Evaluating an employment offer
Receiving an employment offer
Your preparation has paid off! An employer has contacted you and made an offer of employment. Your professionalism and courtesy in thanking them will be appreciated, and it should be kept in mind that even if you decline the offer, it is important to build and maintain positive relationships with your network of contacts within the industry.
Your initial reaction may be to accept the offer, especially if this is your first ‘professional’ position. Indeed, this may be the most appropriate response after assessing the opportunity. Your enthusiasm and decisiveness is likely to have a positive impact on the employer.
If, however, you feel a little uncertain about the offer and wish to give it more careful consideration before you make a final response, most employers will respect your request to do so. It is not unusual for them to agree to allow you a few days to think things over if your request is made in an appropriate manner. That is, providing them with some explanation of your desire to reflect on all factors before making a decision that will be important in the formation of your career. Ensuring that you write down your impressions of the position and the organisation immediately after your interview can assist you in this process.
Some organisations will notify you, when offering you a position, of the date by which a decision must be made. In the case of many graduate recruitment programs, the deadline is sometimes be set by industry bodies and will apply to all like organisations recruiting at a similar time. This allows time for all recruitment processes to be carried out and offers delivered, as well as time for respondents to consider the offer and terms of employment. In this decision making phase, your professional approach to seeking further information, evaluation of your preferred employment conditions and assessment of what constitutes the right decision for you, are paramount.
Your research into the organisation and the type of work you're interested in prior to the recruitment process, will assist you in making decisions when offers are made. Be prepared and any uncertainty will be minimised.
top of pageWhat if you receive more than one offer?
You may find yourself in the enviable position of having more than one job offer to consider. Think carefully about each of the positions, the advantages and disadvantages that are associated with them, and assess how they fit into your future plans. Perhaps begin by rating what is important to you, and how these elements are satisfied by the offer at hand. Consider the long-term benefits as well as those that relate to the short term, including all facets of each option, not just the immediate starting salary. Ensure that your assumptions about each option are correct. It’s possible that both opportunities will be of equal benefit to you and it is advisable to talk to different people if this case arises. Your family and friends may be the closest resource at hand, with Careers Consultants at the University of Melbourne available to talk things over if required. If you can talk to someone who is, or has been, employed by the firm or within the same industry, this may also be helpful. Remember to use your networks.
How to evaluate an offer
You may wish to evaluate the following items when reviewing an employment offer:
- How does the position fit into your long and short term career goals?
- How appealing are the daily tasks within the work environment?
- Are the work goals realistic and attainable?
- Does the position enable you to use your strengths?
- Are there possibilities for developing new skills and enhancing your experience?
- What is the promotional structure and opportunities for advancement?
- What is the review process and are there career coaches or mentors for feedback?
- How well could you work with the supervisor and co-workers?
- Do the job’s demands fit in with your work/life balance?
- Will there be an increasing amount of overtime and are hours flexible?
- Are the salary and the benefits acceptable?
- Are there incentives or bonuses, and is there a corporate health or leisure scheme?
- Are the organisation’s values and vision compatible with your own?
- Will you feel motivated to commit yourself to the work and the organisation?
- Will this opportunity be of mutual benefit?
- What is the organisation’s stage of development and financial situation?
- What is the structure regarding size, team composition & clients?
- What exposure to clients will you have and where will assignments be located?
- Where is the job located? Will daily travel time be an issue?
- Will you have to relocate interstate?
- Will you have opportunities to travel overseas and interstate?
Remember that some of these issues will be more important to you than others; some may be negotiable, and others will be fixed. You should consider these practical implications in your evaluation to prevent them complicating your decision-making further on in the process.
A clear idea of your values, wants and needs is important when assessing a position and an organisation.
What if you still feel uncertain?
You may wish to clarify any concerns or uncertainty with the employer before you make a decision. It is possible that during the recruitment process you learn new information about the position, the reporting relationships, the benefits, or the organisation that suggest a different situation than you had otherwise expected. If at the end of your evaluation you are still uncertain, it might be beneficial to ask the organisation’s Human Resource Officer if you can speak to a person who is working in a similar position and can provide additional information. It may be useful to speak to a recent graduate as well as an employee several years into their career, to get a picture of the organisation at different career stages.
What to do once you've accepted an offer
Your acceptance (or declination) should be made in writing as soon as you have come to your decision. It is not recommended that you accept one offer and then reject it if another opportunity arises. This may reflect negatively on your future job search campaign, especially if you intend to continue working in the same field. Be aware that employers can be in contact with one another for business reasons, or they may belong to the same professional associations, so any unethical behaviour on your part may be discussed at some point.
Once you have accepted an offer of employment it is courteous to immediately reject any others that are pending. If rejecting an offer of employment, be professional, polite and tactful. Thank the employer for the offer, and then outline your reasons for rejecting it in a positive and constructive way.
If the offer of employment you receive is for a position that is not quite what you had expected for your first ‘professional’ position, it could still be worth considering: a start in your chosen field may be better than not having the option at all. Gaining an entry level position in a department other than that you had anticipated is still a good learning experience and is likely to be in your interest. You will be demonstrating flexibility to the employer and this willingness to adapt will be well regarded. If you are not prepared to compromise your ideals then you may have to re-evaluate your other options. If you remain uncertain about the offer then it may be advisable not to accept it. Remember, however, that in the current job market an employment offer that provides entry into an area of work where opportunities for development prevail is a great achievement.
If you find yourself in a situation where you are hoping for an offer from another employer instead of the one you have received, it may be possible to lobby your preferred employer. Having a firm job offer may encourage this employer to bring forward his or her decision if they are genuinely interested in you. If this fails, you will need to make a decision about the offer you have received; weigh up the previously listed items, think about how well you are qualified for the position, and consider the state of the job market.
What if you are still waiting for an offer?
You may be in a position whereby an offer has been made by one organisation, and you are still undergoing the selection process with another. You may prefer to wait for the second organisation to make a decision before choosing which offer to accept. Under these circumstances, it may be worth contacting both companies: the first to determine how much time you have to respond, and the second to determine when a decision is to be made. If the second company is interested in employing you, and knows that you have an offer already, they may be able to expedite proceedings. Whilst this is not always possible, a tactful and professional request should not harm your prospects.
If you haven’t received a job offer, it may be to your advantage to request feedback from the employer with whom you had the interview. Be positive about your request for information, explain that you are keen to find a similar position to the one you were interviewed for, and that it would be helpful if he or she could provide some guidance. Your enthusiasm and determination to secure employment may be remembered by the employer should future opportunities arise. Also, try to be objective and think about the questions you thought you answered well and those you did not. Imagine how you would answer them if you had another chance. Becoming aware of, and working on your weaknesses will help you overcome them.
Most importantly, keep up your job search activities. One way of overcoming your disappointment is to have other job applications currently under consideration.