The whys and wherefores of job offers – We aim for all City CV clients to hear these words after we’ve helped them craft an exceptional CV, LinkedIn bio or interview technique. But do you know what to consider and what steps to take to accept or reject a role? Let City CV help you make up your mind. Firstly, let’s go back a little to …
The interview
We might think of an interview as a grilling, an interrogation, an examination, a testing part of the recruitment process and yes, the employer is likely to ask more of the questions, but you can ask questions too, and in actual fact, you must! The interview is an invaluable information-gathering opportunity about the role and the employer.
The job offer
Your interview was a success and the employer offers you the role. This is fantastic news – it places you in the luxurious position of having a decision to make.
But before you excitedly accept, take a deep breath and pause – there are some things to consider.
Resignation.
Don’t be hasty, wait until you have received a formal job offer on paper (and if one isn’t forthcoming, make sure you request one). You need to check the finer details of the job offer – you don’t want to resign from your existing role just to find that what was discussed on the phone hasn’t really materialised on paper.
Reflect on the interview, use the information you gathered!
How were your questions answered? Were there any ‘deal-breakers’ in the answers? If so, now’s the time to raise your concerns (and don’t be afraid to do so) either with your hiring manager, the employer’s HR department or the recruitment agency that put you forward.
Remuneration.
Whether the salary is the most important factor, or not, it’s still a factor. It’s essential that you’re happy with the salary package including share options, pension contributions and other benefits such as medical insurance. Do you have other offers on the table? Don’t be afraid to negotiate – just make sure you take a respectful, realistic approach.
Rung on the ladder.
Is this job the correct next rung on your career ladder? If it’s a sideways move, are you content that it’s tactical? Are you sure you want to work in this sector or do you want to diversify/stay where you are and consolidate, become an expert? This is perhaps the hardest consideration as everyone’s career path is individual to them so take some time if you need.
Accepting the job offer
If you have received a formal job offer in the post, you must reply by writing a formal letter too. What to include:
Address the letter to the person that offered you the job.
Thank them for offering you the role of xxx.
Accept the role and repeat the terms of the contract as you understand them e.g. I understand that my salary will be £xxx and that I will be entitled to x days holiday per calendar year.
Ensure that there are no spelling mistakes or typos – you want to reassert your professional attitude.
End on a positive note, perhaps saying how much you’re looking forward to starting on xxx date.
If you have received an email with attachments then a reply email is also acceptable.
Rejecting the job offer
It’s important that as soon as you know you’re going to reject the job offer, you do so. And don’t even think about not replying: this is not only rude and disrespectful but it may burn bridges for you in the future – you never know when you might cross paths again during your career.
If the employer phones you and you know you’re going to say no, then do so during that phone call. The sooner you let them know, the sooner they can find the right candidate and they’ll be grateful for this. Again, thank them for the opportunity, provide a brief reason, demonstrating that you have given the decision considerable thought, and end on a positive note, “I hope our paths cross again in the future.” You can follow a similar model if you’re communicating via email or post.
It goes without saying that the job offer is a critical part of the recruitment process and it’s important that you perform ‘due diligence’ and give the decision the time it requires. The recruitment process isn’t easy so you don’t want to revisit it until you’re ready to climb onto the next rung on your ladder. We’re all only human though and if you do make a mistake, City CV is on hand to help.