Congratulations! You’ve made it through the long process of interviewing and have received a job offer – or maybe more than one! As you get excited about the prospect of a new job and all the benefits you are offered, there are some essential points to keep in mind when you consider the job offer.
Don’t worry, we have everything you need to know when accepting (or declining) a job offer.
It’s important to read your offer carefully, including the terms and conditions, benefits package, and anything else that will impact your decision. Remember, you can still negotiate during this period and ask for any clarification if needed.
Tips to Remember When considering a Job Offer
Here are some important steps to take into consideration when reviewing your job offer.
Tip #1: Be timely
Yay! You received a job offer! Once you open the offer email or letter, it’s important to be timely in your response, even if you’re evaluating other offers. Make sure to let the prospective employer know you received the offer. Show that you are excited about it so that they are confident in their decision to choose you.
You can respond by saying thank you and that you look forward to reviewing the offer. You may also ask them when they need a response in case they didn’t mention it in the letter.
Tip #2: Review thoroughly
Once you receive an offer, you need to go through and review the terms thoroughly. Understand your pay and any bonus potential, your benefits including paid time off, healthcare, and working schedule. You want to see that what was discussed is the same as what has been given to you in writing. Ask yourself questions like, “Is there travel involved and did you say you were open to that?” “What is the start date?” “Are your working hours what you agreed upon?”
Make sure that the offer looks on par with what you want and what you assumed it would be. Read the fine print and make sure you are clear on everything that’s being offered before you sign the dotted line.
Tip #3: Negotiating rules
You don’t need to accept your offer immediately. In fact, this might be an opportunity for you to negotiate if the important elements that you were hoping for are not there. However, there are some times when it might not be a good idea to negotiate. For example, when you’ve already accepted the offer or the employer says that this is their best and final offer, it’s wise not to pursue any changes. When negotiating a higher salary, you will need to prove to them the value you are bringing to the organization and that you deserve more.
If the salary discussion goes nowhere, you might want to see if they can offer you more perks or benefits like flexibility in your schedule to compensate.
Tip #4: Inform your current employer
Don’t ghost your current and potential employers. Once you have accepted a job offer somewhere, you should have already put in your resignation with your current employer. You also need to tell other prospects that you will be withdrawing from being considered for the new position.
This is simply the right thing to do. You also want to leave a good impression on your current and other prospects in case of any future opportunities.
Tip #5: Send a thank-you note
Saying thank you is crucial! Even if you are declining a position, you need to thank the potential employer for their time and let them know you appreciate the opportunity. You must also make sure to thank your future employer when you accept the offer to show them that you appreciate and are excited about your new role.
It’s important to maintain positive relationships with leaders as well as continue to build your reputation.
Good luck with your career! We’re excited about your next chapter.
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