Weighing Your Job Offer

All of your hard work has accumulated to a job offer – so, what comes next?

You did it — you submitted the perfect resume, nailed the interview, aced their assessments. And now, your hard work has paid off with a job offer. With all the effort you put into the process, it can feel all the sweeter after weeks or even months to get it.

But this is not the end just yet. You still have one last decision to make — whether to accept or decline the offer. While accepting it is a fairly straightforward process, you also need to know what to do in the event that you ultimately decide that the job offer is not for you. After all, to end things between you and the company on a sour note will be detrimental.

Whatever your answer is, there are also some things that you need to consider before making that decision:

1. Getting the offer

Hiring managers will typically contact successful candidates via email, although other means such as phone calls and text messages may be used. Once you express interest in moving forward, they will then send you a letter of offer.

Before you do anything else, be sure to read through the letter carefully. If you have any doubts or concerns, contact the hiring manager immediately. In particular, you should look out for these:

• The job title • Fixed salary and benefits (this includes monthly allowances or claims) • Variable incentives (such as commissions and bonuses) • Professional development/lifelong learning provisions • Probation period (be sure to pay attention to its length as well as the terms of the probation) • Notice period (the period of time between tendering your resignation and the actual date you leave the company) • Expected hours of work • Annual leave and sick leave entitlements • Company insurance coverage • Start work date

Although it can be tempting to just agree to the job offer, it is best to take your time to review it before finalising your decision. Employers will usually give you a few days to consider, and if needed, may agree on extending the deadline if you ask politely. Do not drag it out for too long, though.

VACANT

2. Clarify any doubts and concerns

If there is any part of the offer that you do not understand, do not make any assumptions and ignore it. After all, the last thing you should do is agree to something if you are not completely sure about what you are getting into. Instead, contact the recruiter immediately for any clarifications you need.

For graduate programmes, check if the offer is conditional — meaning that the offer could only be confirmed upon you obtaining the required grades or certification stipulated in the offer, such as at least obtaining a degree with honours.

Moreover, keep in mind that most graduate programmes take place from around May to September, and may require you to fly over to the company’s headquarters to train with other graduates worldwide. Once you receive your offer, you can consult with Career Coaches so they can advise you. Afterwards, you can get back to the hiring manager so that you are both on the same page.

Another mistake that graduates tend to make is overlooking nondisclosure clauses, as well as terms of exit from an employer (which can include non-competition clauses in some cases). Failure to adhere to these clauses, such as leaking confidential information on the job, can prove detrimental, not just to the company’s reputation but your own as well. As such, it is best to leave no stone unturned, and bring up any concerns you might have with the hiring manager as soon as possible.

3. Accepting the offer

After looking through everything and being sure that this is what you want, go ahead and sign the contract. Most companies find this sufficient, but others may require you to respond with a proper acceptance letter as a formal agreement to join the company.

With this good news in hand, be sure to show your appreciation to those who have helped you along in this process, one way or another. From your referees to those giving you support, send them a simple ‘thank you’ for all they have done.

4. Declining the offer

However, sometimes you may have second thoughts even after everything is said and done. Even if you realise that you do not want the offer, you still need to give a reply. To ghost the company and assume that the hiring manager will get the message is extremely rude — you will be leaving a poor impression and be blacklisted from any future jobs from them.

The moment you decide that this job is not for you, contact the hiring manager immediately about your decision. This can be done either via call (informal) or email (formal). Be extremely apologetic, thank the recruiter and interviewers for their time, and clearly inform them that you are unable to accept their offer. Keep it brief and polite, but also have some tact – responding with something like ‘your offer was not good enough’ is definitely not the way to go about it.

5. Early offers

Some graduates may find themselves with offers before they even start looking for jobs. These can come from plenty of places, from an impressed boss from a previous internship, recommendations from family and friends or even being scouted by companies for your outstanding performance.

But before you agree to the offer, remember that you are not running on a ‘first-come-firstserve’ basis. Unless you are really sure that you want the job offer, there is no obligation for you to immediately accept it. Instead, it is best to consider your other options in the job market, as well as do your research to make an informed decision.

This approach will not only benefit you, but the recruiters extending the offer as well. After all, it means that they will be likely to bring in a candidate who is not only in-line with what they want, but is whole-heartedly willing to stay with the company.

6. Things not to do when getting an offer

Burning bridges with the offering company is really the last thing you should do – they can still be a source of new opportunities in the future. Carrying out the actions below is not only highly unethical, but also reflect badly on your level of professionalism:

• Signing multiple letters of acceptance, with the excuse of just ‘trying out’ different companies or to ‘reserve’ your place while still looking • Continuously delaying your response to multiple offers, only to ghost them afterwards upon making a decision • Accepting an offer verbally or in writing, but turn it down later after getting a better offer