I don’t even want to think how many disadvantages has a hiring bonus. I know only one that I learnt it the hard way. Later on, I’ve met people that felt into the same trap.
What is a hiring bonus?
When you are hired somewhere, you may get a nice amount of money on the first month among with your current salary.
But the price for this bonus is not worth it.
The money that you received legally obliges you to say there for a year, or more depending on your contract.
If you want to leave earlier than the established period, you will have to give back the money among with taxes so you will end up paying from your own pocket.
Why a hiring manager would give you a hiring bonus?
It is the best way of forcing you to stay there for a while and to use you pretty much how he/she wants. The hiring manager knows that you will be performing a horrible task that nobody would want to do it. For instance, you can get hired as a software developer and ending up being a courier, an entertainer or fixing the central heating. Don’t be surprised hi/her being abusive, there’s a lot of sick people in this world.
When you have such a terrible job and a hiring bonus you cannot quit. Resigning is not an option. Trust me, you are not willing to pay your future ex-employer for tricking you. The only solution is to perform those stupid tasks and to wait until you reach the point where the mandatory period expires.
And the expiration period, no matter how short it is will seem very long to you.
What about a relocation package? Should you accept it?
No! A relocation package is still a hiring bonus. Just say “No!”. Make sure it is a pure “No”. Use body language if need it, like crossing your arms. Don’t negotiate! When you want to relocate yourself, you should’ve made your own savings. You made your mind for months if not even a year, so you ought have covered all your bases. Why would you need a relocation package?!
You realize that when you are moving in another town, be it in your own country or abroad, you will be seen as a stranger. Thus, you will likely end up doing things that nobody wants to do. A relocation package will force you to stay there in pain and suffering. So your dream of moving to a better place turned into a nightmare just because of a bad move of declining that bonus.
So far those were my experiences.
I am moving forward with this article by giving you another example from a colleague of mine — let’s call him X. X moved from company to company, because he did not find what he was looking for. They promised him something at the interview and they lied.
This happens most of the time, so, as a side note, shame on the employers who lie on the interview. How come you could pretend honesty from candidates and your future employees?
X resigned in a blink of an eye and moved forward. The bright side of his approach is that he learned a lot from every company. X also loves money … apparently, way too much.
X was hired somewhere and he received a hiring bonus — called a “hello bonus”. Just another name, but the principle stays the same. Like I said, X loves money and he accepted the bonus without any consideration to the possible consequences. X is now a slave on a shitty job. He’s there for two moths and he has to stay ten more. He keeps complaining to me, and I know the feeling, but he has only one solution mentioned above.
Another former colleague of mine, Y wanted to resign. As a counteroffer, he received a bonus that obliges him to remain for more six months. He is still in that crappy job, with a little cash that doesn’t buy much — both literally and metaphorically.
Conclusion
Don’t accept a hiring bonus. It forces you to stay there for a period of time where you will likely perform terrible tasks. This period of time will look to you very long to you.
Do your research, as thoroughly as possible, and don’t rely on recruiters to find you a job.