3 Things to consider before getting a job offer

July 1, 11:25 PMPhiladelphia Job Search ExaminerMelanie Smith

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Getting a job offer is great, especially if you liked what you saw during the interview process. However, excitement can quickly turn into discouragement if the offer you get is not the one you wanted or expected. In the moment, you may find it difficult to negotiate for a better deal. Avoid that awkwardness by being prepared before getting an offer. Here are 3 tips on what to consider before you start negotiations.

Contemplate salary – how low can you go? Most employers will give you a salary range for the position, be it in the written job description or verbally during your interview. It is not uncommon for employers to make a “low-ball” offer to start, so don’t be surprised or insulted. Instead, be prepared.

Decide the absolute lowest salary you’d be willing to accept for the job. From there, determine what you think your skill set is worth in the context of the position. That is the salary you aim for. If the offer comes in below that, ask for your desired salary and give three attributes you bring to the table that make you worth your asking price. If the employer is not willing to raise the offer, propose reviewing your salary in six months instead of the standard year.

Ponder some alternatives – what else would make you happy? If you aren’t able to get an employer to raise their salary offer, you might be able to negotiate for other perks that would make you just as happy. An employer may be more agreeable to non-monetary alternatives in order to secure the best candidate. Again, be prepared.

Make a list of (reasonable) concessions you would be willing to consider in lieu of a larger salary, such as a bigger office, more vacation or PTO time, or flexible hours. If salary negotiations come to a stand still, be ready with your alternatives to keep the negotiation process moving forward.

Think about the complete benefits package – how is the offer as a whole? During the interview process, an employer will usually discuss their complete benefits package. This usually includes salary, health care, 401K, flexible spending accounts, etc. While pointing this out could be an employer’s subtle attempt to deflect talks about salary alone, it isn’t a bad idea to look at the package as a whole. The last thing you want is to get caught up in salary negotiations without at all considering the health care benefits and 401K contributions.

Calculate the total benefits package by adding into your salary the cost of health care that your employer will cover, the percentage of contribution they’ll make to your 401K, the money you’ll save using a flexible spending account (if offered), and so on. Also remember to add in any concessions that could have monetary value (i.e. vacation or PTO days, which equal your hourly rate times the number of hours you work in a day).

Only after considering all of this can you know what you’re truly being offered and whether or not the job is worth accepting.