Sign on bonus from new company to replace annual bonus from the current company

New / Eng
Twilio.

New Eng

Twilio.
Aug 25, 2020 18 Comments

The annual bonuses are paid out in February 2021 but I want to leave the company as soon as possible so I was wondering if it's possible to negotiate with the new company so that they would pay me the annual bonus as a sign on bonus.

This way I will join the new company earlier but in return they give me additional sign on bonus (as much as my annual bonus), is this something that I can ask the new company to do or I should just wait until February and then switch companies?

My annual bonus is around 50k.

TC 380k.

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TOP 18 Comments
  • Exabeam / Sales
    MeaU87

    Go to company page Exabeam Sales

    PRE
    ZeroFOX
    MeaU87
    Yep! Stand up for who you are and negotiate accordingly. The new company doesn’t need to know that you need to wait until February. Negotiate. If they give it to you move. If not stay and keep interviewing unless you really love the new opportunity
    Aug 25, 2020 3
    • Amazon
      XOpN18

      Go to company page Amazon

      XOpN18
      You can just ask...I need X in sign on...without reasoning....or just give vague reasoning that you will be foregoing X bonus which is round the corner if you move now....so you would like that compensated if needed to move now
      Aug 25, 2020
    • New / Eng
      Twilio.

      New Eng

      Twilio.
      OP
      Thanks yeah that makes sense I don't know for some reason I feel so obliged to tell them exactly what the truth is that how much they expect me and when I should move so so like you said I'll probably don't have to give exact reasoning just be vague about it.

      Do they ever ask for documentation or proof how much my current annual bonus is or my RSUs?
      Aug 26, 2020
  • This is what sign on is for. As long as you can tell them what is lost to join them and it is reasonable (not trying to rip them off), they should understand it even if they don't agree or can't afford.
    Aug 25, 2020 4
    • New / Eng
      Twilio.

      New Eng

      Twilio.
      OP
      That's helpful thanks
      what should be the tone of my ask How would you request this without sounding greedy at the same time sounding so confident that they would do their best behind the scenes without thinking that you're bluffing?
      Aug 27, 2020
    • Tell them this is what you might lose if you join them so hopefully they can help you break even on that loss.

      Break even is the key.
      Aug 27, 2020
  • Uber
    L3vHaG

    Go to company page Uber

    L3vHaG
    Absolutely ask for more signon since you will lose bonus. They will say you will get bonus here but it will be prorated. People negotiate signon based on annual bonus, unvested stocks or claw back reasons. Signing bonus is highly negotiable in most of the companies. Even if you don’t have all this still ask for it
    Aug 25, 2020 1
    • New / Eng
      Twilio.

      New Eng

      Twilio.
      OP
      That's a great point so if they tell me that you will get bonus here but it will be prorated what can I say in response? How can I maneuver that?

      Also How can I ask for unwasted stocks How does that kind of negotiation work?

      Thanks
      Aug 25, 2020
  • New / IT
    rfgQ51

    New IT

    rfgQ51
    Depends on amount sort of. But yes you can definitely do this. It doesn’t mean they’ll match a 25k bonus but might gods you 10-15k bonus to make leaving early more enticing.

    I’ve done this.
    Aug 25, 2020 2
    • New / Eng
      Twilio.

      New Eng

      Twilio.
      OP
      Really 25K bonus is a lot as a sign on?
      Thanks
      Aug 25, 2020
    • New / IT
      rfgQ51

      New IT

      rfgQ51
      Really just an example, you have to adjust for each company.
      Aug 25, 2020
  • But do you know how much you’re getting as a bonus? Or are you having to ballpark?
    Aug 25, 2020 1
    • New / Eng
      Twilio.

      New Eng

      Twilio.
      OP
      Around 50k
      Aug 25, 2020