How to Respond to a Job Offer
Receiving a job offer is exciting, particularly if you’ve been looking for a new position for some time. Regardless of what happens next, reaching this stage warrants a pat on the back. Congrats on acing your interview, impressing the company, and being invited onboard.
However, before accepting the offer, you need to consider a few things. Is the position the one you want, or were you simply applying to everything relevant and hoping something stuck? How’s the pay? The commute time? The benefits? I can’t help you evaluate the specifics of the position, but I can teach you how to respond to a job offer.
Create a Job Offer Template
If you are interviewing with multiple companies, it’s not uncommon to receive multiple offers. Creating three job offer templates (one for acceptance, one for rejection, and one for negotiation), can help you save time and maintain your reputation. Ideally, the template should be polite, professional, and clear.
Typical Job Offer Channels
How you respond to a job offer depends on the channel that the offer was made in. As such, your job offer template should be flexible and adaptable to various communication mediums. Traditionally, job offers were delivered via letter but times have changed with the technology. Here are two of the most common channels:
Email is the communication tool of choice for many organizations, and that often extends to their hiring. When presented with an email job offer, it is advisable to provide your answer via email – recruiters and hiring managers may not be expecting a phone call.
- Phone Call
Often companies and/or recruiters make job offers via telephone and provide a deadline for your response. If you have a straightforward accept or reject the answer, it is typically okay to reply via email. If you need an extension on the deadline or wish to negotiate terms, considering replying via phone.
How to Respond to a Job Offer
- Accept
The job is yours, but you still have a reputation to maintain. Be appreciative, confident, and express your desire to help the company thrive.
- Reject
Even though you aren’t accepting today’s offer, you don’t want to burn any bridges. Be polite, professional, and unambiguous with your job offer rejection.
- Negotiate
Job offer negotiation is a viable tool if you are interested in the position but have issues with the pay or benefits. Be polite and clear with your requests.
Still, wondering how to respond to a job offer?
If you need hands-on assistance from a recruitment specialist, the Expect team is always happy to help. Reach out anytime for a free consultation.
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