how to accept and negotiate a job offer.

Accepting a verbal offer isn’t as easy as saying, ‘I want the job; where do I sign!’ You must first consider whether the salary package being offered is what you want and whether the potential start date will work for you and your current employer.

If the job offer is everything you could want, then, of course, say yes and work out the next steps. But if you’re unsure and you’ve discussed the details of the job offer, say thank you and then ask for some time to think about it.

Express your interest in the job and agree on a time for you to follow up with them either over the phone or in writing. This gives you time and space to either accept the offer as is or the opportunity to negotiate.

here are four steps on how to negotiate and accept a job offer.

express your appreciation and excitement

If offered the job over the phone, express your thanks for the job offer and highlight critical reasons why you are excited to join the team.

Then ask for the time to go through the details of the job offer in writing and agree on when you’ll get back to them and the next steps.

evaluate the offer (salary, job title, benefits, start date etc.)

Read through the job offer in detail. This is now your chance to ask what changes you’d like to make to the terms and conditions and ask any clarifying questions about the role and the offer. Consult advice if needed here to help you prepare. 

Important to note here is the benefit of recruitment consultants during the negotiation process. Talking about money and help with your potential employer can be awkward or often challenging, so having a third party represent you during this process is a huge advantage.

negotiate the offer

If you like the job and want it, but some elements don’t align with your expectations, now is the time to negotiate to get what you want and deserve.

Some things to consider:

salary and bonus.

• Do your research online to find out what similar roles in the market are worth, or talk to a specialist recruiter at Randstad who can advise you in this regard.
• Be fair and reasonable during this negotiation process.

performance review process

• Ask about this process, as you can always work a performance review into your offer to negotiate a salary review or bonus payment.

additional benefits

• If it’s a deal-breaker or just really important to you and you know that other employees have these benefits, ask about including benefits such as health insurance, parking, or coaching and development programs. 

superannuation.

If it’s important to you, you could consider a higher contribution (over and above the minimum required by law).

flexibility.

This is increasingly an expectation in most workplaces. However, if you need specific requirements regarding flexibility regarding times, days or location, negotiate that as part of your offer.

if you accept the job, say thank you in writing.

Once you’ve accepted the position, let your future employer know how excited you are about the role.

Your future employer will be as excited as you are about joining the company.

And know that a personal thank you goes a long way, so it’s thoughtful to address the hiring manager and the recruiter who sent the offer and the recruiter or hiring manager who helped you through the interview process.  

ask about the next steps.

• Do you require any background checks or other screenings?
• How will the onboarding process work?
• What tech will you be given, and when will it arrive?
• What do you need to know and do for your first day?

proofread your acceptance email

Whether you’re a seasoned professional or new to the world of work, it doesn’t hurt to run through your email a few times to ensure you’ve included everything you wanted to know and ask and to check for any grammatical errors that might have slipped through.

This will ensure you give your new employer the best impression of you and show how thoughtful and organised you are. You can always get a friend or trusted colleague to provide feedback if it helps.