Posts filed under 'Job Offers'
August 22nd, 2008
Be proactive- Anticipate a job offer coming at this stage. Focus on those variables that could be deal breakers, and get proactive by trying to find a solution. You want to prepare yourself so that when the job offer comes in, there will be no surprises.
Persistence- If a candidate declines a job offer, it is important to have a conversation with them. Dig deeper- find out where the offer missed. Following the steps from part one should help, but there may be things that the candidate withheld during the process that they might open up with now. You need to walk a fine line between not talking them into accepting something they don’t want, and seeing if there is anything that can be done to sweeten the deal and get them to accept.
Acceptance- There comes a certain point where you have to step back and accept that this deal isn’t going to happen. It is important that you never get mad at the candidate for declining- it is their decision and their life- they know what’s best for them. If they’ve accepted another offer, wish them luck. If they’ve just simply declined and want to keep looking, evaluate if this is a candidate you want to work with further. More often than not, if they got a job offer, they are a candidate that you should feel good about and could place elsewhere. Don’t hold it against them if this just wasn’t a good fit.
Move on- No matter what you decide about working with the candidate further, it is now time to focus on your client. Do they have a plan B? What’s next for them? They’ve also suffered rejection, and it is up to you and the client to put together a plan moving forward- remember, they still have an open position to fill.
August 20th, 2008
Rejection. Non-acceptance. The act of refusing an offer. As a recruiter, these are words that you never get use to hearing from your candidate. These words are telling you that what you have to offer is not what somebody else wants. That’s not always easy to swallow, especially when large commission checks are at stake. Here are some tips to help you prepare yourself to handle a rejected job offer.
The submittal process- Make sure you know your client, their needs and have identified what your candidate is looking for in a company, a position, and a desired salary. Make sure it’s, at a minimum, a good fit on the surface- many times, declined offers can be avoided by simply not pursuing the opportunity in the first place.
Know your candidate- Is your candidate out interviewing at other companies? How do those opportunities compare with the one you’re working with them on? What are their timelines? These are important pieces of information to have- you want to know what your competition is and what needs to happen with this offer to get your candidate to accept.
Communication- Throughout the process, stay in communication with your candidate. After they interview, find out what their thoughts are-honesty is critical in this stage. Identify what they liked about the company as well as what some of their concerns are. Work with the company and the candidate to get some answers- it may be a case where their concerns are so great that it isn’t worth anybody’s time moving forward to the next step.
Identify the “givens” in the job offer- After the interview, and once you’ve identified if this is a position that your candidate still wants to pursue, identify the givens in the situation. There will always be certain things that can’t be changed- company, benefits, supervisor, location, etc. Once you have the givens out of the way and they are still on board, it is now time to find out from your candidate what things need to happen to get an accepted job offer.
May 7th, 2008
Once you are past the first interview, how long do you wait before you contact the employer? Waiting for their response is a very difficult part of the interview process. Here are the best tips for waiting…..
Keep in touch – Don’t call every day, but do show that you are interested and touch base to stay at the top of the employer’s list.
Continue to Search – You want to have options, so keep looking for other positions. If you have other offers, you have room to negotiate and can decide the best option for you.
Keep the communication open – Let the employers know if you have other offers, or if you are not really interested- you don’t want to waste your time or theirs. Sometimes communicating your interests openly can speed up the hiring process.
Don’t give up! – The employment world is tough, and maybe you have been counting on a position, and it falls through. The best thing to do is realize that you have created great networking through the people you interviewed with, and you have built a good relationship with that company for future opportunities.
The biggest thing to remember is to STAY POSITIVE! It’s easier said than done, but it is the only way to stay on top. Here is a quote to live by: “It is not the number of times you get knocked down that make the difference, it is the number of times that you dust yourself off and get back up that really matters!”
May 5th, 2008
Most employers respect that making the best choice for your family and your career is a process, and they want to be as accommodating as possible. If you decide not to accept a position, do so in a professional manner and be clear as to why it is not a good fit. There might be something that is uncovered that can be resolved. If not, at least you have laid it out on the table.
Never burn a bridge. You never know how that can haunt you in your professional future.
May 2nd, 2008
Are you hesitating because you have salary or benefit concerns? Ask up front if there would be a sign on bonus or additional compensation for relocation. You won’t know unless you ask, and an employer is more likely to find a solution that would be beneficial if you inquire professionally and timely. Your employer is counting on your decision to plan their business needs.
April 30th, 2008
If you are fortunate in this employment market to score an offer and you are not sure it is the job you want, some decisions need to be made and quickly.
First and foremost, find out the timeline in which an offer will expire. Employers are eager to know your decision and the more time that passes the more the will questions weather you are really committed to them. Leaving them hanging or not returning calls is a sure fire way to lose the excitement and respect of a future manager.
So what is a reasonable amount of time for a decision one may ask? Depending on the level of the position and circumstances, a few days to a week is reasonable. If relocation is part of the equation, employers should be more patient and allow up to a week for an answer.
April 23rd, 2008
Pulling a job offer is one of the more unprofessional moves an employer can make (job seekers pull unprofessional moves as well, but that’s a topic for another day). Changing jobs is one of the top three most stressful events in one’s life (the others are death of a loved one and divorce). When an employer commits to making a job offer, that offer should stand until the position is either accepted or declined, or until a deadline for an answer has come and gone.
Too many times within staffing I have had to make a call to a candidate letting them know that the job offer has been pulled by our client. Try making that call after the candidate has quit their job in preparation to start their alleged new job. Not fun. And, not right either.
That said, I think there are circumstances where pulling a job offer is justified: missing pre-employment appts/orientations to fill out paperwork, candidates taking too much time to make a decision, etc. These are actions brought on by the candidate that may raise some question marks for the company.
In general, when a job offer is made, an employer should give a deadline as to when they are looking for an answer. If the candidate’s decision is to accept the job offer, it is important to get a signed contract stating the wage agreed upon and start date prior to giving notice to your current employer.
