PREMIUM Workshop: Contract Negotiation Skills

  • Congratulations, you have landed the job! But now comes the part no one really teaches you: negotiating your contract.

    For many graduates, the first job offer feels like a done deal, but in reality this is your moment to shape not just your salary, but your working conditions, your future development opportunities, and even your work-life balance. The way you handle this conversation can set the tone for your professional relationship with your new employer. So how do you approach it with confidence, professionalism, and the right knowledge?

    In this workshop, you will gain the skills and insights you need to navigate your first (or next) contract negotiation successfully. Because there’s much more to a contract than just your monthly salary, and what you don’t know can cost you.
     

    • Do you understand what is standard in your field and what is negotiable?
    • Do you know how to respond if your offer is lower than expected?
    • Are you aware of benefits beyond salary like pension, leave days, training budgets, or bonuses that can make a big difference?
    • Have you thought about clauses that could limit your future opportunities, such as non-compete agreements or long notice periods?

    Please note that this workshop is one of the electives PREMIUM offers. Attend a minimum of 3 of the elective workshops.

     

    Available Sessions:

    • Tuesday 12.05.2026, 13:30-16:30 hrs;
    • Wednesday 13.05.2026, 09:30-12:30 hrs.

     

    All “Contract Negotiation Skills” workshops will take place at EDLAB’s Tapijn Building X. All attendees will receive a reminder email with the exact location two days before the session.

     

    Register here for this workshop.

  • This workshop will help you spot potential pitfalls, understand your value on the market, and enter negotiations with confidence and clarity.

  • Susanne Maris

    Your Workshop Host: Susanne Maris (Maris et al)

    Susanne Maris is a specialized trainer and coach for academic top talents. Over the last decade, she has worked with thousands of academics and researchers in Europe and the US. Her focus lies with pitching and leadership. Originally, she was trained as a clinical and an organizational psychologist at the University of Amsterdam. Helping thinkers move from insight to action; that’s what gives Susanne her energy. After a workshop, participants go home with a concrete and doable action plan to make their work and life better. In her free time she experiments with fermenting vegetables, practices yoga in her garden every morning and she swims in the sea (almost) all year round