Congratulations! They've Made You A Job Offer! Now What?

You're in! You just got the call from Human Resources offering you the job you've been working so hard to land! You need this job. You want this job. And yet... some small hesitation won't allow you to fully commit to the offer. Something is nagging at you. What questions might you explore to help you feel more comfortable about moving forward with this opportunity?

Are You Being Offered the Best Deal?

Hopefully, you communicated your salary range requirements in an earlier stage of the interview process, and this offer is in line with them. But what if you are now on the receiving end of a lowball offer? How can you negotiate most effectively on your own behalf?

Most people hate negotiating. It can bring up all sorts of fear-ridden boogeymen involving self-worth and asking for what they want. You're going to ask for what you deserve and need, all the while staying upbeat, creative, and flexible!

• Express your excitement about the position and eagerness to get started. Be sincere, and repeat it often. Make it clear that you are serious about working for this company.
• Bring the discussion around to the compensation package immediately after receiving the verbal offer.
• Acknowledge any objections your prospective employer makes about budgets, salary caps, or the bad economy. But keep plugging! Be persistent, but employ good humor and a compromising spirit.
• Restate your compensation requirements and start pitching creative ways to get there: a signup bonus, extra vacation time, medical coverage for dependents, an education allowance, and work-from-home flexibility.

Remember: you've already risen to the top and beat out other candidates. You've received an offer. This company wants you. They need you! And if they deserve you, they'll meet you more than halfway on your financial stipulations.

Is There Something Better in the Wings?

Perhaps you're in the fortunate position of having to decide between two job offers. How can you be sure you're choosing the best employer for your situation?

• Do your due diligence. Google like crazy for info on both companies. Scrutinize their management, read employee reviews on Glassdoor, search for recent news stories about the company, and scan their social media posts.
• Consider the work/life balance. Weigh the time and energy demands in areas such as commuting, travel requirements, day care, and parental leave policies.
• Do your co-workers and the culture suit you? What vibes do you get from each of the workplace environments? Do the people look happy and productive? Are there specific perks to one location, such as closer to your home or your favorite eateries? Does one of the offices really appeal to you more that the other? You'll be spending a lot of time there, so factor this in.
• Where do you want to be in five years? Is one job more of an obvious stepping-stone on your ideal career path? If you plan to stay put for a while, which of the two jobs can you see yourself happily engaged in ten years from now?

If you like to quantify things -- and you should in this decision -- make up a simple spreadsheet and weigh the factors that you value most.

Is This Really Your Dream Job?

How many times have you seen people accept jobs that were not really suited for them because they were desperate? Usually they try to convince themselves that they should like the job and therefore force themselves to appear happy.

In the April 2014 issue of the Harvard Business Review, Deepak Malhotra, a professor in the Negotiations, Organizations and Markets Unit at the Harvard Business School, writes:

"You can negotiate like a pro and still lose out if the negotiation you're in is the wrong one. Ultimately, your satisfaction hinges less on getting the negotiation right and more on getting the job right... the industry and function in which you choose to work, your career trajectory, and the day-to-day influences on you (such as bosses and coworkers) can be vastly more important to satisfaction than the particulars of an offer."

Solid gold advice!