What You Must Do Before You Accept A Job Offer

After interviewing with three to 10 people over several months, you’ve finally received an offer from a company you’d love to work at. You’re elated and excited to share the great news with family, friends and trusted co-workers who’ve been cheering you on throughout the hiring process.

Once the euphoria wears off, it's time to focus on the nitty-gritty aspects of accepting the offer. You want to ensure that you’ve been given a competitive compensation package, an appropriate corporate title, health benefits at a reasonable out-of-pocket expense and a 401(k) or similar retirement investment plan. Moreover, you want to ensure that you understand your soon-to-be boss's expectations and the internal-growth path.

Asserting And Advocating For Yourself

Before you accept the offer, it's okay to negotiate and make a counteroffer. Although uncomfortable and awkward, haggling is part of the process. Request a follow-up meeting if you still have unresolved questions.

It is acceptable to ask for a call or sit down with the manager to iron out some details and concerns. If you’ve only met the new manager once, the person could have put on their best performance, enticing you to come aboard.

A second conversation can confirm that the person is genuinely nice and empathetic. If the supervisor comes across as annoyed and inconvenienced at needing another meeting, it's a telltale sign that the manager’s initial conversation was performative, and you’re now finding out their real persona. In this instance, the follow-up may have saved you from a bad experience. Similarly, if the paperwork from human resources is daunting and overwhelming, don’t be shy. Keep asking questions until you fully understand your coverage.

After The Offer, You Need Time To Think

Career advice usually focuses on what you want to do next and how to navigate and succeed in the interview process. There’s less discussion about what you must do after an offer is extended. During the interviewing process, you’re highly focused on selling yourself, sweet-talking the interviewers, answering the onslaught of invasive questions, continually conducting homework and preparing for the next round of interviews.

If you currently have a job, you’re juggling both work and interviewing, while trying hard to keep everything under wraps. You don’t want to blow up your spot and put yourself in an awkward position with your boss and co-workers.

Now’s the time to distance yourself from the job hunt and digest everything that’s happened. It's easy to get caught up in emotions, but you must soberly review a number of factors.

Things You Need To Look Into To Make Sure You’re Making The Right Decision

• If you haven't done so, conduct due diligence to determine if the offer is competitive with what other companies are paying for the same role. Be honest with yourself. If the job pays well, are you taking it just for the money? If the firm offers top dollar, it could be due to excessive turnover, and they need to bribe people to come aboard. Earning a handsome pay package is lovely; however, if there is no future growth, you may feel stuck within a year or two. If the compensation seems almost too good to be true, there might be a catch.
• Inquire about the work-life balance and whether the role is in-office, remote or hybrid. If you want a remote work style, get it in writing so the company can’t do a bait-and-switch later on, requiring you to come into the office five days a week. This is especially important if you would have a long commute or live far away from the office.
• Since you will work closely with your boss and co-workers, check them out on LinkedIn and social media. Replay in your mind how they came across throughout the interview process. Did you see any potential signs that this might not be the right fit? If you’re unsure, conduct a reverse reference check to determine if the new manager has a history of hiring and quickly firing, terrorizing their staff, being difficult, stealing credit for others’ ideas and generally being unpleasant. Additionally, look into the company's financial situation to see if it is doing well. Find out if there are any plans for layoffs or if there have been offers rescinded recently.
• What was the vibe in the office or on video interviews? Did it seem as if the workers were happy and had a camaraderie spirit? When going through the hiring process, did managers say they’d provide you with the necessary resources, person-power and budget to succeed in your new role? Look into the company’s mission statement and values to ensure they align with your interests.

Human Resources And All The Paperwork

Ensure you get everything in writing, including base salary, bonuses and stock options. Scrutinize if there are any catches in the offer letter, such as a noncompete clause, if you’re required to pay back a signing bonus or relocation package or leave behind equity if you depart before a specified period.

Not all health insurance packages are created equal. Some out-of-pocket costs and copayments are high and eat into your salary, decreasing the value of your overall compensation. Make sure that your doctors are on the plan. As people live longer, saving for the future is important. Check out if there is a profit-sharing, 401(k) or other retirement plan. If so, investigate the fund choices and look into their long-term performance. Find out about maternity or paternity leave, vacation time and personal time off.