Receiving A Job Offer

Taking that next opportunity that feels right for you, is great. Here is how the final stages look when accepting a job offer.

You might think that everything is done when you’re offered a job, but there are still some important steps to work through.

Saying a resounding ‘yes’ or a short time to think, all play their role. Here are our most important reminders to how the final stages work.

Jaime Rana, Specialist Marketing Recruiter, states that firmly managing the correspondence between candidate and employer is important. “This is about setting expectations. For the candidate, this starts with a chat to discuss the terms of employment and present the formal job offer. For the employer, it’s managing the time scales and notice period so the start date is comfortable for both sides. Closely managing these steps is vital. For instance, if you are working through your notice period, there could be a get-together, one evening, with your new work team. You don’t want to miss out on these opportunities. Our side (as recruiters) is here to help form the early relationships.“

What if you need some time to decide? How long is ok? Karen Jayne Harris, Senior Consultant, suggests a 24-hour window, “If you need some time to make sure the job offer is aligned with your goals and development, a day to reflect might be what you need. What a candidate needs to remember is that a decision needs to be made to an employer and the last thing they want is an offer to go stale and an employer to consider an alternative.”

Ross Goode, Principal Consultant for Team Automotive, says that time plays a central role when the job offer is made. “Only recently, a passive candidate, who wasn’t initially looking for a new job, was offered a new opportunity with a new firm. Some time to think through is perhaps longer than someone who has been for a job interview and ready to accept if the opportunity arose.”

One thing that can happen is the counteroffer. Kimberley Best, Specialist Marketing Recruiter explains, “Only recently, I experienced four out of five existing companies offering their current employer more money to stay. One candidate decided to stay, but the others moved on. What this suggests is that even if you say ‘yes’ to a new job, there are still factors with a role to play. This is why the ability to liaise with both sides is so important. Everyone needs to be aware if circumstances change or alter.”

The next job is what feels right with you, provides a new challenge and becomes a new motivator.

It could be as simple as a straightforward yes, or a short time to decide. Whatever the scenario there are steps to manoeuvre to ensure all feels comfortable.