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Business & Workplace Languagenoun · /ˈsaɪnɪŋ ˈboʊnəs/

signing bonus

In simple English

In tech companies, signing bonuses are common recruitment tools used to attract experienced engineers and specialists. When a company offers you a job, they may include a signing bonus in addition to your base salary, stock options, and other benefits. This bonus is typically paid in one or two installments after you start working, and you receive it once you have officially signed your employment contract. Tech companies use signing bonuses to compete for talent, especially when recruiting senior developers, architects, or specialists from other companies. The size of the signing bonus varies based on seniority level, demand for your skills, and market conditions. It is important to understand whether there are any clawback clauses that would require you to return the bonus if you leave the company within a certain period.

What is a signing bonus and how much do tech companies typically offer when hiring new employees?

At a glanceCEFR B2
Commonness4/5
Versatility4/5
FormalityCasualFormalNeutral
Spoken ↔ WrittenSpokenWrittenBoth
Directness ↔ DiplomaticDirectDiplomaticDirect
RegionUS and UK
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Say it like this

✓They offered me a signing bonus to join the team.
✓I negotiated a higher signing bonus as part of the offer.
✓The company gave me a signing bonus to offset my relocation costs.

Real examples

in a job negotiation

"I asked if they could increase my signing bonus since I am leaving equity at my current company."

in a team conversation

"She received a 75,000 dollar signing bonus when she joined our engineering team last month."

in an HR meeting

"We offer competitive signing bonuses to attract senior software architects from other tech companies."

Don't say this

Handle with care. Often confused with other compensation types like bonuses or raises. Not related to code signing or digital signatures in tech.

✕The company will signing bonus me when I start.
✓The company will give me a signing bonus when I start.— Signing bonus is a noun, not a verb. You receive or get a signing bonus, not signing bonus something.
✕My signing bonus is part of my monthly salary.
✓My signing bonus is separate from my monthly salary.— A signing bonus is a one-time payment, not part of recurring monthly compensation.
✕I earned a signing bonus for good performance this quarter.
✓I received a signing bonus when I joined the company.— Signing bonuses are only given when you are hired, not for performance.

Other forms

noun

signing bonus

"The signing bonus was deposited into my account after 30 days."

noun phrase

signing bonus package

"The signing bonus package included relocation assistance."

Often used with

offer a signing bonusCompanies offer signing bonuses to attract candidates
negotiate a signing bonusCandidates can negotiate the size of the signing bonus during offer discussions
receive a signing bonusAn employee receives their signing bonus after joining
signing bonus amountRefers to the specific dollar value of the bonus
clawback on signing bonusA condition requiring return of bonus if employee leaves early

Similar words

sign-on bonusAlternative term with identical meaning, commonly used interchangeably
hiring bonusBroader term that may include various new-hire incentives

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Practice

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4 quick exercises

Complete the sentence

1. When I accepted the job offer, the company promised me a _______ of 60,000 dollars.

Spot the mistake

2. Which sentence uses signing bonus incorrectly?

Pick the most natural phrasing

3. How would you naturally say this in a job discussion?

Rewrite naturally

4. Rewrite this in natural tech English using signing bonus: I got extra money from the company when I agreed to work there, separate from my regular pay.

Questions

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