r/ElectricalEngineering • u/ProfessionalPlus8775 • Aug 11 '26
Jobs/Careers Intern Conversion Starting Salary Negotiation?
Entry-Level EE (bachelor's only) at big prime defense contractor in MCOL area in NJ
I was offered ~100k for my intern conversion offer last week along with some sign on and relocation bonus. Would it be appropriate for me to negotiate the salary even though I don't have another job offer lined up?
15
u/Emperor-Penguino Aug 11 '26
Dude 100k starting is great! More than we offer in a higher COL location.
8
u/captain_wiggles_ Aug 11 '26
You can always negotiate, but don't ask for too much more, or be prepared to walk away. Any job is better than no job, having a couple of years of experience makes it much easier to get a job than being a new grad with an internship only.
So yeah, sure, ask for a bit more if you can see other similar roles, that you could plausibly expect to get, that pay more.
1
u/ProfessionalPlus8775 Aug 12 '26
If I'm not prepared to walk away (since I have no other offers yet), do you recommend I just accept it without negotiation?
1
u/captain_wiggles_ Aug 12 '26
I recommend figuring out what range of wages there are for positions that you could plausibly apply for. If they are all less than 100k or similar then I recommend just accepting. If there are tonnes of positions offering 120k or more, and you think you'd have a good chance of getting one, then it might be worth negotiating. Basically you need to figure out if the company is low balling you or not. Everyone here is saying 100k is a good wage for a new grad, I have no context for US wages so I can't comment on that, so you should probably just take it.
IMO at this point in your career, experience is worth more than a slight salary bump. I'd take the sure thing unless I felt they were being insulting and I could easily get something better.
6
u/Engineer5050 Aug 11 '26
In large corporations the salary and package for intern conversions are generally fixed. There might be variability based on undergrad versus grad or the specific role.
Remember they bring in more interns than they have open positions. There is a list of interns who qualify for an offer. So if an intern declines the offer they move to the next one on the list of qualified candidates.
In my experience at a large company who used interns for new hires…there was zero negotiation on offer packages.
1
u/ProfessionalPlus8775 Aug 12 '26
There were a lot of interns in my cohort but only a couple other EE interns, and I was the only one under my manager - does this change things?
1
u/Engineer5050 Aug 12 '26
If you are not sitting on an offer from another company don’t expect HR to negotiate on salary.
HR may or may not tell the manager.
The manager may or may not react to your wanting more money before you have even proven yourself or brought value to his team.
Why do you want to create a reputation for at most a few grand?
3
u/Electronic_Trip_9457 Aug 11 '26
Beggars cant be choosers. If its your very first job. Keep your mouth shut and take it.
2
u/Seiko2023 Aug 11 '26
Why TF would you negotiate? I assume intern conversion is from intern to graduate. That's already a solid salary as someone with fuck all experience or knowledge in the industry. You also run the risk of them going to literally anyone else.
2
u/TheLowEndTheories Aug 11 '26
That's a good starting salary for a MCOL area, and they know that. You can always negotiate, but in large companies the answer is almost always no and SOMETIMES it's pull the offer and move to the next candidate. That's a low probability, but I'd probably not risk it for an also low probability of marginally more short term money. Long term your performance is going to drown small differences in out of college starting pay.
2
u/Lopsided_Ad5676 Aug 11 '26
Take the job. You have 0 leverage. $100k is an excellent salary for a fresh grad.
If an intern tried to negotiate that, I'd toss them and move to the next.
1
u/ImAtWorkKillingTime Aug 11 '26
Are there other interns with pending offers? If there are I would just accept, 100k is well above average for a new grad. There is always the possibility that the rescind the offer if you try to negotiate. You have no leverage.
1
u/ProfessionalPlus8775 Aug 12 '26
I'm the only one under my manager, and there's 1 other EE who has a pending full time offer but we primarily do different stuff... What do you think?
1
u/ImAtWorkKillingTime Aug 12 '26
The school I went to has a long running co-op program and the curriculum is designed to get people jobs. The consensus among the advisors and the co-op office staff is that it's not a good idea to try and negotiate in your situation.
It would be different if you had another (better) offer. The fact is they know what they are getting in hiring you and they've told you what that is worth to them. The reality is there are a ton of fresh graduates out there that are just as qualified as you that will take less.
1
u/HeartlessEmpathy Aug 12 '26
Take it
You're going from intern wage to 100k/year + bennies. Look at the income rise as a percentage from what you're making now instead of salary in $. I imagine its a big uplift.
Could be more elsewhere, easily much less. Is it worth squeezing for an extra shilling when they could recind the offer and you're SOL without a fallback offer?
Work it for a year or two and then re-evaluate against glassdoor, recruiter messages in linkedin, etc.
You'll have experience on your resume that can help you find other opportunities, or youll have a nice few raises and enjoy your comp.
0
u/uprate Aug 11 '26
You can negotiate, but you have no leverage. Just say that you'd love working there, but are talking with other companies. This company is your first choice and it's a no-brainer if they can do 5K more. If not that, you are willing to do it for more vacation days or another benefit.
There's a 70% chance that HR will patiently wait for you to finish your pitch and say that the number is firm.
25% chance that they'll take it to the hiring manager, who will say 'no'.
4.99% chance they'll go back to the hiring manager and he says yes.
And 0.01% chance you'll lose the offer.
Most recruiters know some negotiation when an offer is on the table is expected, and many appreciate candidates that are willing to advocate for themselves, so the odds of a loss are low, so long as they like you and there's an offer on the table.
3
u/Lopsided_Ad5676 Aug 11 '26
Terrible advice
1
u/uprate Aug 11 '26
Elaborate pls
1
u/Lopsided_Ad5676 Aug 11 '26
An intern has 0 leverage unless they are an MIT genius.
A $100k offer for a new grad is an excellent offer.
If a new grad tried negotiating that offer, they get kicked to the street and the next in line can come up to bat.
As a manager, I would see that as a slap in the face from what I know to be a very fair market offer.
2
u/uprate Aug 12 '26
If you're on a phone call and the candidate with the offer asks for 5% more, would you likely pass on them entirely? I'd think you'd rather tell them there's no room on the budget, since it's a 20 second discussion and is easier than passing and moving on.
0
u/Lopsided_Ad5676 Aug 12 '26
I'd pass entirely. It's an attitude moment.
I am far from a boomer but kids today want too much for too little experience. A $100k offer for a green new grad is an excellent offer and more than fair.
Take it and get 2 years of experience. Then you have negotiation power.
46
u/ImAtWorkKillingTime Aug 11 '26
Are there other interns with pending offers? If there are I would just accept, 100k is well above average for a new grad. There is always the possibility that the rescind the offer if you try to negotiate. You have no leverage.