Module 03: Job Search
Accepting Offers & Handling Rejection
Did you know that you can negotiate your job offers with employers? Accepting an offer may include: confirming the starting dates, salary negotiation, and other terms of the employment contract.
A survey by Salary.com revealed that:
- 67% of job seekers never negotiate their salaries
- 7% of women attempted to negotiate their first salary, while 57% of men did
- Those who negotiated were able to increase their salary by an average of over 7%
Here are some tips to help you negotiate job offers. Prior to sending a written offer, employers may contact you by phone to negotiate details including start date, terms of employment and salary rate. When the potential employer provides the details, inquire as to whether the employer can send you the details via email.
- Confirm before the deadline. Write an email with a clear subject conveying that you appreciate the offer and indicate your willingness to accept it.
- Present your research. Research the salary range for the position on salary.com to provide context
- Start with a higher salary rate but be prepared to be flexible.
- Don’t forget to clarify benefits and other relevant compensation
Dear Ms. Landes,
Thank you for getting in touch! I’m very excited for the opportunity to work at Becca’s Healthcare as an Office Administrator. With 3 years’ experience in coordinating office operations, I’m certain that I will achieve great results for the organization. Before I sign the offer, however, I would like to discuss the base salary. According to my research, the average salary for comparable positions in the Office Administrator area is in the $20-$35/hr range.
I would like to discuss the possibility of moving the offer closer to $28/hr. Again, I am thrilled to have been offered this position. I look forward to speaking with you again soon.
Sincerely,
Jane Career
Choosing from Multiple Offers
Are you feeling indecisive or guilty when determining which offer suits you best? You can also use the multiple offers as an opportunity to negotiate your salary.
Here are some factors to help consider when making your decision.
Below is an example of declining an employment offer while maintaining professionalism:
Dear Ms. Tausig,
I’d like to thank you for the offer of the Administrative Assistant role at Ari’s Health Club. I enjoyed meeting the interview panelists and was really looking forward to contributing to innovation at Ari’s.
After much consideration, I have decided to continue my job search. It was a pleasure working with you in the application process. I wish the team the best as they continue to set standards of excellence in the industry. Please let me know if you have any questions or would like to discuss anything further.
I look forward to connecting on LinkedIn and hope you’ll accept my invitation.
Best Regards,
Jane Career
Handling Rejection
Self-reflection
Over the course of your job search, you’re likely to face rejection. In the video, Jia Jiang adventures boldly into territory so many of us fear: rejection. By seeking out rejection for 100 days — from asking a stranger to borrow $100 to requesting a “burger refill” at a restaurant — Jiang desensitized himself to the pain and shame that rejection often brings and, in the process, discovered that simply asking for what you want can open up possibilities where you least expected.
- What did you learn from Jia Jiang’s story?
- Keep reaching out and be bold in your job search campaign. You’ll learn, grow and find the job that’s perfect for you.
Stay motivated with these five tips:
