Sealing the deal

Let’s assume your approach was successful and, after completing the employer’s chosen recruitment process, you’ve been offered a job. You must now decide whether or not to accept it.

If you need some time for this – thank the employer for their offer and ask for some time to think about it, discuss it with your family etc. Don’t forget to find out when they need to have your answer.

Some key questions to ask yourself (if you haven’t already):

• Is the salary acceptable?
• Will it be a reasonable commute?
• Am I happy with any added benefits, e.g. travel ticket loans, private healthcare etc.?
• Will there be the flexibility I’m looking for, e.g. for working from home?
• If you need to relocate – will there be any financial support available?
• If you have disclosed a disability – are they positive about making reasonable adjustments?

If you’re not happy with their offer there may be some instances where negotiation might be possible and don’t forget there are different elements of a job offer that you might wish to negotiate – ranging from salary and benefits to start date.

Successfully negotiating a job offer depends on whether you are in a position of strength. If they have seen something in you that they really want in their business, you might be in a stronger position.

Barnatt-Smith (2024), writing for SME specialists Real Business, suggests 5 best practices for negotiating a job offer:

1. Stay professional – don’t be demanding or disrespectful. If your salary negotiations are rejected, thank them for their consideration, reiterate your value, request feedback and offer to renegotiate – maintaining a positive relationship with your potential employer is important.
2. Look beyond salary – it may be possible to negotiate other benefits and flexibilities, such as more paid holiday days each year, free gym membership or flexible working hours.
3. Understand their constraints – try to propose options that suit you both. For example, in a small business that has never hired someone for your potential role, there might be room to adjust the salary or job title, but not other benefits.
4. Explain why you deserve what you’re asking for – the employer must believe you’re worth the offer you’re negotiating for. If you have no justification for a negotiation, it may be unwise to make it.
5. Be prepared for difficult questions – for example, ‘Do you have any other job offers?’; ‘If we make you an offer today, will you say yes?’; ‘Are we your top choice?’ Your goal is to answer honestly without giving your potential employer too much bargaining power.

If the employer simply has no room for negotiation and can’t meet your needs, thank them for their consideration, and then make your decision about whether or not to accept the offer on the table.

Questions to ask yourself:

• Is it worth working for them for e.g. a year, building relevant experience and a useful network of contacts (much easier from the inside) before looking for alternative options with other employers in the sector?
• Are there other employers in the region/sector that could offer you the same experience?

If you decide to join them, there may be further opportunities for negotiation once you’ve proved your worth.

Over to you

Ask around your friends and family to see if they’ve ever been involved in negotiating a job offer. Is there anything you can learn from their experience? If you’ve already had that experience yourself and want to share any tips with your fellow students, use the comments section below.