
Some commonly offered job benefits include:
- Insurance coverage for medical and dental care
- Life insurance policies
- Disability insurance
- Allotments of paid time off (PTO)
- Holiday pay
- Paid parental leave
- Bonuses or gifts
- Retirement plans
- Stock options
What are the benefits to ask for in a job?
Here are 10 benefits to ask for in a job: Paid time off, or PTO, is a benefit that grants you compensation for personal time off. Many employers offer two weeks of paid vacation, and some propose unlimited time off. Others might expect you to work on a holiday. In that case, you can ask them if they offer extra pay or not.
How important is experience when choosing a new job?
Your top-notch experience is what helped you nab your new gig, but further building your skills for the next career step could be a costly endeavor.
Is it worth it to ask about benefits when switching jobs?
Or maybe you’re just switching jobs. As you transition into a new role, it’s important to understand what benefits will be available to you through your new employer. Learn how to ask about benefits, plus which benefits questions to ask, so you can get the answers you need to decide whether the job offer is the right move for your career.
Why is it important to get a job offer?
When you get a job offer, you have a rare opportunity to ask for additional perks and benefits that will improve your quality of life and overall happiness, like remote work and a child care budget. The purpose of finding a new job is to improve your professional situation in one way or another.

What are the 3 most important benefits when looking for a job?
Better health, dental, and vision insurance topped the list, with 88% of respondents saying that they would give this benefit “some consideration” (34%) or “heavy consideration” (54%) when choosing a job.
What benefits do you want in a job?
Job Benefits 101: What to Look for When You Start With a New...RETIREMENT PLANS. ... HEALTH INSURANCE. ... DISABILITY INSURANCE. ... PAID TIME OFF (PTO) ... LIFE INSURANCE. ... WELLNESS BENEFITS. ... COMMUTER BENEFITS. ... TUITION ASSISTANCE.
What job should I ask for benefits?
Questions to Ask About Employee BenefitsDoes the company offer health insurance?Will it cover members or my family as well as myself? ... How much of the premium costs do I have to pay for myself? ... Can I choose different levels of coverage? ... What kind of coverage is there for dental, vision and disability insurance?More items...
How do I negotiate benefits for a new job?
Can you negotiate benefits when asking for a raise?Get the timing right. A good time to ask for a raise is during your annual review. ... Set realistic goals. A good time to ask for a raise is during your annual review. ... Determine your negotiable areas. ... Assess the value of the benefits. ... Outline your accomplishments.
What should I look for in a benefit package?
What's in a Comprehensive Employee Benefits Package?Health Insurance. Fotosearch/Getty Images. ... Paid Time Off (PTO) ... Short-Term Disability Insurance. ... Long-Term Disability Insurance. ... Dental Insurance. ... Vision Insurance. ... Life Insurance. ... 401(k) or Other Retirement Plan.More items...•
What are the 4 major types of employee benefits?
There are four major types of employee benefits many employers offer: medical insurance, life insurance, disability insurance, and retirement plans. Below, we've loosely categorized these types of employee benefits and given a basic definition of each.
What benefits can you negotiate?
Consider hiring bonuses, vacation time, retirement plans, sick leave, insurance, and other company benefits as open for negotiation as well. If you are planning to go back to school, tuition reimbursement may be just as important as health insurance.
How do I ask about pay and benefits?
If you're asking about salary, use the word “compensation” rather than “money and ask for a range rather than a specific number. Likewise, if you want to find out about work-life balance, it may be more useful to approach the topic in terms of “office culture.”
How do you answer expected benefits?
How to answer "What are your total compensation expectations?"Research the industry and geographic area. ... Emphasize your flexibility. ... State a range rather than a fixed amount. ... Consider offering high compensation. ... Be honest. ... Focus on why you expect the amount. ... Prepare for price negotiation.
Should I accept the first salary offer?
“Don't accept the first offer — they expect you to negotiate and salary is always negotiable.” “That's just not true,” says Weiss. Sure, much of the time there is an opportunity to negotiate, but some hiring managers genuinely give you the only number they can offer. The best way to find out, says Weiss, is to inquire.
Can you lose a job offer by negotiating salary?
In short, yes, this situation can occur. However, typically it is rare. When candidates have a challenging list of changes to the initial offer, hiring managers may rethink their decision on a career path. We recommend doing proper research on how to negotiate salary in an interview to avoid any second thoughts.
Can I decline benefits for higher salary?
You can say that you'll agree not to ever take benefits, but the company can't sign off on that. And as for agreeing to take a pay cut if you decide to take benefits, that doesn't go over well either. No one likes to get their pay cut, even if they volunteered to do so 3 years previous.
What are the benefits of a job?
Some commonly offered job benefits include: Insurance coverage for medical and dental care. Life insurance policies. Disability insurance.
What are the benefits of working at a company?
Workplace perks, like remote work possibilities, flexible schedules, free food or snacks, fitness memberships and technology stipends, are exciting benefits for many candidates. While not every employer provides things like this, these perks can significantly influence how comfortable and satisfied you are in your role.
Why do employers have waiting periods?
These policies help employers offer health insurance coverage to new employees regularly without having to wait for yearly enrollment dates. In addition, some employers mandate waiting period s to ward off the potential for high employee turnover.
What are the most important things to consider when choosing a new career?
Employee benefits are one of the most important factors to consider when choosing a new career. The type of insurance, paid time off and retirement benefits you're offered during the hiring process can greatly influence how satisfied you'll be in your new position. In order to make the most informed decision possible, it's important to ask your potential employer thorough questions to understand what benefits they have to offer. In this article, we outline 10 essential benefits questions to ask during the hiring process and offer tips for finding a job with good employee benefits .
Why do employers list benefits?
Employers often list their specific benefits on a job listing to be transparent about what exactly they offer employees . Therefore, examining the job listing can help you better understand what benefits you'd receive as an employee. If benefits aren't detailed in a job listing, consider contacting the hiring manager to ask about them.
Why do we need workplace perks?
Workplace perks sometimes help cover employment-related costs, like commuting or eating lunch in the office, but other times, they're simply offered to improve your quality of life. In addition, in recent years, some organizations have begun offering remote and flexible work schedules to show that they value their employees' time. These perks often make employees happier and help them perform better in their roles. If certain workplace perks appeal to you, it's a good idea to inquire about these benefits with your potential employer.
What are the benefits of education and training?
Educational and training benefits can be incredibly enticing for candidates seeking careers that support their professional development and advancement. Though most organizations offer professional development opportunities, they're typically geared toward training you for the role they want you to serve in.
What are the benefits of a new hire package?
But a new hire package typically comes with other benefits woven in—many of which are up for negotiation, as well. Paid time off, parental leave, commuter benefits, professional development opportunities, tuition reimbursement—the list goes on. There are so many things you can consider when assessing an offer, and understanding the full range ...
What to say before accepting a job offer?
We’ve all heard about the value of negotiating salary before accepting a job offer. “Know your worth,” “Ask for what you deserve,” “Be willing to walk away if you don’t get what you want,” and so on. But a new hire package typically comes with other benefits woven in—many of which are up for negotiation, as well.
What to do if you don't ask for tuition reimbursement?
“If tuition reimbursement for graduate or other programs is important to you, ask about it, and tell the employer why it matters to you. Remember: The worst they can do is say no. But if you don’t ask for it, you’ll never know what the answer is. Plus, if you’ve researched the company to familiarize yourself with their values and understand what benefits they offer, you should be able to make a strong case for yourself.” —Matthew Burr, an HR consultant who previously owned a business
What to ask for if you have a long commute?
“If you’ll have a long commute, there are plenty of benefits you should consider asking for. For instance, you could request that they provide you with an automobile to use. If they won’t do that, maybe they could add your car to the company insurance policy, cover a certain portion of your automobile expenses, or share the cost of a leased vehicle.” —Michael Rainey, a business instructor at Pepperdine Graziadio Business School
Can you ask about stock options?
“You can always ask about stock options or other long-term incentives if you’re at the management level. Many companies reserve some of these benefits for certain levels, but it never hurts to ask if it hasn’t come up.” —Tiffani Murray
Is it reasonable to work from home?
“Working from home is becoming increasingly popular, and it’s a completely reasonable ask for most jobs . Just be sure to negotiate for it appropriately. Don’t just drop in out of nowhere and ask your boss if you can work from home every Friday; make the ask after you’ve finished a great project, or frame it in a way that benefits the company.
Can you negotiate a sign on bonus?
You can negotiate for a sign-on bonus or relocation bonus when you first accept an offer, and you can also negotiate for other kinds of bonuses—ones you earn if you excel at your job.” —Claire Bissot, the managing director of HR services at the financial services and business consulting firm CBIZ. 17.
What to ask about benefits?
If you’re eager to get additional information, but you’re not sure if it’s appropriate to ask questions about benefits, try asking general questions that may provide the insight you’re looking for. For example, asking, “How would you describe the company’s culture?” could produce insights about schedule flexibility, paid time off (PTO) or incentive packages.
How long do you have to wait to enroll in a new health insurance plan?
A company may have a specific enrollment period or need criteria to determine when you are eligible. Some plans have a 30-day or 90-day waiting period .
How many employees are required to have health insurance?
If the employer has 50 or more employees, they are required to offer health care plans, but more than 75% of companies offer more than what is just required by law. Depending on the company, these benefits may include dental insurance, vision care and life insurance. Make sure to ask what exactly is offered and who can be covered under your plan.
Do employers pay for health insurance?
In most cases, both the employer and employee contribute to cover your health plan’s premium. For example, if the employer offers a health insurance policy, employees generally pay a portion of the premium each paycheck. With a reimbursement benefit, employees purchase their own insurance and are reimbursed by the employer on their paycheck.
How to get a big picture idea of what your current benefits bring to the table?
To get a big-picture idea of what your current benefits bring to the table, ask your human resources department for a total rewards statement, suggests Elliott.
What does an offer have to be related to?
Typically, the offering “has to be related to what you’re doing now, or what [your employer] thinks you could do in the future,” Chou says.
What to do if the company is offering in non-negotiable areas isn't up to?
But if what the company is offering in non-negotiable areas isn’t up to your expectations, you may be able to negotiate a different benefit that might be able to make a similar difference.
Can an employer help alleviate some of the outlay?
But chances are your prospective employer may be willing to help alleviate some of that outlay.
Can employers subsidize health care?
Your prospective employer may even offer to subsidize programs that could help you address less-than-stellar health habits.
Should salary be the end all?
But while we’d never discourage anyone from going for the big bucks, your salary shouldn’t serve as the be-all and end-all of what you look for in a new job offer.
What to ask for when moving for a job?
If you’re being asked to move for the job, ask your prospective employer to cover the expenses, including moving and temporary lodging costs, job search assistance for your spouse and/or assistance selling your house. “Relocation assistance is often negotiable,” says Collins.
What to do if there is no room in the budget for a higher salary?
So, if there’s no room in the budget for a higher salary, be ready to negotiate these other great perks and benefits.
Does skill set pay off in the long run?
Although it won’t reflect in your paycheck, taking a job where you can develop your skill set can pay off in the long run. Consider that one-third of employers report difficulties filling job vacancies, often due to a lack of hard skills and industry-specific certifications, a recent ManpowerGroup survey found.
Can you get more money by signing bonus?
Although the salary range might be fixed for your prospective position, you may be able to nab more money by negotiating for a signing bonus, says Lydia Frank, senior director of editorial and marketing at PayScale, a compensation data and software firm.
Do employers pay sign on bonuses?
Moreover, approximately one-third of employers budget for sign-on and retention bonuses, according to a 2014 WorldatWork survey, which found that organizations are paying them out at higher rates. If you are offered a signing bonus, make sure you understand the terms. Some companies don't actually issue the check until you have been there a certain length of time.
How long can you have health insurance after leaving a job?
Employer-provided insurance plans can have waiting periods of up to 90 days. 4 So, if you're leaving one job for another, you may need interim coverage. If you’re leaving a covered employer, you can opt to continue your health care coverage through the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA).
How much of your total compensation is employment?
Employment benefits can comprise 30% or more of your total compensation, so it's important to know what will be included in your coverage. Here’s how to get the benefits information you need. 1
Is a salary enough to pay for an employee benefit plan?
A great salary isn't always going to be enough to compensate for an employee benefit plan that doesn't offer what you need. In general, there are employee benefits questions you should ask about to ensure that your overall compensation plan is right for you and for your family. Also, ask specific questions based on your needs and on ...
Do you get paid extra for holidays?
Some companies provide time-off for holidays, others expect you to work. If you are required to work on a holiday, you may or may not be paid extra. It depends on the organization you work for.
Do you have to be fully informed before accepting a position?
It is much better to be fully informed before you accept a position than it is to have an unpleasant surprise later on. For example, if you're not married and want to cover your partner, will your health insurance plan insure them? Perhaps, if domestic partner coverage is provided and if you meet the requirements. 2 Some employers or insurance companies require unmarried domestic partners to file an affidavit through their human resources department. 3
What are the benefits of being offered a job?
So, you need to find out what other perks might be available to you should you decide to accept the position being offered. Perks can be anything from flexible shifts and working hours to office parties to paid time off and more. Some of the best perks to ask about are advancement training and promotion opportunities.
How to tell if a job offer is good?
Ask if you can have the job offer, and everything that you have agreed on, in writing. This way, there is little chance that the employer is going to pull back on the offer. A written agreement is much more binding than an oral agreement, and if you have everything on paper, they can’t turn around later and say that something wasn’t part of the offer, add work that isn’t in the job description. If they don’t want to give you anything in writing, it is a good sign that this may not be the best company for you to work at.
How do companies help employees?
Many companies will offer incentives for employees to go back to school or receive additional training that is going to help them advance in their careers. In fact, this is one way that companies can ensure long-term employees, because these employees are grateful for the help, and want to give back. Some companies will pay for a portion of tuition, and some even allow you to take a leave of absence in order to get your degree. The more education you have, the more you will have to offer your employer, and they often recognize this and will help.
How do you know if a company is a good one?
You can tell a lot about a company by listening to what current and past employees have to say about it . If it is a good company to work for, the HR person should have no problem telling you what employees are saying about the company, and even find people within the company for you to talk to. (Of course, you can always check Glassdoor reviews as well!) If you find out that the employees are happy in their jobs, chances are you will be as well, and that this is a company that you would like to work for.
Why are salaries negotiable?
Most employers aren’t going to come right out and tell you that salaries are negotiable because they want to pay as little as possible. This is information you are going to need to dig for, so you are just going to have to come right out and ask. You will never know unless you do, after all.
When is Career Advice 2020?
Career Advice Experts. January 15, 2020. At one time, many people had the mindset that jobs were hard to come by, so they should take whatever was offered to them with no questions asked. Today, people are becoming choosier about their career paths, and they know that they are deserving of more than the bare minimum.
Do companies pay for relocating?
Obviously, they are not going to pay for everything, but if they expect you to move for them, they should be expected to help in some way. For instance, they may offer to pay a percentage of the actual moving expenses or put you up in a rental unit until you are able to find an appropriate and affordable place to live.
