Negotiation During the Hiring Process from the Employers' Perspective

Panelists: Fred Brown, ESPN director of production recruitment and talent negotiations; Jim Jenks, Philadelphia Inquirer sports editor; Bob Yates, Dallas Morning News deputy managing editor
Moderator: Kristin Huckshorn, New York Times deputy sports editor

By Jen Iso
2007 AWSM intern at ESPN

As an employer, when asked to move someone’s “junk,” it is important to double-check this does not entail moving a large boat.

New York Times deputy sports editor Kristin Huckshorn recalled that the Times once did not check -- and ended up paying to move a boat a Times correspondent bought in Asia.

The panelists talked about differences in the way women and men negotiate and addressed the things employees, and potential employees, should and should not do during negotiations.

Philadelphia Inquirer sports editor Jim Jenks advised attendees to negotiate everything.  Raises are difficult to discuss, but Jenks recommended negotiating rate periods and asking for evaluations every six months instead of the yearly critiques.

Dallas Morning News deputy managing editor Bob Yates recalled a potential employee who was so excited to be offered the job that he completely forgot to talk about pay.

Asked whether family situations should be brought up in negotiations, the panelists offered differing opinions.  Jenks said he would listen and evaluate the situation. ESPN’s Fred Brown said that personal issues should not come into play.

Both agreed that such things as temporary housing are negotiable, but salaries should not budge based on family situations.

All the panelists said that it was important to stay professional in negotiations and to know when to walk out the door if sexism arises. They did not favor potential employees who try to negotiate package deals for husbands or partners.

Brown advised anyone negotiating salary to prepare.

“Do your homework,” Brown said. “Find out what other people have made."

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