JOB OFFERS 
Salary Negotiations:
Always be prepared to negotiate a salary in case you are offered a job and the salary is lower than you expected. Doing your homework and knowing what a fair salary is for the position is important. There are many resources on the web and at your library, including salary surveys. Some resources included:
-
O'Net (It is a little confusing to find information on this Department of Labor website so here are some instructions. Go to "Find an Occupation, enter job title of occupation in search box, click on occupation, then go to "Wages and Employment" link and view national and state wages. To view local wages, after going to state wages, there is a link at the bottom called "Compare Wages by Metropolitan Areas" click on that link and search for local wages.
-
Salary Surveys (Jobstar provides about 300 salary surveys)
-
Your campus Career Center
Before you receive a job offer, have a figure in mind that you are willing to accept. Declining job offers can be a mistake. Don’t be greedy and be realistic based on your experience in the field. Money is not everything so consider benefits, bonuses, vacation, commute, stock options, 40lk, job stability, etc. Once a job is offered and before you accept, know about the company benefits and when will they start. Some companies may have you wait 90 days before receiving or accruing your benefits. Some things to consider before you accept or turn down a job offer are the following:
- Company car or care allowance
- Vacation/Holidays
- Insurance (Medical, Dental, Life, Disability Prescription)
- Flexible Spending Accounts
- 401k (what is company’s match, when are your fully vested)
- Sick Leave
- Training/Education Reimbursement
- Management Training
- Flex Time
- Child Care
There is other information that you should know before you accept a job offer if you did not find it out during the interview process. Some of the things you might need to clarify include:
- Job responsibilities
- Who your supervisor will be
- Performance expectations
- How you will be evaluated
If relocating, you should know the cost of living for the area of the country where the job is located. In other words, if you are willing to accept $30,000 in Orlando, Florida, what would be the comparable salary in another city based on the cost of living? Consider relocation costs if company does not pay for it. Check with the city’s Chamber of Commerce or do a web search for cost of living in the city you will be living in.
When you receive a job offer, be enthusiastic and thank the person for the offer. If you need some time to think about it let the person know that you would like some time to think it over because it is a very important decision.
When the employer asks you how much money you are looking for, ask the employer what this position typically pays for someone with your background. You can also say, “I would consider any reasonable offer”.
If they offer a salary that is too low, say something like “based on my skills, abilities and the salary research I did, I am seeking a salary in the range of mid to upper 40s.”
The employer may try and pay you what you were last paid. If you don’t think the jobs are the same or if you are worth more. Let the new employer know that you previous employer paid me less than the average salary. State that you decided to accept that job so you could develop your skills the field. Now you feel that you can provide more to employers so you are seeking a salary in the range of mid to upper 40s.”
Negotiating job offers is very important if the salary offer was too low. This is where your research comes in handy. Don’t shut the door if the employer won’t budge. Ask for a three-month salary evaluation or ask for more perks (vacation time, less work hours, etc.). Jobs were there is a shortage of workers, such as nursing, you may be able to negotiate a sign-on bonus.
Here is an example of what you might want to say.
“I have thought about your offer very carefully. I was seeking a job in the range of $35-40 thousand a year because of my three years of experience in the field and my Associate degree. I would really like to work for your company. Is there anything you can do for me?
Turning Down Job Offers:
If you are unable to reach a salary and you are going to turn a job offer down, keep the door open. Say something like
“I was very happy to receive your job offer. but I am not able to accept the salary offer. Is there anything you can do regarding the salary?"
If you are sure you don’t want the job, say, “Thank you very much for the offer, I’m sorry that we were not able to reach an agreeable salary. I really wanted to work for your company so could you please consider me for other opportunities in the future?”
If you really want the job ask for time to think about the offer. Remember some salary is better than zero salary if you are not currently working. You can use this job to go on to bigger and better things within the organization or another company.
Multiple Offers:
You may be lucky enough to receive multiple job offers. If you receive an offer and need time to think about it, let the interviewer know that you would like some time to think about it. Don’t tell the employer at this point that you are entertaining another job offer. Write down the pros and cons for each job and determine which things are most important to you. Talk it over with a close friend, relative, spouse or Career Center or Job Placement staff. When you decide to go with another employer, then tell the employer that you appreciate the offer and you thought about it very carefully, but you went with another job offer. Be prepared as the employer may increase the salary offer. It is a good idea to write a job rejection letter and briefly thank them for the offer but you were not able to accept the offer. If you decide to take the job, you may be asked to provide a job acceptance letter. Even you are not asked, it is a good idea to write a thank you job offer letter and indicate when you will be starting and your acceptance of the salary. It is best to also ask the employer to provide you with an offer letter once you accept their offer so there are not misunderstandings regarding your salary and, if applicable, your bonuses and commission structure.
Moving/Relocating:
Before you start job hunting or before you accept a job offer that will require you to relocate, you should do some homework. Know how much the cost of living is compared to where you are living now. $40,000 in Charleston, SC and $40,0000 in San Francisco, CA is not the same. Know if there are any state income taxes where you are going. What is the average cost of a home or what does rent run etc? The local Chamber of Commerce may have this information on their website. You can also find information on the Internet by searching for “cost of living” and the name of the city.
Rejection Letters:
We all get them-- the “no thank you” job rejection letters. It can be very disappointing especially if you don’t take rejection very well. The key is to don’t let it discourage you. Remain positive and know that you will find a job that will be a great fit for you. No matter how disappointed you may be, keep applying for jobs and networking. You will soon find a job that will probably be exactly what you were hoping for! This is a good time to also evaluate if you need to improve your interviewing skills or resume. Also, ask yourself if you are applying for jobs you are qualified to do.
Follow-up After Rejection:
You should call and talk to the person and let them know you are seeking there help and advice because you are still job searching. Ask him or her for some feedback on why you didn’t get the job. Ask if you can get some input as you are eager to work in this field and would appreciate some ways you can upgrade your skills. You may be surprised at how helpful and willing people are to help.
Resigning:
Leave your employer on good terms and give them at least two weeks notice. If you are in management, four weeks notice is preferred.
Go in and see your supervisor and bring a typed resignation letter with you. If you are leaving for another job, let your supervisor know that you appreciate the opportunity that they provided you but you feel like the new job will help you in your career field. Now is not the time to tell the employer off if you are leaving because you are mad about something. Even if you are given an exist interview by Human Resources, keep your reasons for leaving positive. As much as you may want to vent out and let them have it, keep your cool. You should not tell anyone that you are resigning before you let your boss know and before your employer makes an official announcement. It is always a good idea to give human resources a copy of your letter before you leave so they can keep it on file.