Responding To Job Offers

Congratulations! All the hard work you put into completing your resume and cover letter, as well as your interview preparation, has resulted in a job offer. Now what?

Obviously, this is great news and your first inclination may be to blindly accept; however, it is usually a good idea to take a little time to evaluate the offer before committing yourself.

Of course, in many small businesses employment offers may be made on the spot, with the job applicant either accepting or declining the job then and there. But even in these situations, job applicants should reserve the right to consider the offer.

In larger organizations, job candidates are usually notified of their selection by phone call, followed by a formal Job Offer Letter. You may accept or decline the offer by telephone, but it is generally best to defer your final decision until you get the offer in writing.

Once you receive a formal Job Offer, highlight the following information:

* The Position being offered. Is the Job Title for the same position you interviewed for?

* Verify that the salary offered is within the expected range.

* Review any listed conditions of employment such as physical exams, proof of citizenship, references, credentials, hours, travel, etc.

* Likewise, identify any condition you feel needs clarification.

When considering a job offer, be mindful that you are still in a job-seeking mode until you actually get on the payroll. As such, openly expressing uncertainty or unreasonably delaying your final decision may cause an employer to question your interest and commitment.

That said, this is not to suggest that you should feel obligated to automatically accept any job offer presented to you. However, by the time things progress to a formal offer of employment, most, if not all negotiable conditions such as salary, benefits, responsibilities, starting date, etc. will have been agreed upon or at least discussed in some detail during the interview process.

Nevertheless, in the event some conditions have not yet been “hashed out”, feel free to continue negotiating, but be cautious about renegotiating previously agreed upon conditions. (Such practices tend to antagonize prospective employers, and could result in the rescinding of the job offer.)

To avoid misunderstandings, it is recommended that you respond to job offers by both phone and letter. As previously stated, procedures in smaller companies may not be so formal, just the same, it is always a good idea to put things in writing.

In preparing your written response to a job offer, do the following:

* Format your response as a Formal Business Letter.

* Write clearly and keep things brief and to the point.

* State up front whether you accept or decline the offer. If you need additional time to consider the offer, give a firm date for making your decision.

* If you accept, summarize your understanding of the conditions of employment. Also, note any conditions that seem contrary to what was previously discussed.

* Verify job title, salary, and sign-on bonus (if applicable).

* List any remaining negotiable items, and state what you're asking for.

* Commit to a firm starting date, keeping in mind that if you are presently employed giving a two week notice to your current employer is customary.

* End your letter by expressing enthusiasm for the opportunity and your desire to get started.

Good Luck.