Congratulations! You’ve passed the job interview and landed a new job. Now it’s time for the employment terms meeting with your new employer. This is where you’ll discuss your salary, benefits, and other employment conditions before signing your contract. In this blog, we’ll explain what to expect, how to prepare, and which terms you can negotiate.
Before you officially start your new job, you’ll sit down with your employer to agree on your primary and secondary employment conditions, and sometimes even tertiary benefits. These may include your salary, contract type, number of working hours, travel expenses, and more. All agreements are recorded in your employment contract.
Employment conditions can be divided into four categories:
These are the essentials of your contract:
Job title and responsibilities
Salary
Working hours
Statutory holiday allowance
Additional benefits on top of the basics, such as:
Travel allowance
13th-month bonus or year-end bonus
Expense reimbursements
Shift allowances
Pension scheme
Overtime pay
Profit sharing
Vacation days and leave policies
Training or education
Remote work opportunities
Company car, phone, or laptop
Childcare
Flexible working hours
These focus on your well-being at work:
Pleasant and safe work environment
Company outings
Canteen facilities
Fresh fruit at work
Holiday gifts or birthday presents
Sports and fitness options
These are less tangible but very important:
Positive work atmosphere
Career development opportunities
Preparation is key. Review the vacancy or collective labor agreement (CAO) to see what benefits are offered and make a list of what’s most important to you.
Pay close attention to what your employer offers. Ask questions, clarify details, and explain calmly what you’d like to see included. Remember: this is not a battle but a conversation.
Always explain why certain terms are beneficial for both you and your employer. For example, why a company car makes sense for your role, or why overtime pay motivates you.
There’s usually room to negotiate. Don’t accept the first offer without discussion, but also be realistic and flexible.
Once you and your employer reach an agreement, everything is put in writing in your employment contract. Be sure to read it carefully so all terms are correctly included. Want to know more about what’s in an employment contract? Check out our blog about employment contract: what's included?