Got the Offer, Now What?

By Dedra Perlmutter, Senior Career Coach and Human Resources Manager, JVS Careers

You’ve been through the long interview process, you’ve waited anxiously to receive good news, and the offer finally comes. Hooray! But wait! Don’t sign the offer just yet…

There are many factors to consider when negotiating a job offer, including the way you communicate.  Let’s take a look at a few best practices.

Before interviewing for the position, you should have completed your research regarding salary expectations. Today salary is typically one of the first things addressed during the interview process and is often included on the application. To help determine an approximate salary range for a given position, you can consult a career coach, or seek out an online tool that will give you reliable information.

Salary, however, is not the only thing to consider when it comes to negotiating a job offer. Have you taken a look at the other benefits the company offers? What about paid time off? A signing bonus? Here are some things, besides salary, to consider when negotiating:

• Your Start Date: You can request to push it back an extra week.
• Vacation/PTO: If the new company’s policy gives you less time off than your last employer, you could ask for additional paid time off.
• Flexible Schedule and Working From Home: If the new location would be a farther commute than you were hoping for, you could negotiating a flexible work schedule and/or work from home capabilities.

In addition, you could negotiate a signing bonus, relocation expenses if applicable, technology or training, and professional development costs.

Keep in mind that there are some benefits that cannot be negotiated, including most health benefit plans and retirement savings accounts. These are not under the governess of the employer and cannot be changed.

When approaching your job offer negotiation, preparation is key. Make sure you know what you want before you get started. If you plan to ask for an increase in the salary, have your research as well as justification for the increase in hand. Sometimes a company is not able to negotiate salary; that would be an opportunity to seek out other added benefits, such as additional paid time off.

A few things to remember when negotiating—make sure to express your excitement and appreciation for the offer from the very beginning; smile and remember that being likeable always helps; and when you’ve agreed to the final offer, make sure you have it in writing.

Contact us at JVS Careers to learn more.

Dedra Perlmutter, CPRW, SHRM-CP, PHR, is a Senior Career Coach, Human Resources Manager, and Scholarship Administrator at JVS Careers. Dedra provides extensive knowledge to clients in the areas of job searching, interviewing, networking, personal branding, image and career strategies. With almost 20 years of HR experience, in a variety of industries, Dedra is well-versed in recruiting and employment, and brings with her “insider knowledge” of what employers are looking for in potential employees. By leading workshops and working with clients individually, Dedra is able to serve as a resource for those that are looking to make a career change or to enhance their current career path.

To contact Dedra Perlmutter by phone, please call (513) 745-2904, or email her at [email protected].