Getting a Job Offer

I-What Should You Do Before Accepting a Job Offer?

Finally, you have been offered a job that you apply for - how exciting. But no matter how happy you are to have an offer, it is not a good idea to make a decision immediately. Most companies will not expect you to make a decision immediately. Spend this time figuring out if the offer is right for you. The following guidelines can help you assess a job offer.

Get the Written Offer Letter

The written offer should include all the important terms of the job and your obligations to the company. Even if you've already had some time to think over an offer and you've assured the company that you'll accept it, you should still ask to see the offer in writing. Make sure the job title, salary, and benefits match or improve upon what you had in mind when you said you'd accept it. If it doesn't measure up, promptly contact the company and let them know what's missing.

Know What You're Getting into

Be sure that you have a clear understanding of your job responsibilities. Ask for a job description that includes all your responsibilities. This will help you understand the position and the expectations-and later on, if you've exceeded the requirements for the position, it will give you some leverage with which to negotiate.

You should also try to get a sense of how your job fits into the company as a whole. Will you work with people from other departments? Is there room for advancement? What if you start in publicity but become interested in doing something business-related? Does there seem to be much flexibility?

If you're being offered a job to replace someone, you may want to ask what happened with the previous person. If the hiring manager doesn't answer your question or seems uneasy, this maybe cause for concern.

Know the Nature of the Job

Make sure you know what you want. Keep in mind that a job isn't like a date-you shouldn't just accept the offer and see what happens. Whether you see it as a way to pay the rent or consider it a fundamental step in a career path, taking a job that you're unsure of is asking for trouble.

Make sure the description of the job appeals to you and serves your objectives-not just those of the company. It may be better to hold out for something better than end up in a situation you eventually regret.

Meet your co-workers

You should also try to meet the people you'll be working with day to day. You may get along well with your manager-to-be, but what if the people at your level are intensely competitive, boring, or unfriendly? Talk to your future co-workers before making a decision.

Find out the Working Hours

Many people accept a job without knowing what kind of time commitment it will involve. Ask the employees you meet how many hours a week are standard. In many positions, you'll be expected to work a 50-hour week-and you should know that in advance. Otherwise, both you and the company lose when you quit after a month of training.

As for vacation, sometimes two weeks means ten days, not fourteen days. Be sure to clarify. If you have a wedding to go to the following month, be sure to negotiate before you accept the offer. Again, get the company's policy in writing.

Imagine Yourself if You Accept The Job

In evaluating job offers, take the time to make sure you're making the decision for reasons you're comfortable with-and taking the job that you want. Keep in mind that by being up front with yourself and your potential employer, you're saving both of you time and money. The more clarity you have about the situation you're getting into, the more likely you'll love what you're doing and stick to the position you've taken.

II-References - They can Make or Break a Job Offer

You have focused on your resume, interviewing skills, networking, and what to wear to the interview. Now, the focus shifts. If you are among the top candidates, the next step for your prospective employer is to check your references. How do you ensure these individuals will seal the deal for you, and not blow it away?

You need to choose people as your references who would unquestionably offer a glowing report about you. This may sound obvious, but references sometimes have bad impressions of applicants. Consider bosses, instructors, or coworkers in positions of authority. You should not chose family and friends, who may be unaware of your work habits. Keep in mind that your references are an extension of you. They are just as important as your interview or your resume.

III-What To Do When a Headhunter Calls?

You are sitting at the office and your phone rings. On the other end of the line is a recruiter who would like to talk to you about a "career opportunity" that could be attractive to you. The word recruiter is another way to say "Headhunter." So, who are these "Headhunters" anyway? In general, they help employers recruit critical talent. Usually they seek only professional people to fill executive, technical or high-level administrative positions. Today, the "best and brightest" are always in demand. So, don't be surprised if a Headhunter calls.

From a business perspective, talking with the Headhunter can broaden your business contacts. Moreover, the headhunter will likely give you useful information on what's happening in the market.

Here are some tips for you to handle these calls

IV-Getting Rejected for a Job

Whether you like it or not, at some point in your life you may get rejected. It could be by a by a potential boyfriend/girlfriend, or by a potential employer. The good news is there is an upside. The trick is to find out the reason and use that rejection to your advantage and learn from it. If you are rejected for a job, call the recruiter to ask for feedback: " I am aware that you have chosen someone else for the job, but could you please spend a few minutes to give me some feedbacks so I can learn how to improve and continue my job search?"

Some common reasons for an employer not hiring an applicant include:

Try to avoid the above pitfalls, and listen carefully when gathering feedback. Chances are, if you understand why you were not chosen this time, you can correct your mistakes and improve your chances of being chosen next time!

V-Negotiating a Great Salary

Once you get a job offer, the hard part is over. Now you have to negotiate a reasonable salary. Negotiating is an art. And one that needs to be practiced if you want to be good at it.

If you have good experience bargaining and negotiating prices while you shop, then you have a good point to start from. But getting a good salary is very different than getting a good price in the market. You may want to get a friend to help you in a little role-playing exercise so that you can practice what you want to say and what you want to ask for.

You have to know your goals. Salary negotiating is not about winning at all costs, but getting a salary that you are satisfied with. Start by figuring out what the average income is for someone with the same job and then decide what your ideal salary and benefits would be. If you focus on your goals instead of just winning the negotiation, then you will know when to accept the job offer.

Sometimes you have to look beyond the salary when negotiating. Be prepared to make some compromises. If the company does not want to give you X amount of money, then see what extra benefits you can get in return for less money. If you need to move for the job, perhaps the company can help with relocation costs. Maybe you can get extra vacation time or complete social or health insurance. If you still aren't getting what you want, ask for a performance review in six months time, and get the company's commitment that if you are performing above expectations, you will get a salary raise.

Quit while you are ahead. If you continue negotiating, even after a good job offer, the company could just stop talks and present an ultimatum. They could say, "accept X amount or you get no job," and X amount could be less than the fair offer that you had negotiated earlier. Another bad outcome is possibly alienating your future boss. It would not be good to have your boss resent you before you even start working. So be sensitive and reasonable.

Once you have the negotiations complete, make sure that you get it in writing before you finally accept the job.

VI-When You Have Been Offered A Position in Another City But Your Spouse Is Employed Here

Extremely strong job markets in certain parts of the country have forced many people to confront the issue of relocating for a new job. If you have a job offer in another market and a spouse employed in your present market, the spouse is likely to be extremely reluctant to give up a job, sacrifice income and run the risk of starting over again elsewhere. It is a difficult decision, often complicated by the reluctance of the working spouse to pull up stakes and move.

The first thing you should do is ask if your new company offers job-search counseling for working spouses. Some companies offer this service as an extra benefit, because it is necessary to attract the people they want.

Job-search counseling, which combines personal counseling with job-search training, teaches the spouse how to look for a job in the new location. The goal is to ensure that the relocation will be as beneficial to the spouse's career as it is to the person offered the new job. It is predicated on the ideas that spouses should not sacrifice their own careers or lose income to relocate. If your new company does not offer this service, you and your spouse can work together to find job opportunities in the new location. You must remember that you need to search for jobs in a variety of industries, unless your spouse is in a highly specialized field. In the search, do not overlook cities in surrounding areas.

Ask your new employer and colleagues for job leads in the new market. Frequently, employees are members of business associations and civic groups. They may have information about potential employers for your spouse. Their friends or associates may be able to provide leads, too. Additionally, utilize resources of professional associations your spouse may belong to. Friends or former business associates who live in that market are prime sources of job leads. People in your present market also may be information sources. And don't forget to check newspaper classified ads.

If your spouse has employable skills and a good work record, finding a job in a new location should not be a problem. Persistence is required, though, because of competition in the new market. Interview follow-up calls should be made regularly. The spouse also has to be flexible enough to take a job quickly after it has been offered. Employers are not willing to wait a long time for a decision. If the spouse does not respond rapidly, the job could go to someone else.

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