Read this before you SWITCH job

List of options you must consider apart from the salary when taking up a job offer :

Training and development opportunities

Get details about the company's approach to training its executives. For a young
professional, it pays to join a company that is training intensive and offers
learning opportunities. A compromise on the salary front may land you at a two
weeks sales seminar at the company headquarters in America -- not a bad trade
off. At the start of your career, what you learn is often more important than
what you earn.

Increased responsibilities

Fine, you didn't get the 35 per cent hike you wanted, but maybe your span of
control is increasing. It's worth it if you are getting to manage a bigger team
or becoming responsible for a larger sales territory. For an ambitious employee,
responsibility and recognition of talent is an enormous reward. If taken
advantage of, it can mean a quick promotion or further compensation down the
road.

"Going back from ITES to the hospitality industry meant a cut in my salary, but
I was getting an opportunity to become a store manager at an early stage in my
career," says Noida based Abhishek Singh, store manager at Barnie's coffee
shop.


Strategic assignments

If you always wanted to work on a high impact project, it's worth it to
compromise on the monetary front to earn a seat on that coveted task force. If
you develop new business for the company as a result, the ultimate reward down
the road could include a promotion and more money.


Employee stock options (ESOPs)

Most people believe the stock market is a risky proposition. However, they can
be a great replacement for monetary benefits. If your company does well, you
will benefit from the rewards. This is a great option, especially if you are
joining a company in sunrise industries like retail, ITES, biotechnology, etc.
Employees of companies like Infosys and Wipro are testament to this as they saw
their wealth rise due to stock options. As long as the company's balance sheet
does not take a hard hit, stock grants can be a win-win proposition for all.


5-day weeks and flexi time

We all want more time with our families and more leisure time to pursue other
interests. So, company policy of 5-day weeks or a work from home system is a
good trade off to consider. Make sure you reach out to your prospective
employer and ask for more flexible time. "I wanted to get back to normal
working hours and weekends off, so I decided to leave a big company and work
for a smaller outfit," says Kamlika Chandla, ex-employee of Convergys, a
leading BPO company.
Education Aid

The company may be willing to pay the tuition fee for that MBA you always wanted
to pursue or send you on an all-expense paid management development or
leadership program offered by several business schools. You may even be able to
put your new degree to work for a promotion or bigger responsibility in the
future.


Props and freebies

Maybe the company is offering you a brand new laptop or the latest mobile device
you have been eyeing for some time. It could also be willing to provide you a
company-owned vehicle and house. These are potentially heavy-duty expenses that
make for a great replacement for an outright cash component.
Medical reimbursement

A practical option to consider if your parents and spouse are dependents.
Hospital and medical bills can burn a hole in your pocket so, if a drop in the
total salary package buys you free medical cover for self and family, it's an
option worth its weight.

If you are thinking of getting the salary you want along with all these
benefits, you certainly are optimistic. Then again, there is no reason in
demanding some of these benefits, especially when a hike during salary
negotiations seems unlikely.

- Naresh Yadav
MetrixLine Software, Pune