Job Offers: Your Salary | Successful Negotiation | Get the Offer | Analyse the Offer | Evaluate the Offer | Negotiate or Accept | Agreement and Final Offer | Negotiation Example | Reasonable Requests

Get The Offer

An offer is sometimes made by phone or in a face-to-face meeting. If by phone, express your appreciation and interest. If in a face-to-face meeting, take several seconds to quietly contemplate the offer. What is offered is typically somewhat lower than the employer is prepared to offer with a little prodding. During the silence, the manager may speak first and increase the offer to a higher amount or indicate a willingness to negotiate.

By phone, you cannot “quietly contemplate” for very long or the manager will think you have been disconnected. Hesitate a bit, then say something like, “I would love to work with you, thank you for your offer I think it is in the right ball park, but would ideally benefit from a little tweaking.” Clarify once again the position, the level of responsibilities, what you have to offer and what you can contribute. Tell the manager you will need some time to think the offer over.

Most companies will allow you several days. Some may give you a week if you need it. Some companies may want to hear your decision the next day. Take the time you need to make a good decision. Shield yourself from their anxiousness to get a positive decision and get you on board.

Clarify other aspects of the job offer such as medical and dental benefits, vacation, so that you can evaluate the entire compensation. Request benefit literature and an employee policy handbook to assist in your evaluation. Finally, ask for the offer in writing.

“Thank you. I appreciate the offer and find the prospect of working for XYZ Corporation very exciting. (Silence or hesitation.) I’d like to take some time to make sure I understand the entire offer, and fully evaluate the offer according to my needs.”

“Would you please provide the offer in writing to me, and include a copy of the benefits book and employee handbook for me to consider all the information?”

You should not negotiate at this time. Examples of negotiating questions to avoid are:

• What kind of flexibility do you have?
• How firm is that amount?