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This question is about salaries.
When do you get a sign-on bonus?
You get a sign-on bonus when you start a new job. Most sign-on bonuses are given by employers to new employees when they start a position. However, there are some cases where an employer will give a sign-on bonus for the first year, upfront, and then an additional amount for year two of the professional's employment with the company.
Sometimes employers structure sign-on bonuses in other ways instead of providing the bonus as one lump sum of money at the start of employment. It might come to the employee in the form of installments over the course of their first year of employment.
Though sign-on bonuses are often offered by employers, you can also request a sign-on bonus during your salary negotiations with your new employer. Here are some tips for requesting a sign-on 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.
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