Originally Posted By: pandus13
Oh, a big corporation is usually not that flexible in compensation.
And a small company with limited resources would be?
Big companies and government agencies are usually stricter on their pay scales, yes, but they usually have a salary range within each position. For example an IT analyst 1 in my state makes anywhere from $38,000 to $70,000 depending on work experience, training, certifications, etc.
When I worked at the insurance company, adjusters usually had a pay range that the company followed. There is always room for negotiation, but within that range. Like stated before, if they offer you 40,000 and you ask for 60,000 you will be laughed at. If you ask for 45,000 that isn't outside the range of possibility. If the company had no idea who he was, he would have less bargaining power, but it sounds like his co-op experience could help him out. If he is polite and straight forward, the worst they could say is "this is all we can offer you" but it never hurts to ask.
Things are different this day in age, you have to make your own breaks. You can sit in a corner and work as hard as you can but nobody will speak up for you, you have to do it yourself.