After a grueling job search and interview process, you’ve finally received the call you’ve been waiting for! The hiring manager likes your skills and experience and feels that you’re an ideal fit into the company’s culture. They’re looking to make an offer, and all you have to do is agree to their terms.
But, not so fast. Before you say ‘yes’ and sign on the dotted line, follow these steps to ensure you get fair terms and protect your interests.
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Keep Your Cool
When an employer makes a job offer, they’re letting you know what’s on the table, putting pressure on you to accept right away. But don’t let your emotions get the best of you. You don’t want to give up your negotiating power, not when you still have the opportunity to set favorable terms for yourself.
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Show Gratitude
Of course, you should express your appreciation for being chosen among the many candidates that applied for the job. Thank your potential managers first before you get down to the business of talking about your employment terms. A ‘thank you’ isn’t a ‘yes,’ so don’t worry about showing your appreciation and having it misconstrued as showing commitment to the offer.
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Be Forthcoming About Your Preferred Salary
At this stage, most employers will have prepared an annual and hourly salary rate as part of your employment offer. You can also expect to see terms about primary benefits, sales commissions, and bonus pay.
But this might not be the case for all employers, who will wait and see if you have an expected salary figure in mind. If you’ve done your research about the role, share your desired terms. However, you should hold off on saying anything if you don’t know the position’s average salary rate.
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Ask for Time to Think About the Offer
Even if you like the terms of your employment, you should still ask for at least 24 hours to weigh the offer and provide an official answer. This will let you talk about the offer with your friends and family, and more importantly, conduct a bit of research on the standard salary rate for the role if you haven’t done so yet.
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Go Over the Terms One More Time
When you’re finally ready to accept the offer, go over all the details one more time with the hiring manager. From your annual and hourly rate and benefits to your insurance policy and days of vacation, take the time to go over each of these points.
Once you’ve signed the contract, ask what happens next. Is there an orientation? A training period? Will you shadow someone in the office? These are things that you must know before your first day on the job.
For more job search and interview tips, talk to the staffing specialists at Top Notch Personnel. Contact our Wichita recruiters today to learn more about our aircraft, construction, and manufacturing staffing services!
