You’ve done your best to impress the hiring manager and all of that hard work has paid off in the form of an offer letter! As Lifehacker points out, many job seekers think that all of the hard work is past them once they have received an offer. This is not the case at all. Your hard work has just begun!
After you have received a job offer, it’s time for you to make some difficult decisions.
To Accept or Decline?
The first thing you must decide when receiving a job offer is if you will accept or decline. This is the time to put together your pros and cons list, especially if you have received more than one offer.
Think about your interviews and your knowledge of the company.
Are you able to visualize yourself working there?
Do you believe that the manager and employees are people that you will enjoy working with?
Does the job itself meet your expectations such as career growth, compensation, work hours, etc?
After you have made a list of pros and cons for each job offer, it is time to decide which one is the best fit accordingly. This is when you determine your stance on accepting or declining an offer.
Once you have made this decision, you have overcome your first hurdle.
The Counter Offer
If for some reason, the job offer does not meet your expectations when it comes to compensation, work hours, or benefits, you will need to think about a counter offer.
Be logical when you are considering a counter offer. For example, do not go back and counter with something that is unrealistic or something that was made clear to you from the beginning of the interview process. If you made known your desires early on in the process, the company will more than likely make you an offer that is in the range of your expressed expectations.
After all, a company will not waste time making an offer that they believe would be turned down. This is not only a waste of your time, but a waste of their time as well. When a company is making you an offer, the company is expressing the desire to have you on their team.
When you counter an offer, you will want to first make notes of the reasons for your counter. Perhaps medical benefits are more costly than you originally expected. Explain this to your contact at the company.
I recommend that you first call and speak with your contact regarding the counter. Verbal conversation is always a better way to negotiate terms. After the phone conversation, follow up with an email to your contact, outlining your concerns and counter offer as discussed.
Timely Response
The most important thing to remember after receiving a job offer is the fact that the company is anxiously awaiting your response. Rest assured, you are not the only candidate in consideration for the job. You are simply their number one candidate at this point, which should tell you a lot about their interest in you joining their team.
Don’t leave the company hanging. As soon as you receive a job offer, be sure to reply back via email, thanking them for the offer and letting them know that you are reviewing and will be in touch with them either that evening or the next day.
Once you have decided your next move, follow up with a phone call first. As Lifehacker mentions, be sure to express your excitement and appreciation for the offer. If you are declining, make your contact aware of your reason for declining. If you are countering or open to negotiations, make your contact aware of this.
When accepting the offer, make sure that your future employer understands your excitement about joining their team. Let them know you will send over the signed offer and any additional required paperwork immediately. Ask for the next steps and expectations when starting.
Your future employer will be just as excited as you are about welcoming you to the team.
What are the steps in your process when you have received a job offer? Share your recommendations below.
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