Evaluating, Accepting, and Declining an Offer
Deciding whether to take a particular job offering or choosing between different jobs offers can be difficult. Although there is not a universal set of criteria that will determine whether or not you should take one job over another, there are some key considerations that might help you in this process. Start with researching or working with a career coach to learn about the process of salary negotiation to feel prepared and confident.
When Negotiating Your Salary…
- Never take an offer immediately. Let the employer know you need some time to consider the offer.
- Do not disclose your current or previous salary or pay.
- Consider your full compensation package including benefits, paid time off, bonuses, flexibility, and other perks of the job.
- Never accept an offer immediately. Tell the employer that you appreciate the opportunity, but need to take some time to consider the offer.
- Be professional when turning down an offer. The people you met at organization A could be your colleagues at organization B in a year or two.
- Know your value: If the salary offered is lower than you are willing to accept, make a list of what you would bring to the employer, including background, skills, experience, and education that match the job description. When speaking to a hiring representative, show your initiative and desire to make a contribution.
- Do your own research to be educated on the range given for your desired role based on your education-level, field, training, location, etc. Check out PayScale, Salary.com, and Career Contessa’s Salary Project.
Avoid discussing salary until you are offered the position. Delaying the discussion of salary will give you time to do research and determine your market value relative to the specific position and give you the opportunity to convince the prospective employer that you are the one for the job.
Armed with information about the industry, the organization, its competitors, the function and the specific position as well as the cost of living where the job is based, you will have the leverage you need to negotiate the best offer possible.
Many employers will persist in requesting salary information, or may state that only candidates who provide this information will proceed in the interview process. First, try to respectfully change the subject.
Some examples of how to direct the conversation away from specific numbers include:
- “I would be happy to talk about that at the appropriate time. Why don’t you tell me more about …?”
- “Before we get to that, let me make sure I am even in your ballpark. What is the salary range for this position?”
- “I am not comfortable discussing salary at this stage. Perhaps we can do so when we meet in person (or after learning more about the responsibilities)?”
- “For a person with the skills and experience you want, I would expect that this position would not pay less than ‘x.’ Correct?”
- “I do not wish to discuss salary until I develop a better understanding of the challenges of the position.”
- “I am sure we can come to a salary agreement if I am the right person for the job.”
If you are pressed to give a salary expectation, give a range. Use statements such as, “I am considering opportunities between $60,000-$75,000 in total compensation.” Make sure that the lower end of the range is a salary that you would find acceptable. Remember, it’s important to ask for what you want in a respectful way. This way you don’t wonder “what if…?”
