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"We'd like to make you an offer." Boy, words just don't get any sweeter when you're hanging out to dry without a job. In this current market swinging on a downturn, many professionals may be freshly laid-off, or have been suffering that same fate for a while now. In any case, when your bills need attention and prevailing obligations abound, getting employment is all that counts, isn't it? Maybe, maybe not.
You want me? You got me.
Congratulations! You've just been offered a job you've been waiting for. Only catch: cut your expected salary in half, relocate to another city on your own account and, oh, forget about taking that family vacation for at least a year of hard labour.
The process of accepting an offer of employment is often trickier than expected in real life. While that glorious phone call may seem like a godsend most of the time, the question really is, do I accept this offer now or wait for other replies from employers I prefer to consider? To alleviate the pressure of accepting the first job offer that strolls along, consider tactfully stalling for additional time to consider all your options and make the right decision.
Why stall?
For obvious reasons, accepting a job immediately rules out any hope of evaluating the offer thoroughly and precludes your ability to leverage parts of the offer by weighing contracts from other "suitors" you have not heard from yet. Hasty decisions can cost you more than you are willing to bear.
Off-the-cuff, you need to find out more about the role and evaluate the personal issues surrounding it. Is it a job with a future for your career? Is it paying a fair market rate for your skills? Where is it geographically? Can your financial status afford turning it down and waiting longer for another offer? The key is learning how to evaluate and accept the right offer and, most difficult of all, define what your bottomline requirements are in order to be happy with the offer. This may mean turning down a position that is outside of your desired parameters - even when there is no other job on the horizon.
Howard, a recent casualty of the airline industry, was laid-off a few weeks ago and has been zapping out resumes to aviation recruiters across the country and in the region. Finally, after 4 painfully quiet weeks, he gets an offer to work in another country. Did he take it?
No. Even though he knew that it hundreds of other guys would have killed for the job, he chose to stall for a little time while he considered the offer in full. In the end, he discovered that paying for the relocation, moving to a place he did not fancy and accepting a 40% pay cut would not be worth it. He was willing to ride it out and wait for another employer to come a-knocking. Apparently, his wait was worth it. He got another offer from a company that was located in his ideal spot and paid 30% more than the previous offer.
The phone stall
So, now that your interest is piqued, how does one actually stall an offer? First things first, be polite. If you are on the phone with a recruiter/potential employer, change your "That sounds great! I'll take it." to a "Thank you for calling and I am certainly excited about your offer, but I would appreciate a little time to evaluate your offer. Would I be able to get back to you on my decision?".
At this point, you should request for another date to get back to them (more on this below). Especially with a verbal offer, you should ask if the recruiter can provide you with a written letter of offer. This will allow you the time to thoroughly consider the terms of offer in full and assess the suitability of the employer with your personal criteria, without having to decide on the spot.
The write stuff
If you have received an email offer or a written letter in the mail, you typically respond to the recruiter with a letter. Most employers understand that you may not be ready to make a decision about accepting an offer straight away. Hence, it is permissible to request for a delay or extension to your decision deadline. Ensure that you make it known in the letter that you are very pleased to hear from them and greatly appreciate their offer of employment to you. This will keep the door open for you as they note your interest in the offer.
Then you can make a simple statement that, at the present time, you are unable to commit yourself to a decision and need to consider the offer thoroughly. You do not need to inform them that you are evaluating other offers...this may come off as being arrogant and create a negative impression of yourself (even though it is the honest truth). Follow this up by a request for them to accept your decision at a certain date.
When shall we dance?
As with both the phone response and written letter, do try to negotiate a reasonable extension deadline for yourself. This allows you to evaluate other offers or possibilities. Usually, a week is okay; sometimes, maybe a little bit more time. Be fair though, in estimating how much time you might need to decide. Don't test their limits and ensure you stand by the specified deadline. It is never advisable to ask for another extension. In these cases, unless you know you are their top choice, you might as well kiss the offer goodbye.
Once the deadline hits, ensure you promptly respond to the recruiter via the telephone, email or written letter (to arrive on the date of the deadline, please) thanking them for their patience and stating your decision. Throughout it all, always be mindful that your decision affects their staffing operations and when you do decide to decline the offer, someone else who really needs the job might be anxiously waiting for a call.
Parting words
In the end, the experience of deliberating over job offers can be as much about a personal struggle to answer those philosophical questions ("What do I really want in my life? What am I worth? What kind of compromises am I willing to make to my personal/professional/social life in taking this job?") as it is about the vagaries of the job market. You may experience a good sprinkling of incredibly exciting leads and a dose of confidence-shattering moments.
Reality is, there are no perfect jobs out there - although there may be ones pretty close. Before you make a life-changing decision with regards your career, take the time to make the time in deciding. And this, my friends, is the art of stalling.
23 Dec 2001
Sarah Lee
#01-01 Sunshine Plaza
Jalan Ampang
50430 Kuala Lumpur
TO:
En Abdullah Salleh
Technology Venture Sdn Bhd
354 Jalan Simpang
50000 Kuala Lumpur
Thank you sincerely for your telephone call and letter dated 21 Dec 2001, offering me the position of Web Designer with Technology Venture Sdn Bhd. I am excited about the opportunity this position offers both in terms of the job scope and responsibilities.
You asked that I make a decision by next week on 28 Dec 2001. I consider this to be an important decision and as yet, I do not have all the information I need in order to make an informed decision by that date. Would it be possible for me to provide you with my decision by 1 Jan 2002? I would very much appreciate such an extension which I feel will be mutually beneficial to both of us. Should you accept my request, I assure you that I will promptly inform you of a firm decision by that deadline.
Thank you very much for your consideration of my request. I look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
Sarah Lee...
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