Negotiations

Introduction

Once you receive an offer you’ll want to evaluate it to make sure it’s what you expected, that the location, opportunity and organization are good matches for you, and to see if there are any aspects of the offer that you’d like to negotiate. In this section, Career Services outlines when it’s appropriate to negotiate, the best techniques to employ, and how to create a winning impression with your new employer.

If you would like to discuss your offer with Career Services, feel free to make an appointment with an advisor.  And don’t forget to report your offer to Career Services through FandMConnect.

What Does an Offer “Look Like”?

You may be informed by an employer via telephone or e-mail that you will be made an offer, but don’t accept until you actually see what is being offered. In most cases, an “offer letter” is the official document that conveys the details of a job or internship offer. It may be sent to you by courier or fax, and especially for full-time positions, can be accompanied by additional information explaining available health plans, relocation assistance, etc.

Once you receive an offer, Career Services recommends that you send an acknowledgement letter to express your continued interest, appreciation, and your planned follow-up (see a sample offer acknowledgement letter in the cover letter example packet in FandMConnect).

How Do I Know if I Can Negotiate My Offer?

Generally, you should think about negotiating full-time offers only. Internships are both too short to warrant negotiations and, since they’re often used by employers to asses candidates for future full-time opportunities, you don’t want to create the impression that you are demanding.

In the US job market, almost all full-time offers are negotiable – what counts is how you do it. Before you start preparing for negotiations, make sure you understand when your decision is required by the company – you don’t want the offer to expire while you’re still considering it!