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Edited by Carolyn Stewart, Janicethemenace, Teresa, Zanni and 1 other

If you’ve been offered the job of a lifetime, you may feel ready to jump at just about any offer passed across the table. However, the best way to accept a job offer is to make sure the package is exactly what you want. In addition to possibly negotiating your responsibilities, consider what is being presented in terms of salary and benefits.

Edit Steps

  1. 1
    Do your homework. Know what you are saying “yes” to before you sign on the dotted line. Obtain a financial history of the company to determine if this is the type of company you want to align yourself with and whether you see a future at the business.

    • Talk to other employees. If you have friends or business connections with the company ask for a candid response to what it is like to work for the company. You never really know what the work conditions are like until you talk to someone who is on the inside. If you don’t personally know anyone at the company, don’t try to talk to a random employee but instead look for message boards online where you could pick up cues or hints within threads between employees.
    • Obtain the company mission statement. Consider if the mission statement is something you agree with or whether it isn’t aligned with your personal work ethics or goals.
    • Ponder the possibilities. Obtain a copy of the chain of command to determine if you have room to grow and evolve or if you are hitting the ceiling the minute you say “yes” to the offer. Also, is this company expanding into other markets that could provide an opportunity for you to relocate?
  2. 2
    Research the competition. Knowing what the company’s competitors will offer may provide you with leverage during negotiations. Research salary and benefits from two to three competing companies using career search engines on Careers.com, Monster.com or Salary.com. Take into consideration that each comparable job may offer different perks and benefits, but use the general information to make comparisons to the possible offer on the table.

  3. 3
    Be ready for anything. If you’ve been called back to meet with a direct hire following your second (or third) interview, you should be prepared to be on the receiving end of an offer. Prepare a response for both an outstanding and a deflating offer so you aren’t taken off guard. Consider that the company may low ball you, which means that you may have room to negotiate. Keep your comparative analysis information in the back of your head when receiving the offer to ascertain whether the offer is fair and/or competitive.

    • Never accept an offer on the spot. Especially for high profile jobs, let the offer marinate and gel with you before saying “yes” (even if it’s a great offer). However, don’t take more than 12 to 24 hours to deliver your response, especially if you plan to accept it.
    • Thank the employer for the offer, even if it’s horrible. Always appear gracious and thankful when accepting any offer. Try to conceal any feelings of disappointment if you receive a low ball offer--the idea of negotiating is to not tip your hand.
    • Go with your gut feeling, but integrate facts and concrete research into your strategic negotiation plan. While you ponder the offer listen to your gut--does this seem like the type of place you could grow for numerous years or is something off or “not right” about the job or workplace environment? Compare and contrast your competitive research and overall homework to arrive at a decision regarding whether you want the job and how to proceed with negotiations.
  4. 4
    Present a better offer. Put yourself in the employer’s shoes if you plan to re-negotiate a better offer. While you may think the employer should bump up your salary by $20,000, realistically (depending on your research) that may not be possible. Identify areas that you know the employer could improve upon such as health benefits or vacation time and re-package the offer that looks attractive to both parties.

    • Be ready to walk away. When putting together a better offer, remember that the employer may not be able to meet your requirements. If that’s the case consider if you can just walk away.
    • Have a “Plan B.” Another way to continue negotiations if your first offer falls flat is to have a back up plan. However, make sure it’s an offer that you can live with too and not something just to appease the employer (if you aren’t satisfied with the original offer).


Edit Tips

  • Avoid telling your future employer what you made at your last job, because it can be used as a metric for your next salary (especially if your last salary was much lower than what you’d like to make).
  • Although you may deserve the moon and the stars, consider economic conditions before going into negotiations.
  • Don’t make it look like you are negotiating by making demands or insisting on certain conditions before you take the job.

Edit Warnings

  • Don’t bring up money until after you’ve been offered the job. If you start off with money as the main topic of discussion, you may be tipping your hand.


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Article Info

Categories: Work World

Recent edits by: Zanni, Teresa, Janicethemenace

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