How to ask for a signing bonus

To ask for a signing bonus you need to understand your value, make a cogent case for you in deserving the bonus, and consider your starting compensation package. Here are some details on these steps and others you can take to ask for a signing bonus:

• Understand your value

  To ask for a signing bonus you must first properly understand your value and worth as a professional. You should take into account all of your skills, expertise, and prior experience that line up with your new role. Try to highlight in-demand skills and experience you have. You should also make sure your prospective employer is showing a keen interest in you.

• Make a cogent case for you in deserving the signing bonus

  Prior to your meeting, you should list out several concrete reasons that you deserve the signing bonus. This can be a highlighting of your skills and expertise, but can also apply to aspects of the new job, like if you are going to have more travel expenses with this new position. Strong reasoning helps secure your signing bonus.

• Consider your starting compensation package

  When not enthused by a starting compensation package, you can use this as leverage to help you get a signing bonus. Take into account your base salary and any employee benefits that your prospective employer is offering.

• Use a "no" to reopen salary negotiations

  If you are not able to persuade your new employer to give you the sign-on bonus, you can use this to reopen salary negotiations and get them to a number you feel more comfortable with. Persuading them on either front is likely to give you the extra compensation you are looking for from this new role.