Job offers - negotiations

[housebuyer]

I'm currently looking for work via recruitment agencies and I've had a couple of interviews so far. I'm experienced in my field so I'm looking for positions that reflect this (rather than trainee positions). I've never been in this position before and I don't want to count my chickens too soon but if I receive any offers how much negotiation can you get away with in terms of salary and benefits? When companies make offers do they start off at a relatively low wage as they're expecting you to try and negotiate? How much can you realistically get away with asking for (e.g. 10% more than they've offered)? Is it the same with annual leave entitlements? At my current place of work I've accrued the maximum annual leave entitlement so could I use this as a way of ensuring that I don't start on the minimum at my new place of work?

Obviously I want as good a deal as possible but at the same time I don't want to be too pushy and ask for something that they're never going to agree with.

I suppose some of the answers will depend upon how much they want me (or not!) but if anyone has any experience of this kind of thing I'd be grateful to know your opinions.

Thanks.

[Twenty20]

As an employer we usually ask what salary the applicant is expecting, we usually do this on the application form. If their expectations are too high or out of line with what we are willing to pay then we would reject them. I think we've only negotiated on salary once in all our years. That person negotiated a higher salary but they only lasted a few months as they couldn't live up to the salary they asked for. Just a warning!

I dont think there's any harm in asking about advancement within the company, with associated pay rises. This approach might look better to the employer than asking for a high salary to start with. Remember, if youre going through an employment agency the employer is already paying a large percentage of your first year's salary to the agency.

I think youve answered it yourself though - if they are keen to employ you then they'll offer a bit more.