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Receiving a job offer can feel like a weight off your shoulders, especially if you have been in the job market for a long time. But, this does not mean that it is the best job for you or that you are receiving a salary that is worth your time and effort. Before you reject or accept any offer, you should always look at the current industry and whether there is room for growth in the future.
Factors that may influence your decision include; the salary or wage itself, benefits (health insurance, leave days, sick days etc.), the probation period and job description.
Most candidates often don’t negotiate their offer, which can prove to be a mistake. Without rocking the boat, it is advisable that you question some aspects of the offer that you are not happy with or think can be improved. A few mistakes that candidates make are:
1. Settling
Job offers don’t come around often, so we are often quick to jump at a chance to take any job. This does not mean that it is the right move for you. Most candidates don’t negotiate their offer, but if you are offered a salary that is less than you feel you deserve or that you are worth, it is acceptable to negotiate.
Accepting straight away can lead to issues further down the line if you know that you have settled. You may start resenting your employer, begin disliking your job and spend your days wishing that you can move on.
2. Revealing your ideal salary
In most interviews, the interviewer will ask you what you would like to earn in the job. Though it is usually difficult to avoid answering this question, it is always better to be non-committal in your response. If you tell them in the first interview what you expect to earn, there is usually not much room for negotiation. Plan ahead to approach this question with caution.
3. Accepting the job offer too quickly
The interview process can often take weeks to finalize, so when you get that phone call to announce that you have the job, it is often easy to jump at it. Most places will give you a few days or a week to think about the offer, so take this time to really think about it. The ball is in your court and you can contemplate whether the job is the right move for you, whether it is based on the salary or the job itself. In this time you can decide whether you want to negotiate the offer and how you are going to go about it.
4. Asking for too many changes
If you are ready to accept the job and see yourself working at the company for a long time, then you may want to negotiate on a few aspects of the offer. That does not mean that you can question everything on the contract, but rather that you pick your battles and select the most important points.
Demanding too much can spell trouble for you in the eyes of the employer.
5. Not asking for a job offer in writing
Every job offer should be documented in writing and most employers will have no issue in drafting a formal contract. If the company refuses to do this and instead wants a verbal agreement, you should see this as a red flag.
It can exciting to land that dream job, remember there is nothing wrong with negotiating the contract. In the end, it all comes down to how you approach the situation, while remaining professional and gracious but firm.
