Consider more micro-level conditions: how your specific industry is performing right now, trends in your geographic region and where you are in your career, says Octavia Goredema, career coach and CEO of Fire Memos, an app for tracking work accomplishments.Your options and approach to getting a job that meets your preferences will vary based on whether you're"desperately looking for that next opportunity" or"being headhunted out of nowhere," she notes.
You don't want to go through an entire interview process only to be rejected at the end because you asked to work remotely, says HR consultant Stefanie Fackrell.But you may want to avoid coming off too strong at first. Take work-from-home flexibility, for example. Rather than express a strong preference for a particular arrangement, you can gently inquire through open-ended questions, says Goredema.
When responding to an offer by proposing your preferred situation, preface with a thank you and a compliment about the opportunity, and emphasize what you're bringing to the table before diving into your request, she says. Often, the likelihood of success depends on"how badly your employer wants to hire you," she adds. The more a company wants you, the stronger your negotiating power.Be sure to identify how far you're prepared to take a negotiation and what your walk-away point is, Goredema says."Understand what a win would look like for you," she says.