
- “I appreciate the offer. Would there be room to increase the salary to $X?”
- “Thank you for the generous vacation policy. I was hoping we could bump it up by 5 additional days.”
- “The bonus structure sounds great. I was interested in exploring if we could increase the target bonus to 15%.”
- “Would it be possible to increase the relocation allowance by $2,000 to cover any unforeseen moving expenses?”
- “Could we revisit the policy around remote work days? Even 1-2 days a week working from home would help optimize my productivity.”
The key is expressing enthusiasm for the role, acknowledging the original offer, but politely asking if specific aspects could be increased incrementally. Avoid ultimatums or high pressure tactics.
What’s a Reasonable Timeframe for Negotiating the Bump?
You don’t want to drag negotiations out forever. Ideally, limit bump discussions to 1-2 weeks and no more than 3 back-and-forth exchanges. Here are some timeframes to aim for:
- Initial request: Bump requests should happen within 1-3 days of receiving the offer. Thank them for the offer and directly ask for bumps.
- Follow-up discussion: Give them 3-5 days to consider your request and respond. This gives time for them to determine flexibility.
- Final negotiation: If needed, one final discussion should happen within the next 3-5 days. Compromise from both sides may be required.
- Accept/reject decision: Within 1-2 days of final negotiation, accept the final offer or reject it if terms can’t be reached.
Both sides want a quick resolution. Dragging bump negotiations out for too long can jeopardize the offer, so aim to limit the process to 1-2 weeks maximum.
Is Bumping Effective for Every Job and Every Candidate?
While bumping is appropriate in many job negotiations, there are certain situations where a different strategy might be better:
- If you have very little experience or unique skills to offer, avoid making aggressive bump requests since you have less negotiation leverage.
- When applying for government or nonprofit roles with strict compensation bands, bumping may be less impactful. Do your research first on their flexibility.
- If the initial offer already far exceeds your expectations, avoid looking greedy by bumping. Express your enthusiasm and accept the generous terms.
- If you have other competing job offers, mentioning those gives you more justification to negotiate. Bumping without other leverage is riskier.
- For contract or gig roles with pre-set pay rates, trying to bump compensation may be non-negotiable. You have to decide if the base rate works for you.
While bumping can benefit many candidates, consider your leverage and whether alternative negotiation tactics like asking about early promotions or salary review schedules could work better for your situation. The key is researching to understand their constraints and tailor your approach.
What Are the Pitfalls to Avoid When Bumping the Offer?
To ensure bumping the offer helps rather than harms your negotiation, avoid these common mistakes:
- Making unreasonable bump requests that far exceed market rates and norms for the role. Stick to incremental bumps in the 5-15% range.
- Neglecting to express appreciation and enthusiasm for the role itself when you make the bump request. Companies want to see you’re excited about the work itself, not just the compensation.
- Presenting bump requests as demands rather than polite asks. Articulate it as exploring whether they can accommodate not insisting they must meet your bump request.
- Making too many bump requests across too many components of the offer. Pick your top 2-3 priorities to focus the discussion.
- Not articulating the value you would bring that justifies the bump requests. Give clear reasons why you warrant the higher salary or other perks.
- Dragging out negotiations for too long. Keep the discussion focused and aim for quick resolution within 1-2 weeks.
Avoiding these missteps will make your bump requests come across as savvy negotiations rather than unrealistic demands.
In Summary
- Bumping the offer means incrementally increasing aspects like salary, vacation days, or bonuses during your job negotiation.
- It allows you to politely request a bit more value without overplaying your hand.
- Phrase bumps as polite asks not demands, focus on your top priorities, and use reasonable bump amounts in the 5-15% range.
- Handle rejection gracefully, compromise if needed, and don’t drag out the process for too long.
- When executed well, bumping the offer can provide that extra value that takes a good offer and turns it into a great one.
FAQs
Q: Can you bump an offer after already accepting it?
A: Once you formally accept an offer, it becomes a binding employment contract. At that point trying to reopen negotiations and bump the terms you already agreed to reflects poorly on you. The time for bumping is after receiving the offer but before accepting it.
Q: How many times can you bump an offer?
A: Limit your bump requests to 1-2 rounds of negotiation. Request the bumps in your initial response, listen to their counter, compromise if needed, and finalize terms. Dragging it out over numerous back-and-forths can damage the employer relationship.
Q: Can you ask to bump your salary after starting a new job?
A: Asking for a salary bump shortly after starting looks questionable, like you failed to properly negotiate upfront. Wait at least 3-6 months before lobbying for a raise to allow yourself to demonstrate your value in the role.
Q: What’s the best way to phrase a bump request over email?
A: Email lets you craft an articulate bump request: “After reviewing the offer, I’m thrilled at the opportunity. To optimize the terms, I wanted to request if we could explore increasing the base salary to $X based on my understanding of the market rate from my research.”
Q: If they refuse a bump request, can you go back and accept the original offer?
A: Yes, if they deny the bumped terms you requested, it’s perfectly acceptable to go back and accept the original offer. Express your enthusiasm, accept the role gracefully, and use your performance to lobby for improvements once you’ve started.
Conclusion
Bumping the job offer is an effective negotiation strategy that allows you to nudge compensation and other terms higher without overplaying your hand. Flat fee real estate services that you should know offer a unique approach to optimizing your property transactions; by making reasonable bump requests politely, compromising when needed, and focusing on your priorities, you can potentially improve an offer’s value and get your new career started on the right foot. Just remember to handle rejection gracefully and move forward professionally, whether the bumps are approved or not. Mastering this negotiation dance takes some finesse, but the payoff can be worth it.
