What to Consider When Measuring a Job Offer

As Forbes contributor Liz Ryan writes, the ordeal of finding a new full-time job can lead you to believe that any employment is better than unemployment. Don’t fall into this trap! The last thing you want to do is tether yourself to a job that you’ll hate and won’t help advance your career prospects. Even if you feel up against a wall, acting out of defense will only lead to disappointment down the line.

When offered a position, Ryan says to ask for a written offer letter and make sure all your personal needs are met. Compare the specs on the letter to your wish list. Accept if you’re satisfied. If not, take advantage of your negotiating power. Know that the company has already invested in making you the offer and won’t rescind it as long as you handle your rebuttal with tact.

The items Ryan says you need to consider include your job title, compensation, and benefits:

“Don’t think ‘I can’t possibly negotiate this offer! Maybe the company will rescind it if I do that!’ If you have that much fear going into the job, then I guarantee that taking the job will be a bad thing for you. It isn’t reasonable to ask for the moon, but it is more than reasonable for ask for a salary that matches the responsibility level of the job, a title that reflects the scope of the role, and a time-off allowance that honors the time you’ve already spent in the workforce.”

The article also includes Ryan’s thorough guide for negotiating a job offer, so I recommend giving the link below a click to read the whole thing. Have you ever negotiated a job offer? What was your experience like? Let us know in the comments below.