May 23, 2024
So you’ve put in the work and finally got that call back from the job you’ve been waiting for. What comes next? You may want to immediately say yes and hit the ground running. While this is not always a bad thing, there are some steps you can take to better position yourself in your new role. This guide will go over some of these steps.
Express gratitude, but don’t feel pressured to say ‘Yes’ right away
While you may want to jump on the opportunity right away, there is nothing wrong with taking a day or two to develop questions and gather comparable salary data for a potential salary negotiation.
It is easy to get wrapped up in the moment and feel like you need to answer immediately, but that is not usually the case. Be polite and show excitement, but don’t feel obligated to agree. Take a step back to give yourself a chance to thoroughly consider the offer and do some research to ensure you feel good about what the offer looks like.
Ask by when they need an answer
If you do take a step back, make sure to ask the recruiter by when they need a response. Typically, they will give you one or two days to think it over, but it is always a good idea to get a sense of their timeline as well so you don’t ruffle any feathers.
After the initial offer, the recruiter often follows up with an email recapping the terms of the offer so you can see it in writing. This is usually not the formal written offer, as that will come after this process concludes.
Develop questions and research salary data
Once you get the recruiter to agree to give you a couple of days to review your decision, spend that time wisely. This time is for considering questions you may not have thought to ask during recruitment. Don’t feel like you’re being a hassle; this is a normal part of any big decision-making process, and the company looking to recruit you should understand you have some lingering questions that need addressing.
This is also a good chance to research the company in more depth to understand its processes and what the team will look like once you join them. If you also decide to negotiate your salary, this is an excellent opportunity to research comparable roles in the industry. There are many tools online, like ZipRecruiter, that can help out with this process. If you plan to submit a counteroffer, it will help to ground it in comparable salary data to justify the request.
Ask your questions
Once you have gathered your questions and if you plan to send a counteroffer, type up an email with all the information and send it to the recruiter as soon as possible. This will give the recruiter a chance to reach out to the required parties since they will likely not have any team-level information or the authority to negotiate significant salary increases. The email you send will give them time to do the research and figure out what is possible.
Salary negotiations
When planning to negotiate your salary, it is best to devise a strategy before those talks begin. Focus on your strengths and qualifications and the value you can bring to your new role and the company. While many companies will not pay two employees different amounts for the same role, sometimes exceptions can be made based on candidate qualifications.
When in the negotiation phase, it is best to consider what you want to see and if you can have your benefits aligned with that. Be polite and respectful during the negotiation process, and be ready to compromise. You will not always get everything you ask for, but if it is worth asking – don’t stay silent.
Accept the offer
Once you feel like your questions have been answered and you are satisfied with the terms of the offer, you can email the recruiter or hiring manager who has been communicating with you and let them know you would like to accept the position.
You can send an email or give them a call if that is how you have been communicating. Be sure to get that communication out during the timeline you and the recruiter discussed previously so as not to keep them waiting longer than anticipated. If you are making a phone call and they miss your call, be sure to leave a voicemail and send a follow-up email to ensure all your bases are covered.
Be sure to express gratitude and excitement for your new role once again, and thank the recruiter for their time. If you negotiated terms, be sure to reiterate those terms of the offer for clarification.
After that, you should receive a formal offer letter so you can add your electronic signature. Once you sign the offer, you will usually be contacted about onboarding processes and steps you will need to take before your first day.
Tips
- Don’t feel pressured to say ‘Yes’ right away
- Get a timeframe of when they would need an answer
- Think of some questions you may have forgotten to ask during the interview process
- Research comparable roles and their salary data
- Ask your questions via email to give the recruiter time to research those answers for you
- During negotiations lean on your strengths and qualifications and the value you bring
- Be polite and respectful during negotiations. If you are too aggressive, they may rethink your fit with the company
- When you accept the offer, be sure to reiterate the terms of your negotiated deal
- Express your excitement for the role and thank the recruiter for their time