A "Job Offer" is the final stage in the job search process. Companies usually inform candidates they would like to make them a job offer by telephone, or less frequently, by email. After this, a formal written contract will be sent out, which is likely to be subject to a few final checks and measures, such as: your references being satisfactory; you pass a health/medical questionnaire; you pass a security/police check; your exam results are accurate; you have a UK work permit or the right to work in the UK; and even that you agree to relocate.
If you are not eligible to work in the UK but have not discussed this with your employer at any point previously during the assessment process, you will ultimately be found out and your offer will be withdrawn.
You do not need to rush to accept a job offer, particularly if you have reservations of any kind. It is far better to consider your options, compare offers, and take some time to reflect on your interviews and assessments than to rush in to accepting an offer. Similarly, just because you have an offer does not mean this job role is necessarily the most suitable for you. There is nothing wrong with rejecting a job offer, if ultimately, you do not think you would be happy doing the job offered, or working at the company who have made the offer.
Employers are often quite flexible about start dates and even the financial package they are offering you. If you do not feel that the salary offered is adequate, or that you are worth a higher salary because of your specialist skills or attributes, you should say something. Employers are open to negotiations on job offers, although you should be prepared for them to reject your suggestions. However, do not argue with your employer. If a firm tell you there is no room for negotiation on your job offer, accept that this is the case.
There will usually not be any room for salary negotiations for structured graduate schemes.
You should be absolutely clear about the hours you will be expected to work before signing your contract. Many firms will unofficially require you to work late several nights a week, but you should be aware of, and prepared for this, before you start working for the firm. Watch out for any “opt out” clauses in your job offer contract, which infer you are opting out of your right to work less than 48 hours in the average week.
If you have been offered any of the above, be care to pay attention to specific details in your job offer contract. Accepting any “golden hellos” or “golden handshakes” offered to you upfront to encourage you to apply, may result in you also being given “golden handcuffs”. This means that should you decide to leave the firm before the end of your training contract, or another fixed period of time, you will be required to pay back this starting bonus, either partially, or in full.
You should also pay attention to the particular details in your job offer relating to your training itself. Although your firm may be offering to pay for your training (e.g. ACA, ACCA, Professional Skills Course (PSC), etc), you may be required to pay for any exams you fail, or need to resit. Should you fail an exam more than once, you may actually be fired, in which case you may also be required to pay back all the money your firm has spent on training. Once again, should you chose to leave your firm before the end of your training contract, you may also have to pay back your associated training costs.
The following articles focus on "job offers" and should help to provide some information on job offer analysis and comparison.
"Counter offers" occur because your present employers does not want you to leave, most commonly because they are unprepared to hire someone else to fill your role.
It is usually not advisable to take a counter offer. This is because counter offers are almost always temporary. A counter offer is a temporary solution provided by your manager that enables them to stay in control of the situation, buying them time to find a new employee or to complete a current work project. If you are offered a counter offer you should also question why you were not offered an increase in salary previously - why did it take you accepting a different job to force your employer to increase your salary, rather than them offering you a salary increase normally?
Counter offers are comfortable. Moving to a new employer is uncomfortable. However, even though accepting a counter offer is easier than changing your job, the reasons for leaving your present employer still exist. Also, it should not have taken an outside offer to prompt the counter offer from your employer. Finally, and most importanly, by giving in to the counteroffer, you lose control over your destiny and hand it over to someone else. You appear weak, your employer knows you want to leave the company, and you may not be able to maintain your position in the workplace.
Before accepting a "job offer" you should spend some time carefully considering the exact specifications on the offer itself, your own thoughts and reflections on your interviews and the company that has made you a job offer, and your offer in comparison to other offers you may have already received, or expect to receive in coming days and weeks.
If you have been lucky enough to receive an offer from a top tier firm, your job offer should include many additional benefits apart from training and salary (such as gym, pension, insurance, etc). Lower tier firms may not be able to offer you so many benefits or such a high salary, although they may be able to offer other kinds of attractive extras, such as 25 - 30 days holiday (compared to most top firms' offers of 20 days).
Although there may be a great deal of differences between job offers, do not let things like salaries and special benefits (such as gym access) affect your decision too much. Remember that enjoying the job, liking the people you will be working with and having a good feeling for the firm you will be working for are all very important and will affect you far more than financial factors, such as an extra £1,000 a year salary.
Before accepting a job offer consider if the proposed start date is suitable. If you would prefer to push back your start date by six to twelve months, in order to spend some time travelling, studying (for example for an MSc or MA) or spending time pursuing another activity, you should ask your prospective employer if this would be possible. Often employers are able to delay your start date, particularly if the position you have been interviewing for is a graduate scheme with a large annual candidate intake.
Consider if the salary offered in your job offer contract is suitable. If you think you are worth more, or that the salary offered is particularly low, you should contact your employer to discuss the potential for the figure to be increased. Although it is not common for offered salaries for structured graduate schemes to be increased, smaller firms are often open to salary negotiations, especially if they are particularly keen on a candidate.
Consider whether your company will pay for your exams, your books and any other additional costs or expenses associated with vocational training. You should check the details of your job offer regarding exam resits - it is possible that you will have to pay for any exam resits, which may be expensive. It is also worth investigating what happens if you fail an exam more than once. Many employers will fire trainees who fail multiple exams, and may even ask them to pay back their training costs if this happens, so it is important to know where you stand.
Before accepting an offer you should also check whether you are tied to the company for a certain period of time after you are qualified or not. Some employers require employees to pay back training fees if they leave their job immediately after completing training, for example.
Most large employers offer 20 days' holiday to new graduate trainees. Smaller employers may offer more holiday. Some employers offer trainees the chance to buy more holiday (by accepting a lower salary) or sell holiday (earning more money but enjoying less holiday days). You should also be aware of whether or not you will be required to work on bank holidays and other holiday periods during your employment, before you accept an offer. Find out exactly where you stand before signing a contract.
Pension schemes are increasingly being offered by fewer employers. Large graduate employers will usually have some sort of pension scheme set up for their employees, but make sure you know where you stand on this before signing your contract. Although your pension may not seem important now, in 40 years you will be glad you investigated this.
Benefits such as gym membership are certainly not the most important part of your job offer, but it is useful to check exactly where you stand and what's on offer before accepting a job offer. Free gym membership could save you over £1,000 a year, if you are the type of person to use this kind of facility.
There are many potential points to negotiate when it comes to job offers, but salary is usually the primary issue. Keep in mind that any discussion of salary might reach the unacceptable range and put the offer at risk. Always tread carefully.
Many companies have a fairly tight (although not airtight) salary range they are able to offer candidates. If you are able to show extraordinary educational or work experience, you may be able to organise an offer from the top of this salary range.
When discussing salary, always state that you are “hoping” for more, instead of “expecting” more. Companies are always more willing to fulfil your hopes than your expectations.
To better establish the acceptable salary range for the position in question, ask what the hiring range and pay range is. Most larger companies will have set ranges to work within, although many medium to smaller companies may have more flexible market-driven ranges. Following are some sample questions to ask in salary negotiations:In attempting to modify salary, you may find that the best you can achieve is a promise for tomorrow. If so, be sure to get it in writing from a person with authority to make it stick.
And in the end, do not let salary be your only guide regarding job offers. You are much better off making less money and being happy, than making more money and being miserable.