How to Navigate Job Offers
No matter how much you want a job, it’s rare to get an offer that matches all your ideal terms!
After a successful interview, you might receive a job offer, but what should you do if the offer isn’t what you expected?
Your options are to 1) accept the offer as is, 2) negotiate for better terms, or 3) decline it.
What to do With Each Option?
1) If You Decide to Negotiate
If you decide to negotiate, start by thanking the employer for the offer and expressing your excitement about the position. When making a counteroffer, remember that negotiations involve compromise. Being flexible shows you’re willing to work together, which can make a good impression. If you’re too rigid, the employer might choose someone else.
Harvard Business Review (from the Harvard University) has an article from one of their authors that has detailed descriptions that cover 10 different ways you can evaluate a job offer before you decide to say “yes”, or “no”.
2) If You Decide to Accept
Even if you accept a job over the phone or in person, it’s a good idea to write an acceptance email or letter. Address it to the person who offered you the job and include:
- A thank you for the opportunity
- Your acceptance of the job offer
- Acceptance and acknowledgement of the basic terms of employment, like salary and benefits
- Confirm your official start date
3) If You Decide to Decline
If you decide to decline a job offer, write a polite email or letter. Keep it brief and avoid giving specific reasons for your decision. You might think the pay is too low or the hours too long, but it’s best not to mention these details to leave on good terms.
Still feeling unsure how to write a professional job offer decline letter? Indeed has an article, with a video guide as well, with 6 detailed steps on writing your letter (with examples for each)!
If you’d like to negotiate with the employer, here are some tips to help you with that!
Start with the Salary Talk
Negotiating a job offer often begins during the interview when salary expectations are discussed. Make sure you know what the industry standard is before the interview. This way, if you get an offer, you’ll know if it’s fair, or not.
For example, in Canada the average rate for a restaurant server is about $18.00/hour plus tips. Now, if your employer was offering you a wage of $17.40/hour, you may want to negotiate with them for the median of $19, (or maybe even around $20), and inquire about the percentage of tips that servers take home from their restaurant. An easy way to find out comparisons is to visit the WorkBC “Explore Careers” page, and search for the role you want. They provide average annual income, the type of training or education needed, and the amount of job openings estimated for BC over a 10-year period.
When You Receive the Job Offer, Take Some Time
It’s easy to get excited and accept a job offer immediately, but it’s important to take your time. Let the employer know you need some time to think it over. This allows you to carefully evaluate the offer to see if it’s right for you, if it’s something you truly want to do, and the pros and cons of taking the job.
Evaluate the Job Offer
So how does evaluating work?
Well, even if you want the job, make sure that you look at the whole compensation package, not just the salary. Sometimes, benefits and perks can make up for a salary that is lower than you anticipated. Also, remember to think about how the job will impact your daily life, including commute time, income vs bills, work hours, and the overall company culture.
Following these tips can help you make the best decision when negotiating job offers. Good luck!
Here are additional resources to help you out when considering job offers!
WorkBC provides a wide variety of career search, training and support services. You can look at their “Explore Careers” section to find average wages, job openings and education/training required for the particular jobs all across BC.
Harvard Business Review (from the Harvard University) has an article from one of their authors that has detailed descriptions that cover 10 different ways you can evaluate a job offer before you decide to say “yes”, or “no”.
Indeed is a job-seekers’ and employers website with postings from around the world! Plus some real useful articles; in this particular one they offer 6 detailed steps on writing a polite and professional letter that is declining a job offer.
Kootenay Employment Services has a collection of articles on various career advice topics. Not sure if you even want to apply to a job? Is the big list of “requirements” stopping you?
Well! This article provides some insight about whether you should apply for the job even if you don’t have all of the requirements listed in the ad!
