I recently asked how to estimate signing bonuses and got some good advice. But now I find myself in a slightly different situation.
I've been offered the job, and I am very happy with the offered salary and benefits package. However, even though I live in the same area as the new job (no relocation), I am a student and the funding that supports me will be discontinued at the end of May. I won't start at the new job until several weeks later, and so that leaves a gap of time for me with no income.
Is it reasonable for me to request a modest signing bonus just to cover things like rent and living expenses over that multi-week period? The offer that I was given did not include a signing bonus and the HR director mentioned that such bonuses are usually only paid out when an employee is leaving an old job that had some form of back compensation which would be missed by switching. When relocation is involved, they pay for that separately but this was not needed in my situation.
I definitely don't want to appear greedy or money-grubbing, but I also don't like the idea of starting the job off by going in debt just to finance regular living expenses.