The Do’s and Don’ts of Handling a Job Offer

Date Posted: 10/9/2017

Congratulations! The hard part is done: you have officially been chosen for the job abroad you were hoping for after a successful application and interview. Now what? At this point, it might seem like your work is done, but it is only just beginning, and you want to make sure that you start off right. Take a look at the following dos and don’ts for the best way to handle that highly anticipated offer for that job abroad which is going to give you a huge increase in your salary and improve your whole family’s lifestyle.

Do: Take your time!
Don’t: Rush the decision.
First things first: don’t worry about having to say yes right away! Isang malaking desisyon sa buhay eto kaya it is just reasonable to ask for time to think it over since the job is going to take you far away from your home family and country. Perhaps you have applied to a few jobs abroad, and are waiting to hear back from all of them, instead of simply settling for the first offer you are given. Your future employer will appreciate that you want to be fully confident that it is the right decision before you accept the offer. However, it is important to make sure you both agree on an exact deadline for your response – you don’t want to accidentally leave the employer hanging too long!

Do: Be thankful!
Don’t: Reveal a halfhearted opinion.
It is okay to be excited! Perhaps this job offer is the one you wanted most – if so, don’t hesitate to express your delight. Of course, do your best to refrain from jumping around and screaming for joy; for now, it is best to maintain a professional, grateful poise. Be appreciative; let the employer know how much this offer means to you, which will allow them to appreciate you in turn. If this job wasn’t your top choice, remember to be thankful anyway! If you appear less than impressed, you might cause the employer to question whether or not they have chosen correctly after all. You don’t want to cultivate a negative impression before you have even begun, or worse, risk losing the offer altogether.

Do: Ask questions!
Don’t: Leave those questions for later.
Questions are always welcome! When a job offer is presented, this is the best time to ask any questions you may have about the position, your duties, or the company itself. Many of these questions can be answered by your Ikon representative but many cannot so don’t be afraid to ask all of them.  You won’t be bothering anyone by asking questions.  In fact, the employer will be pleased to provide answers, as any interest you show will only highlight your involvement, and help confirm that they’ve made the right choice in hiring you. Second, if there is any concern you have regarding the job itself, you want to get it out in the open, so that you can make the decision knowing full well what you are agreeing to.

Do: Negotiate – but with respect!
Don’t: Push boundaries.
When it comes to negotiating a salary, there are a few factors to keep in mind: be sure you are not just negotiating for the sake of negotiating, and that you also understand where the employer is coming from; be aware of their constraints too. Most of all though, you want to make an effort to be reasonable, patient, and respectful. You want them to like you – the more they want you, the more willing they’ll be listen to and consider your requests. If you sense there is a line you shouldn’t cross over, stay behind it. Even if the salary offered isn’t what you might have hoped for to start, don’t be too discouraged. Certainly ask for clarification, but be careful not to push boundaries. Remember that you are just starting, and at this point, making a worthy first impression is your most important task.

There are many things to consider when it comes to handling job offers, but you have come this far, so be confident! Be respectful, be enthusiastic, be considerate – and you’ll be all set. And without sounding too cheesy, just be yourself – after all, it’s the reason they wanted you in the first place.