What to Do When You Receive a Job Offer
After you receive a job offer, you will want to ask yourself several questions and weigh numerous pros and cons before accepting or declining.
Questions You Should Ask
Is the salary and benefits package fair?
- Because of a varying cost of living across the country, you should make an effort to determine what is an appropriate entry-level salary in your field, not only on a national scale, but also on a regional scale. The career services office serving your discipline may provide salary data for recent graduates. Often, professional membership and licensing companies also maintain salary data based on surveys of their membership. Numerous online sources provide salary statistics, searchable by job title and geographic region. For example: www.bls.gov/oco/, http://jobstar.org, www.salary.com. State salaries are public record; nonprofit companies may also have salary information published. Talking with peers in your discipline may also help.
- Cost of living expenses are also very important to consider, since these greatly impact the value of the salary you are being offered.
- Ask a few questions about the health care package being offered, such as: Do employees pay part of the insurance premium? When does health care take effect? Does the plan cover your partner or dependents? Does the health care package include vision, dental, orthodontic, and psychological services? What are my premium and co-payment or deductible expenses? Can you participate in a flexible spending account?
- How are retirement plans structured? Does the company match my contributions? Is there a vesting schedule?
- Will professional organization membership be subsidized? Can you attend career development conferences?
- Does the company offer child care benefits? What about participation in a flexible dependent care spending account?
- Travel discounts? Fitness membership? Cafeteria plan? Free parking?
Are the terms of the appointment clearly defined?
- Do you have a clear start date?
- Have you seen a job description?
- Who will be your supervisor?
- Is your company an 'at will' employer, or do you have a contract?
- How and when will your performance be evaluated?
- Will you have opportunities for advancement?
Is this company and position a good "fit" for you?
- Ask yourself how you see yourself in this environment. Do you think you can thrive and be happy at this company? Does the department seem collegial? Will it be a positive work environment? Are you excited by the opportunity to work with the staff in the department and the leadership?
- Are you supportive of the company mission, vision, and values?
- What do your instincts tell you about the environment, given your interviewing experiences?
What will your working conditions be like?
- What hours are you expected to work? Evenings, weekends?
- How much travel will be required?
- Are the responsibilities appropriate for the position and compensation?
- Will you be provided an office, computer, clerical support, and all tools/resources necessary for your work?
- Will the workload and time commitment fit with your other obligations and interests?
Will you be able to have a life outside work?
- Is the company 'family friendly' or supportive of your lifestyle choices?
- Ask questions about local housing, public schools, and the community. Is this a community you will enjoy living in?
- Is the cost of living prohibitive in the area?
- If relevant, will your partner be able to secure satisfying work in the area?
- Will your partner and/or children be happy in this community?
- If the company has a hiring program for domestic partners, can it perhaps identify suitable employment for your spouse?
What if this position is not your first choice?
If you receive an offer from a company that is not your first choice, and you are hoping for good news from another company, request more time from the company making an offer. While a few days is standard, you can sometimes negotiate for more time. After you've received an offer, you may wish to telephone the company(s) that you would most prefer to work at and explain that you have received an offer from another employer (without naming the specific company). Sometimes the decision has been made but the paperwork is slow, and a phone call can help speed up the process and provide you with an answer more quickly. If the other companies you are waiting to hear from cannot give you an answer in the timeframe you require, however, you may be forced to make a difficult decision.