Can You Ask for More?

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i went on an interview today at a family practice. i will graduate next friday, but our last test is next monday. i faxed a resume over on friday and not 5 minutes passed and i got a phone call for an interview. when i met with her today she said she was just thinking about hiring another nurse, and then she got my resume and was excited to meet me. she knows i'm still in school and said i could work even before i test for nclex if i wanted to.... since there is a 90 day probation period. they have 5 offices and she wants to keep me near my home. she kept asking me if i was interested, and of course i said yes... definitely yes! at the very end i brought up starting pay, and she said she would call me back with an offer. i guess that's how they do it?? she's going to call my references and get back with me. so let's say she does want to hire me, and offers me $15/hr to start... can i negotiate $16 or $17/hr or am i supposed to accept the offer if i want the job? i don't know if i'll get this job, but i guess this is a good questions for other interviews i may go on.

by the way, this is for a registered nurse position in sc and yeah, the office pay is kinda low. starting pay at hospitals are $18.9-$20/hr.

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Specializes in LTC.

Not to be ******, but as a new grad, I'd take the 15 and run with it. In this economy that is dang good money for either RN or LPN Especially in a dr's office.

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Specializes in Trauma Surgical ICU.

What part of SC.. I live and work in SC. I am also a new grad that works in a hospital and my base pay is over 23.00 not counting my diff pay.

As for the office, you could try but if jobs are slim I would take the offer to gain experience.

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Not to be ******, but as a new grad, I'd take the 15 and run with it. In this economy that is dang good money for either RN or LPN Especially in a dr's office.

Yeah, I do agree... I was just seeing if it's negotiable or not. Like if you asked for $1/hr more, would they say nevermind?? I don't know what they would offer me. If they offered something really low, like $12-$13... that's just to low and I'd need at least $15/hr.

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Specializes in CVICU.

I think that it doesn't hurt to ask if the salary is negotiable. There are ways to do that without sticking your foot in your mouth and losing the opportunity, and a decent employer will not be offended at the inquiry. I usually just say something like, "Is there any room to move on the salary, because I have XXX experience that I think you'll really benefit from." or something like that, and if they say no, then you can accept or decline as you wish. I wouldn't be afraid to at least try, but it definitely is a tough time to be job seeking so if the answer is no, don't push it.

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What part of SC.. I live and work in SC. I am also a new grad that works in a hospital and my base pay is over 23.00 not counting my diff pay.

As for the office, you could try but if jobs are slim I would take the offer to gain experience.

I'm in Columbia SC. I've applied at hospitals too, and one replied saying I needed experience and another one is processing all my info. I had to get 3 of my instructors to email the HR lady a reference form about me, and I had to email her some info about me. I might call next week if I don't hear anything from that hospital to see if all the reference forms and my information was received. I'd rather work at a hospital for experience, but a family practice is a good job and it's better than nothing.

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If they won't offer you more right now, ask if you can agree on a date (in 6 or 12 months) for a salary re-negotiation. This gets you hired immediately and puts off arguments about money until you have more bargaining power. In a couple of months, they will know you, have spent time and money training you, and will be more averse to losing an employee they trust.

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You can try to negotiate if you can come up with a reason to pay you more than the base rate.

In other words, what is in it for them.

Are you bilingual, have special certifications, or are unusually flexible in scheduling?

I agree with the above poster about re-negotiating at a later time.

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Consider the pay PLUS benefits (a 9-to-5 job; continuing education benefits; health/dental/vision insurance; 401K) when deciding on a job salary offer. If the benefits aren't so great, consider this when you ask if the salary is negotiable.

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During the last quater, we had to do a resume and an interview with our instructor, and our instructors told us to NEVER mention salary during the interview. I guess it gives the interviewer the impression that you are only in it for the money, not saying that's the case with you.....but that's what our instructors told us.....good luck!;)

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I'd suggest doing some research on avg. salary for nurses in SC .... that way if you negotiate (only do this if you have an offer), then you'll have an idea of what you're really worth. I don't live in SC but if the interviewer asks me what salary I'm looking for I'll just respond with "Whatever is fair for a new grad and having done some research, I know how much my degree worth" and then you can switch it around and ask "What is the range that you're offering?"

but anyway, it's hard to get a job nowadays ...and if this is a job with great experience to build from you should just take it :)

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Specializes in Pediatric Critical Care.

I would definitley ask for more... Im a student working in a PSW/CNA positing at a nursing home and Im getting paid $15/hr... So for an RN/RPN/LVN I would definitley be asking for more.

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