employees and employers, signing the first contract

Signing Your first Employment Contract, Getting the Best Deal

You have finally got a chance to work for the company of your dreams and everybody knows you have a good deal. You are an employee and employers have just handed you a employment contract to sign. The first thing you run your eyes to, is the salary and you scratch your head a little and wonder whether that was really what you had agreed on. You look further down the employment contract and you find a lot of other discrepancies. But you say to yourself, anyway things could get better. Immediately you sign your contract with no questions asked and no problems at all.....................Atleast for now. Months down the line, you regret not having negotiated or consulted further on the conditions offered in the contract.

The picture just shown to you can happen to some people who have just landed a job. Employees and employers alike have an important role to play especially the employee. There are ofcourse ways you can get the best deal and negotiate for better contract conditions but first, lets see what employers should do when offered a contract for the first time.

Must Do things Employees shouldnt forget
When an employee receives their first contract ofcourse there is alot of excitement. It may not even be the first employment contract but the fact is you just landed yourself a job you wanted. It is very important for an employee upon receiving the employment contract to read it carefully. There are a few things that can be checked for such as the name of the employee as it appears on your registration cards, date of birth, agreed salary scale, hours of work and so on and so forth. Make sure to check on every detail. Where you are not clear about the employment contract don't hesitate to ask, especially if it calls for you to ask about the salary. Now when you recieve your employment contract always make sure to have you own copy of the contract for reference and always ensure that both your employers signature and yours are both present. It is important to be open but in a very tactful convincing way. Lets see how you can get the best deal.

Negotiating for the Best Deal 
Last minute negotiations are quit risky but could pull off well if you are skillful. You see employee and employers both have their own interests. At that point in the contract signing, an employer is looking forward to receiving a service from you that he needs while you on the other hand are looking for benefits, salary and a lot of other things. Now, if you as an employee feel that the employment contract is not to your expectations you can always negotiate tactfully... But how?? Well usually discussing salaries is always a problem no matter how nice you lay it out or how friendly you ask for an offer, salary will always be difficult to negotiate for. But if you are bold and brave, just planely mention that you expected something better. Look at this example;

Employer: Congratulations for getting the job, here is the contract you should now sign Okay.

Employee: Thanks very much for such a well developed contract, I have read through most of it but I was particularly interested in the remuneration section. I was under the impression that I would earn a net pay of $5,000 instead of the $3,500 I see.

Employer: Well, who gave you that impression?

Employee: Considering that there will be alot of extensive work and I foresee myself in the coming months having to apply my skills further, such possibilities will attract alot of my effort and time. 

Employer: We can discuss Salaries after your probation period has ended.

Well although you haven't really nailed the money aspect, the truth is at least your employer has heard about your plea. Come six months later, he may not just offer you the $5,000, but if your performance is brilliant, he may add some more. Dont lose hope but always keep hustling. All the best!!