Checklist before accepting a jobs offer
Friday May 1, 2009
What's a reasonable offer and how do you ensure that you get the wages and conditions you deserve?
There are several steps you should take before accepting an offer of jobs and work to secure the right conditions and wages for you and what you can offer the company. These steps include negotiation for the best possible wages for the jobs on offer and guaranteeing that your rights as a worker will be honoured.
Now, wages are not necessarily the be all and end all of a jobs offer, but they do determine how serious a job offer is and how much a company may want you working for them. Typically an employer will offer as little as they can in a wages offer, meaning that you will have to fight for the wages you think you are worth. To do this as effectively as possible you will need to research the industry and other wages in similar jobs and ranks in addition to your own experience.
If you have been offered the jobs through a recruiter than this would be an ideal way to filter your impressions through the recruiter and ascertain what is reasonable and what may be out of reach. Ask around industry associations for an idea of what is a standard wages level for the job on offer. Remember, an employer doesn't want to hire a pushover, but they don't what a crusader either, so negotiate smartly, not aggressively.
Part of the wages negotiation should be the conditions of the work itself such as annual leave, sick days, and holiday leave. Also, while you may have only just been offered the job, look into the company's redundancy packages, bonuses and incentives.
Furthermore, there are several elements of the jobs and company itself to consider including:
- Jobs attractiveness
- Company itself, its reputation, positive working environment
- Possibility for career development and progression
- Demands of the jobs involved, hours expected, commuting
This means the wages, benefits and the possible career development associated with the company. Is it a major corporation where progression is a strong possibility or is a small business where you may remain in the same role for some time?
Look into the company's reputation, how do they treat their employees, and do you fit in with their corporate culture and environment? Do the other employees seem satisfied? One way to gain this sort of information is to get a reference on the company offering the jobs either by talking to current or former employees or people who deal with the company. Of course, do not let their opinions cloud your own perceptions as their experience may differ from yours.
Essentially, there are steps you should take before accepting or rejecting a jobs offer that will ensure that you get the best possible offer, and wages, for what they are asking.
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