CAN YOU NEGOTIATE GUARANTEED RAISES IN A JOB OFFER?

QUESTION:
One of the main reasons I'm looking for a new job is to find a company 
that will give decent annual raises. If I receive an offer, should I 
use the "Power of the Offer" to request that a minimum percentage for 
an annual raise be written into the offer?

REPLY:
The secret word is "justify." You must justify the raise you want.

The size of a raise reflects your success at a job and your 
contribution to the business. Until an employer sees what you can 
actually do, why should he or she commit to giving you a certain 
percentage raise in a year?

On the other hand, if you can outline concrete, objective performance 
criteria on which to base your raises, I see nothing wrong with asking 
for certain percentages if you meet those criteria. That's a true win-
win situation because you're both making a specific commitment.

Just make sure the criteria are easy to understand and easy to measure 
(though not necessarily easy to accomplish). A company will be 
impressed that you expect to be rewarded based on how you contribute to 
its bottom line.

For those wondering what the "Power of the Offer" is, it's taken from a 
chapter in my book. It suggests some very powerful ways to negotiate a 
job offer based on your ability to deliver profit if you're given the 
job.

Best, 
Nick Corcodilos 
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