The following article will give you information on how to negotiate during a job offer.

After going through all the hard work of creating a resume, searching for a job, and interviewing, it is still possible to blow a job opportunity at the offer stage. This article will show you what to do—and what not to do—when accepting or negotiating a job offer.

Don’t Delay Accepting an Offer You Like

 As soon as you get an offer you like, you should accept it without delay. Do not play hard to get. If you play games at this stage, an employer might withdraw the offer.

Make Sure Your References Are Ready

At the interview stage, you should already have references prepared and ready to give to whoever asks for them. When choosing who to list as a reference, always pick people who you know you can trust to give a great reference. If possible, have backups in place in case some of your references can’t be reached. I would recommend having at least 5 references, including 3 managers and 2 colleagues. It should go without saying, but remember that it is not acceptable to use close friends and family members as references.

When you send a potential employer your references, let the people who you’ve used as references know so that they’re expecting to be contacted. Also, give them a friendly reminder to complete their references quickly. Some employers will take away an offer if references are not completed right away.

 Accept the First Good Offer You Receive

Some job seekers sometimes will wait after getting an offer to see if a better offer comes along. In my opinion, this is a big mistake. You should always take the first good offer that comes your way. If you don’t have other offers on the table but hold off on accepting an offer, you could lose the first offer because the employer moves on to other candidates.

What If The Offer Isn’t What You Expected?

 If the offer is slightly less than desired but you can live with it, you should accept it. If the offer is giving you other perks that make up for the money you won’t be getting, such as a flexible schedule or career advancement, you also might consider accepting.

If the offer is below your expectations with no other incentives, instead of accepting it you might consider negotiating. In your reply to the person doing the negotiation, politely let them know that you mentioned your salary expectations during the interview process and that’s what you will need to get in order to accept a job offer. In some cases, the employer will meet you in the middle. They may even accede and give you the salary you desire.

Long-Term Job Strategies

 Even after you get hired, you should never stop having a long-term job strategy. In today’s economy, there are very few jobs that you keep for life. That being the case, you always keep your resume and LinkedIn profile updated and stay in touch with recruiters. Even if you are looking for promotions internally, make sure your information is always up to date.

Conclusion

 By following the suggestions in this chapter, you will be able to determine when to accept a job offer and how to negotiate for a job offer. You’ll also come to understand the importance of having a long-term job strategy.