Unusual Negotiation Requests: Is Everything Really Negotiable?

What types of results do you get when you are timid and afraid? Many of you would agree that not many results happen when we lack confidence or are paralyzed by fear. In the ten years of being a professor, I have witnessed the power of boldness. I am convinced that the creative and the bold WIN!

I often share with others that if you can dream it, the possibilities are endless. An important negotiation goal is to think creatively about your desire and envision what you need to thrive personally and professionally.

Again, I want to emphasize that you must be clear about what is important to you PERSONALLY and PROFESSIONALLY.

Why?

These two areas of life deserve to co-exist and live in harmony. I think part of living a full and happy life while enjoying your academic career has a lot to do with not feeling like you have to sacrifice your personal life to thrive professionally and vice versa.

For many of you, your professional goal is to obtain tenure, make a mark in your field of study, or receive a promotion. As you pursue a career in the academy, questions you want to ask yourself before you receive any offer may include the following:

• “What do I need to successfully obtain tenure or the desired promotion?”

• “What do I need to make a great impact in my field of study?”

• “What do I need in order to live a balanced happy life?”

In the spirit of one of my favorite mantras, “Everything is Negotiable,” I would like to share six (potentially unusual) requests I have observed in the academy.

1.      Sporting Event Tickets/Season Passes

A big part of negotiating is to be aware of your needs and wants. You have to come to terms with understanding who you are, what you like, and how you hope to spend your time. While season tickets to a sporting event game are not high on my list of priorities, this request is just another reminder that everything is negotiable. Besides, what is the worst that can happen when having a conversation about a perk that would motivate you to finalize your decision? For this individual, the word “No” was the least of their worries.

2.      Bring Your Pet to Work

Have you ever considered bringing your pet to work? Let me be clear, this request was about a pet and not a service animal. This request is a reminder that there are always exceptions to the rule, so do not become overly consumed with “rules”. In this case, I observed a professor who bought his dog to work. Such arrangements are based on personal wants and needs. If you are ever bold enough to ask, ask away!

3.      Living in Another State/Country

I hate to call this request unusual because this happens all the time. I know several professors who commute by plane or train to work. I know a professor who uses the Amtrak train weekly. I also know a professor who travels about 1200 miles (via plane) to get to work. In this case, their primary home is in another state where they have developed several local research projects. This arrangement may look different based on your specific wants and needs; but, the possibilities are endless. For instance, some professors may have the arrangement to live in a particular location for most or part of the year. Other professors might arrange to work mostly online to minimize the number of times they must commute.  Finally, some faculty choose to commute a few times a week to work while maintaining their research office or lab space in a different city, state, or country. Whatever the case may be, remember, everything is negotiable!

4.      Parking

Parking can be a headache on some college campuses. Parking costs vary, rules vary, spaces are limited, and the list goes on. If your college or university is located in a busy city or downtown area, parking space availability and accessibility are sometimes an issue as well. When interviewing for a job, you should ask as many questions as possible about campus life. Here are a few questions that you can ask to help you get an understanding of the parking situation: Where are the offices located? Where do people park? How much is parking? What days and times would I likely teach? Where are the classrooms located? These are all essential questions that will help you get a sense of campus life. Suppose you are teaching evening courses and you are hoping to get from your office to your vehicle easily, having safety concerns, desiring to be conveniently situated on campus, needing a space that is accessible, or having some other desired parking need. In each of these cases, you might consider parking as a topic of discussion during negotiations. Remember, it is always okay to have a conversation about your needs and wants.

5.      Year Delay

Your start date is negotiable. Even though a call for applications may list a start date, your start date can be postponed. Common reasons I have observed adjusted start dates deal with the following: the need to complete or finalize a grant; the need to wait for a partner to complete their schooling; the need for more time because the new hire is expecting or having a baby; the need to finish a dissertation; and the need for a leave due to family circumstances. I have also observed faculty delay the date they start teaching and focus on research their first year. This specific professor was at a research-intensive university where teaching, research, and service were required for tenure. These are just a few examples. However, the reasons for postponing the start date are vast.

6.      Child Care

Child care in some cities and universities is limited and involves a waitlist. During my postdoctoral experience, I observed expecting parents join a child care waitlist. I have also observed some child care waitlists taking up to 2 years. If childcare is a concern, getting support around this need is necessary before you begin. Learning about child care, daycare, or educational opportunities is an important step to making sure you have what you need to thrive personally. You want to choose a college or university that will be a good fit for you and the family.

7.      Deposit on a House

This is “the case of the house deposit.” This is a true story but names do not represent the persons involved. Crystal sat outside of the Dean’s office to wait her turn to interview with the Dean; there was another applicant in the Dean’s office. The office door was open and Crystal could hear the conversation. The applicant explained to the Dean that he had just bought a home and would need to sell his house if he accepted the job offer. He was excited about coming to the university but was concerned about the stress of moving his family again. His family had just settled in a new home and were excited about their recent purchase. The applicant explained to the Dean that if he accepted the offer he needed to be sure the transition was as smooth as possible. The applicant needed support with selling and purchasing a new home. He situated himself as a winner because he was clear about his needs and desires. By the end of the conversation, the Dean offered a remedy, a deposit to purchase a new home and a cash advance to help the family with the move.

These are just a few examples to remind you that everything is negotiable. It all starts with creating a list of wants and needs.

Need help determining your needs and wants? Not sure what to ask for when you are negotiating? Academe180 offers a LIVE INTERACTIVE COURSE that will help you begin developing your wish list!