You Have a Job Offer. Now What?

Congratulations! After all your hard work, you have received a job offer. Evaluating an offer requires that you consider what is important to you in a job. Some of these factors may be relevant as you negotiate a job offer:

• Salary and signing bonuses (most companies do not offer signing bonuses)
• Training and professional development funds
• Other benefits (relocation allowance, vacation, leave, insurance, retirement savings plan, profit sharing, tuition reimbursement, professional membership and association activities) 
• Start date
• Parking/Transportation costs

For most students, salary is a principal factor in evaluating an offer. In addition to helping you determine the viability of living on the offered salary, knowing your costs gives you the knowledge to negotiate salary if appropriate. Remember, expenses and taxes will vary depending on where you live. The salary calculator at salary.com can be used to compare salaries in different locations.

The organization has invested a great deal of time in you and in turn you are seriously considering its offer. A job offer is usually initiated over the phone and should be confirmed in writing or in a one-on-one meeting. Assess whether the compensation package meets your financial needs and whether it is at the market or going rate for your particular position, in your particular geographic area. To see if the salary is at the market rate, you can use your prior industry research, networking, and the salary resources available in the Career Education Center Career Library and via the Internet (see salary.com). If the salary is not at the market rate, you may want to ask if the salary is negotiable and work to negotiate it to the market rate.

If you are not ready to accept an offer:

It is appropriate to ask for more time. Maybe you have other offers to consider, or maybe you’re not sure if you want the job. These are valid reasons to pause, but companies may urge you to make a decision. You need to give the company specific reasons why you need more time.

If you have other offers:

Explain this to the employer. Reinforce your interest in the position along with your need to evaluate carefully the other offers. You can explain that this process will result in a more informed answer and a more confident employee.

If you do not have other offers:

Explain to the employer that you are still investigating other opportunities and arrange a time for you to give them an answer. If you find that you still need more time, call your contact to see if it is possible to negotiate an even later date. Contact the organization by the agreed upon time so that they are able to pursue other candidates for the position if you reject the offer.

When you accept an offer:

Withdraw your candidacy from all other organizations. Notify the staff of the Career Center if you are participating in on-campus interviewing.