So you’ve been reading up every part of this editorial series so far. You’ve learned how to determine your value, set your expectations and read job offers based on those expectations.
There’s more ahead, because there are a couple more steps to successfully negotiating a job offer. At some point, it will involve being vocal about what you want.
TELL THE COMPANY WHAT YOU THINK.
Perhaps the most difficult part of being an applicant is convincing a potential employer that hiring said applicant is a win-win situation. Sometimes, what the applicant expects and what the company expects are two very different things and the screening will end at the second or even the first interview.
This is similar to how a potential hire must deal with a potential employer and vice versa during the job offer stage. The company is expecting that the candidate will be satisfied with the terms of the offer, while the candidate is expecting the company to make an offer that matches the value that they can bring to the organization.
It is through the eventual alignment or divergence of these two sets of expectations that the job offer is either accepted or declined. But neither alignment nor divergence can happen if the candidate doesn’t say what she or he thinks about the job offer.
In order to conclude this stage of the hiring process, there must be clear communication from the candidate to the company.
If you were in that situation, you would have to tell your potential employer what you think about their job offer to you. Tell them whether or not it is in line with how you expect to be valued as a professional with your qualifications. This is why you have established your worth and your selling points. This is why you have done your research on the market value of your unique qualifications. This is why you have thoroughly compared the job offer to your criteria. Use everything you have learned to discuss your response to the job offer.
Remember that the only thing the company can do if you do not respond is to give the offer to another qualified candidate. And that is the worst outcome you can get at such a stage.
Since you are required to give a response in order to avoid having the offer retracted, might as well make it a compelling response. Potential employers do have higher opinions of people who have communication and persuasion skills. That may actually help you convince them that you are a valuable potential asset to the company. So go ahead, tell them what you think of their job offer. Just remember to do so professionally and with valid reasoning.
There’s still a bit more that a career-seeker has to do to successfully get a favorable offer. Keep tuning in and find out more of the most helpful tips for negotiating a job offer!