Job offer....can I negotiate? Meet with HR director to ask questions?

I just received a job offer at a medium sized company doing customer support for educational software. I heard that it was always a good idea to negotiate salary from some sources, and that entry level salary was not negotiable from other sources and possibly even risky. I do like the salary offer, but if I can get moer that is of course a good thing. The offer came through an emailed offer letter and a telephone message (I was unable to answer my cell at the time). I returned his call and left a voicemail saying I would like to come in and discuss the details of the offer (some things were missing, like benefits). Is this the right move? Should I negotiate salary, or even ask to negotiate? Might he retract his offer at the mere mention of "discussing details"?

these are all issues that can and should be settled prior to accepting the job. if you like the pay structure then focus the conversation around benefits. it never hurts to have an open discussion with your prospective employer. the pay may be set in stone it may not. a lot depends on the demand for the position who is in a better position to negotiate, what the job market is and what kind of qualifications you come with.

if you feel strongly that you are the best option they have and you have the knowledge and personality to succeed then by all means talk about more pay and benefits. if you feel there are others who are in as good or better position then you or if the job market is extremely weak then don't push to hard.

you know the situation better then anyone you have to decide what is in your best interest, good luck.

A prospective employer will value the type of questions you ask. Remember it is what you are worth to them, and you may well have something that others have not got.

The prospective employer may well say the salary will be reviewed after a certain period. This will give you a chance to see if the job is what you want and the employer will be able to decide more accurately what you are worth to them.

Because you ask these questions, I very much doubt that an offer will be retracted, in fact quite the opposite, they will appreciate initiative, drive and ambition.

Remember, it is not what you say, but how you say it and...if you do not ask, you do not get.

In general it's a good idea to negotiate the salary. You have been through the interview process and have a good idea of who you are dealing with, so the decision should be based on what you know the market will bear, and how much you want the job. If you have told them that your expectation is what they offered, you may have a built in ceiling to contend with.

If they retract the offer at the mention of discussing the details it would be surprising. Get the salary range (www.salary.com) for the position in your area and go in armed with it to be sure you are getting what you are worth in your market.

Good luck!