When do you talk about compensation?

Often in ads for RV workers, it will give you a general idea of compensation and whether or not you work a certain number of hours for your site.

• Work 20 hrs/week for full-hookup site


• Work 15 hrs each per week for site, all other hours paid


• All hours paid, free RV site

If this is enough information for you, postpone discussions about pay until after you have found out about the job and get an offer. Then it's time to sell yourself and ask for more.

If the ad is pretty vague and/or you have a certain amount in mind, you will probably want to get a ballpark idea of compensation so you don't waste yours and the employer's time interviewing for a job that is clearly not a match. In that case, you can ask if you get paid for all hours or how many hours per week you will receive pay. Ask, also, for the salary range. At this point don't get into negotiations. You want the chance to find out more about the duties and to also sell your value. Also, you could end up with less if you name an amount up front; she could be willing to pay more to a good worker.

If you have a lot to offer the employer, you could even get more money. In the Workamper forums recently, a couple said that after they had explained all their skills, the employer offered them a free RV site and more money where the ad required hours for the site. Bill, my late husband, successfully negotiated higher compensation based on our skills for a job we applied to also.

What if the employer asks you the salary you want up front? If you need or expect pay for all hours worked, it's best to confidently reply, "I require a free RV site and pay for all hours worked. However, I'm open to negotiating; it will depend on what the final job looks like." If you are more flexible, use only the last sentence.

So the rule of thumb is: Find out if the employer's compensation is in the ballpark so you don't waste time on something clearly not a match but save actual negotiations until after you have been offered a position and sold yourself. Jaimie

For information on Jaimie Hall's recently revised book, Support Your RV LIfestyle! An Insider's Guide to Working on the Road, 2nd ed., see RVBookstore.com.

Negotiation

When you get a job offer when working on the RV road, think negotiation. With a large corporation, strict salary guidelines may be in place but with a small business that is usually not the case. And even the larger companies may have some flexibility elsewhere.

Like other aspects of Workamping, do some research. Have an idea what workers on the RV road are being paid. One source of information is ads in Workamper News. Forums on working on the road at RV Travel and Workamper.com can also give you information.

Test the waters with a statement like, "Considering my background and experience, I thought your offer was rather low." Or, "Is that the best you can do?" Then wait for an answer—even if it takes a whole minute. If it seems like even a possibility or that the owner is considering more, sell yourself. In one case, my late husband said, "We are not retired; we are hard workers." The owner offered a higher wage.

If the owner will not budge on salary, see about perks. Will they provide free propane, free laundry, free or discounted meals if they serve them, or store discounts? Ask if they will consider a raise after the first month or an end-of-the-season bonus if you do a good job.

During this process, keep it a win-win situation and keep selling yourself. Do not issue a "take it or leave it" ultimatum unless you mean it. Of course, you should know what your bottom line is and not take an offer before that. But backing the owner into a corner is not the path to getting more money.

If you negotiate a dollar more per hour and are working 40 hours/week for six months, that’s $1000 more. Additional perks can add money to your budget too in savings. It’s worth taking a few minutes to ask. And, believe it or not, the boss will respect you more and feel he has a better value for his money. It often works like that! Jaimie

For information on Jaimie Hall's recently revised book, Support Your RV LIfestyle! An Insider's Guide to Working on the Road, 2nd ed., see RVBookstore.com.