Preparing for a PA Job Negotiation
This time of year we typically see a flood of graduates applying for open positions; however, during these unprecedented times, there is stiff competition for jobs as many PAs were furloughed or laid off. With the economy starting to open up, positions are beginning to fill. If you’re a new graduate or a veteran PA, negotiating a job offer might be in your near future.
The first step in negotiating a job offer is to do your research. This can be done before you have an offer in hand. If you’ve been employed as a PA previously, this step will be easier for you; for new graduates, it will take more time.
If you currently don’t have a job working as PA, it can be helpful to have more than one job offer, so that you can compare. It also helps to have leverage when you negotiate. This means you should apply to multiple jobs and use every interview as an opportunity to learn more about yourself and what you want in a position.
If you are working as a PA, use your current position as a starting point. Look at the benefits of your current position and contrast it to other offers. Writing these down can help you compare positions and allows you to keep your goals in perspective while you look for a new job.
Use the PA-Cents Negotiation Worksheet to help you stay organized. The first step is to write down your goals in searching for a new position. Are you looking to get into a new specialty? Do you want a higher salary? Is this your first job out of school and you’re looking for a learning environment?
When you look at an offer it is important to look at the entire package, in conjunction with your goals. The base salary is not necessarily the most important thing to look at, and often the bonus structure will allow you to have higher total compensation.
If you are not currently working and don’t have a PA salary to compare, use salary reports to get a baseline of what other PAs are making. Although it might give a general idea of a PA salary, the reports do not take into account many factors and should not be relied on solely to determine a PA’s salary.
Other benefits can add up as well. A generous retirement contribution can be worth much more than a higher base salary in the long-term.
The PA-Cents Negotiation Worksheet lists some of the more common benefits that might be seen in a job offer and you’ll want to decide which ones are the most important. Use the worksheet to help organize your thoughts so that you can enter any negotiation prepared. Good luck as you go out and look for a new job!
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