Posted on Feb 18, 2015
What benefit do you deem most important when negotiating/reviewing an offer for a new job?
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With so many things to work and prepare for in finding the right job post military, considering the benefits that are best for you when negotiating or reviewing an offer from a company are not generally made a priority in a veterans transitional workshop education.
When you think about it, beyond the standard pay/location, what benefits are most important to you when it comes to accepting/rejecting an offer?
Please vote! The more votes, the more valid the data becomes, and the better we can evaluate what matters to Veteran candidates - your input is much appreciated!
When you think about it, beyond the standard pay/location, what benefits are most important to you when it comes to accepting/rejecting an offer?
Please vote! The more votes, the more valid the data becomes, and the better we can evaluate what matters to Veteran candidates - your input is much appreciated!
Sears Holdings Corporation
Compensation
Benefits
Edited 11 y ago
Posted 11 y ago
Responses: 41
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I'm at the desperate point of just hoping that the key they give me fits the actual lock to the front door of the company. I have free medical already but all the jobs I apply for are govt jobs with the same coverage so no point in even bringing it up.
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CPO (Join to see)
I like the flexible spending allowance I get. It covers my copays for Tricare. I also like the ID Watchdog coverage I am offered. ID theft, PII, cyber security is big concern.
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Cpl Brett Wagner
For me not having the sense to retire from the military medical is number one then the rest are perks, however I failed to ask very important questions when taking my most recent offer. These are questions I did not think you would ever have to ask like "Do you give any holidays off?" the place I worked at up until Friday did not give 1 holiday. The other benefits were too costly to even consider which wasn't a big deal for me since we use my wife's benefits. I also think vacation is something to be discussed and outside of the government CAN be bargained on to get more. I also think if you can telecommute you can save a huge amount of money at least in my area where it can easily cost $16-$30 a day. That is some serious scratch.
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I can purchase life and health insurance. I want to know that there is a clear and definitive path for advancement. I don't want to be in the same position 10 years from now. I want goals to reach for.
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This is a really interesting thread and I look fwd to seeing the Full Results over time. Thanks for starting it!
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SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL
For me it was experience and skill set, coupled with EDUCATION to demand TOP DOLLAR at the max wage salary starting out.
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In order for me:
1. Clearly defined role and advancement path in an area I'm passionate about.
2. (tied) 401K and Education benefits
3. Healthcare
4. Vacation...Missing my 30 days of leave per year!
I think you'll find that veterans who don't have a retirement will rank the 401k a little higher. Healthcare is also big as many of us are not used to worrying about that piece on active duty.
I'm sure this keeps families with dependents up at night.
To all, please share this with your network and give it a polling vote. I think this is valuable info for all hiring managers who like to recruit veteran candidates. Thanks to MAJ George Hamilton for putting this together. Maj (Join to see) SMSgt Al Schilling Col (Join to see) TSgt Joshua Copeland SSG James J. Palmer IV Sgt (Join to see) Joseph Wong Lucas Buck LT George Bernloehr LCDR Mike Roshaven Janessa Gray Maj (Join to see) Maj (Join to see) Lt Col (Join to see) Capt (Join to see)
1. Clearly defined role and advancement path in an area I'm passionate about.
2. (tied) 401K and Education benefits
3. Healthcare
4. Vacation...Missing my 30 days of leave per year!
I think you'll find that veterans who don't have a retirement will rank the 401k a little higher. Healthcare is also big as many of us are not used to worrying about that piece on active duty.
I'm sure this keeps families with dependents up at night.
To all, please share this with your network and give it a polling vote. I think this is valuable info for all hiring managers who like to recruit veteran candidates. Thanks to MAJ George Hamilton for putting this together. Maj (Join to see) SMSgt Al Schilling Col (Join to see) TSgt Joshua Copeland SSG James J. Palmer IV Sgt (Join to see) Joseph Wong Lucas Buck LT George Bernloehr LCDR Mike Roshaven Janessa Gray Maj (Join to see) Maj (Join to see) Lt Col (Join to see) Capt (Join to see)
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Brian Marple
I would have to agree with Capt Charters. The company i work for offers a clear career path, excellent 401k and pension, excellent healthcare, and our deckhands get 4 weeks off for every four weeks they work. These are only a few reasons why I remain here at Ingram.
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Everyone on RallyPoint who sees this message should take a minute to vote in this 1-question survey. This will help our brothers and sisters across the military community.
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Personally, if a company doesn't offer a comprehensive package with great benefits in all the above areas, I would take a pass. If you see a company making hundreds of millions in profit, but they don't offer a comprehensive benefit package, they obviously do not have their employees best interests in mind, only keeping their board members happy and well compensated.
Having to make a choice, I would go with Vacation time/Paid time off. Working for a company that allows me to take the time I need to deal with life is more important to me than a matched 401k or a clear path to advancement.
I'd rather take a day off to relieve stress, then working through it and having to rely on the provided healthcare benefits so a doctor can shove medication down my throat.
Having to make a choice, I would go with Vacation time/Paid time off. Working for a company that allows me to take the time I need to deal with life is more important to me than a matched 401k or a clear path to advancement.
I'd rather take a day off to relieve stress, then working through it and having to rely on the provided healthcare benefits so a doctor can shove medication down my throat.
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The above topics are all important to me and to choose one over the other is difficult but I would say Healthcare benefits especially if you have a family. Therefore, I cast my vote for it although the rest are very important as well. My second would be vacation time/paid time off because a solid work life balance is essential. Then the others are all about equal in my book.
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Healthcare is first, with two small children. 401k is a close second, though. Matching is huge when it comes to long term contributions.
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MAJ George Hamilton
I could see where healthcare would be imperative with a family - be sure to vote in the poll so that we can gather as much information as possible and incorporate those things into how we work with Veteran candidates!
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1. Vacation time/ Paid time off. My time to regroup with my family and friends is worth more than money to me. When I leave the military, I will no longer get phone calls from the First Sergeant to pick up drunk troops, sign forms, or work unpaid overtime. I also look forward to not being denied leave requests or being told complete paperwork to leave the country or visit a certain country.
2. Clearly defined role and advancement path. I am so tired of lock-step promotion. Give me the opportunity to advance above my peers, and I will bust my hump to do so.
3. 401(k). Invest in my own future? Yes, please!
(Tie-4). Education benefits and healthcare. To me, education and healthcare should go hand-in-hand. Education to keep the mind healthy; healthcare to keep everything else healthy.
2. Clearly defined role and advancement path. I am so tired of lock-step promotion. Give me the opportunity to advance above my peers, and I will bust my hump to do so.
3. 401(k). Invest in my own future? Yes, please!
(Tie-4). Education benefits and healthcare. To me, education and healthcare should go hand-in-hand. Education to keep the mind healthy; healthcare to keep everything else healthy.
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Many of these are non negotiable, so they do weigh on the offer, but not part of the negotiations process. I've worked for all Fortune 500 in my career and I've never worked for a company that can easily negotiate 401k, time off, or healthcare.
The only thing you can choose is who you work for. A bad manager will set you back years in terms of learning, confidence and exposure. A bad manager is the most harmful thing to have in a business environment. You can work for the best companies, with all the best benefits and the most time off, but if you have a bad leader.... Well, welcome to the corporate "suck."
An inspiring manager will bring out your best, test your limits, stretch you in directions that leads to other opportunities. This is what you should look for, beyond structured benefits or promises of advancement.
The only thing you can choose is who you work for. A bad manager will set you back years in terms of learning, confidence and exposure. A bad manager is the most harmful thing to have in a business environment. You can work for the best companies, with all the best benefits and the most time off, but if you have a bad leader.... Well, welcome to the corporate "suck."
An inspiring manager will bring out your best, test your limits, stretch you in directions that leads to other opportunities. This is what you should look for, beyond structured benefits or promises of advancement.
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MAJ George Hamilton
Healthcare options and vacation are very negotiable if the company allows them to be, and those benefits are usually flexible depending on the kind of talent that the company is going after. If you are recruiting executive level talent, you certainly aren't going to stick to the two week vacation rule.
I would agree however, that 401(k) contributions are set in stone. Since you certainly can't offer one level of contribution to one employee and another level to another employee. That would be a legal nightmare to say the least. The point there is to determine whether or not the company offers a match at all.
I would agree however, that 401(k) contributions are set in stone. Since you certainly can't offer one level of contribution to one employee and another level to another employee. That would be a legal nightmare to say the least. The point there is to determine whether or not the company offers a match at all.
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MAJ George Hamilton
I do agree 100% however that a bad manager can set your career back years. I feel like that is very salient advice that every transitioning veteran needs to pay close attention to.
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