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Salary planning, Relocation and Fraudulent Job Postings

Salary Planning and Negotiation

Offers and Salary Negotiation Information

Formal Job Or Internships Offers

Congratualations! Your hard work has landed you a job or internship offer! Now you may have to choose whether or not to accept and/or negoriate the offer(s). Offer letters or calls provide formal confirmation of the position offered and may clarify terms such as:

  • Job/Internship title
  • Salary
  • Start date
  • Supervisor's name
  • Deadline for responding.

The organization may also provide information about benefits. Benefits may include:

  • Vacation
  • Sick leave
  • Health plans
  • Disability insurance, short term
  • Relocation/moving expenses
  • Stock options
  • Retirement (401k or403b plan)
  • Profit sharing
  • Educational assistance/tuition reimbersement
  • Training and development
  • Health and fitness
  • Bonus-signing or performance
  • Commission
Ways To Evaluate The Salary Offered
  1. List the criteria you were looking for when you started your search. 
  2. Look over your critieria and give them a number rank
  3. Evaluate the offer by analyzing how well it meets your ranked criteria

Does the position offer you most of the items that you definitely want? Do you need more time or information to make your decision? If so, you can ask the employer for an extention but be prepared to explain why you need the extra time. If you are having a hard time deciding, make an appointment with a career advisor. 

Should I Negotiate?

If you have conducted salary research and found that the offer is fair, you may decide to accept it. Some emplyers have a policy of starting new employees at a set pay rate, while others allow for some negotiation. Public sector employers often have salary scales for various classes of jobs, and inexperienced hires generally start at the first step on the salary scale. In the private sector there is more possibility of there being a negotiation of your pay. Do your research before the interview so you can advocte fairly for yourself.

Salary Negotiation Research/Links

Source: Offers and Negotiation, UCBerkeley Career Center

Relocation

Geographic location is an important factor to consider when searching for a job. Are you willing to relocate? 

Some things to consider:

  • What am I leaving behind, job-wise and friend and family-wise?
  • How much will a move cost? Does the hiring organization pay for relocation expenses?
  • How will quality of life differ? Or impact my family?
  • What is the cost of living? Compared to where you are now?
  • Is the new city a good fit for my and my family’s needs?
  • Am I prepared to take on the challenge of change and the unknown?

Relocation for New Graduates - Practical Steps:

  • Identify and connect with friends and family that live in the area you are considering relocating to. They can provide valuable information and insight, show you around town, and advise you on neighborhoods to look into. Additionally, you may be able to stay with them while looking for a place to rent. 
  • Prepare financially for the relocation as soon as possible. Save money for as long as you can.
    • ​The recommendation is to keep about three months saved up
  • ​Consider downsizing as much as you can
    • ​​Less stuff to move is always a plus and the extra cash will be helpful in your move.
  • ​Consider getting a roommate
  • Learn and calculate the cost of living for the relocation area - make a budget
    • ​Cost of living can vary between states and cities. Things to consider: How much is rent, groceries and gas? How is public transportation? Does your rent include utilities? Use a Cost of Living Calculator to help with this. 
  • ​Research and discuss the company’s relocation package 
    • ​​Does the company cover travel expenses for interviews (flight, hotel, food stipend, etc.)
    • Do they help with moving expenses (temporary housing, household good shipments)

Relocation Resources:

Below are some helpful resources to give you a better understanding of the relocation process.

Fraudulent Job Postings

In addition to the hundreds of great opportunities from legitimate employers listed on Handshake, we unfortunately see occasional fraudulent postings as well. Despite our monitoring of incoming postings, it is important that students carefully review job postings for signs of fraud.

Warning Signs

Here are some warning signs to look out for when evaluating a potential opportunity:

  • You are asked to give your credit card or bank account numbers, or copies of personal documents — but you get nothing in writing.
  • You must send payment by wire service or courier.
  • You are offered a large payment or reward in exchange for allowing the use of your bank account — often for depositing checks or transferring money. Note:  This sample is for illustration purposes only (PDF; download Adobe Acrobat Reader, if needed):
  • You receive an unexpectedly large check. Note: these samples are for illustration purposes only (PDF):
  • This is not an exhaustive list. There may be other clues, or a fraudulent posting may not conform to any of these conditions — but these are common tactics.

Scam and fraudulent postings are not limited to online job boards. Some scams are posted on physical bulletin boards around campus and may seem like they're affiliated with or promoting advocacy groups or causes that students care about.

What to do 

Contact the Academic and Career Advising Center (707.826.3341 or acac@humboldt.edu) immediately if an employer requests your bank routing information, transfers funds into the account, and asks you to withdraw the funds and transfer them to someone else. This is an indicator that your bank account is receiving stolen money and you are being used to transfer the stolen money to criminals. Even though you may not be aware that a crime was committed, you would still be an accessory to the crime and could face prosecution.