Receiving a job offer is an incredibly exciting and much-anticipated part of the job searching process, so it is important to handle this part of the process tactfully and professionally. We have witnessed many times that an offer is withdrawn because the candidate thinks they have all the power and as a result, they mismanage the process. Resolver Recruitment has compiled our top pieces of advice to successfully handle the next job offer you receive.
Get the offer in writing – get all of the facts in black and white from the salary break down, hours of work, leave entitlements, probation period along with commission structures and possible restraints of trade. It’s really important to accept this offer based on all the facts not just on the salary.
Don’t negotiate for the sake of it – if something is important to you then, of course, it should be raised but it’s important to do this tactfully and respectfully. This is not the place to try to showcase your negotiation skills and haggle over little things that are insignificant and that could cost you the offer entirely.
This is not the opportunity to give yourself a pay-rise – employers know the market and your value, so pushing for more when you aren’t worth it makes you look greedy and can get the employer off side fairly quickly. Instead, ask what you can do to prove your worth to get the desired salary you want after you have started.
Using a job offer as a power play is unprofessional – don’t use an offer from a new employer to manipulate your current boss into giving you a pay rise. This can cause resentment and will be seen as you giving them an ultimatum; “pay up or I’m going”, which is incredibly unprofessional.
Provide the hiring manager with timely feedback – It’s important to take some time to consider the offer but overnight or 24 hours really should be the maximum, taking longer or ignoring a follow-up call or email from the employer or recruiter is unprofessional and can affect your offer prospects. If you don’t want to accept that’s okay but it’s important to be courteous and professional about it.
