How To Handle Your First Job Offer

• Clara Boles
• September 26, 2022
• Career Guide Article

In order to make sure you get the most out of your first job offer, there are things you must do and consider. Read this article to find out!

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You finished your education, put in the work, got your degree, and now you are on your way to your first full-time career! CONGRATS! The offer comes in after lots of hard work and researching, trying to find the right job. Let’s be real, you probably had to apply to more than one position. But what if the offer isn’t exactly what you had in mind? What do you do now?

 

First off, be proud of yourself; Celebrate!

 

This is really hard stuff! Be proud of yourself that you even got an offer! Many people are under the impression, and I know I was, that if you go to college and obtain a good degree, someone would almost hand a great job right to you. I quickly learned that was not the case and I am sure you are going to learn that too. This is not to discourage you, but to hopefully prepare you.

 

Keep in mind that you might not find your dream career, salary, and all the right benefits right out of college. To be frank, it is normal not to find it right away. Keep the faith; you have lots of time to locate your perfect fit if this is not the one.

 

Prepare Mentally & Do Your Research

 

This is something I wish I really would have done. I was a bit naïve and didn’t do appropriate research, so I had my mind set on something bigger than I should have. I don’t want to tell you to lower your expectations, but keep in mind the realistic picture. You have just graduated from college, and chances are you will start with an entry-level position.

 

Use the resources available to you. There are online sites to look up a salary in your field/industry. Check out your college department; they may also have resources available to give you a better idea of what you are getting into. You should be able to come up with a tentative dollar range that is comfortable for you. Don’t forget to factor in the cost of living, your education level, and any extra training you might have.

 

Make sure you understand your offer

 

This is no little part-time job where you work in the evenings for some extra gas money—this is a big deal! If you go through with your offer, you are signing a legal document for your career, which lists your salary/wage, your retirement, your benefits, your PTO, and more. So, really make sure you understand the job offer. It is a great idea to have a parent/mentor look over your offer as well. Make sure you are not missing anything. Make sure you comprehend everything in that document. How do you do that? Google it, try to find a YouTube video or a blog that goes more into depth about terms in the offer you might not understand. If you feel comfortable with the employer who gave you your offer, ask for clarification from them on questions you have.

 

Think about what YOU really want

 

Do you want to work for a huge corporation and make a big salary? For some people, this is a YES! They want to be a part of this huge organization that has lots of opportunities. That is great, but is it for you?

 

Do you want to work for a smaller company, perhaps not making as much at the beginning? Working for a smaller company might not give you all the glam and big salary, but this comes with other benefits. You might have your voice heard and be able to use a larger variety of your skills to your best ability, plus learn new skills. These things are great, but is it for you?

 

Sometimes it is hard to not just focus on the dollar sign, but there is a lot to consider

 

So, the big question: Do you negotiate your first offer out of college?

 

Well, that is a very personal choice. We polled AgCareers.com’s followers to see if they would negotiate a job offer right out of college. Here is what we found: 53% said they WOULD, 31% said they WOULD NOT, and 15% said they were UNSURE.

 

A lot of this decision is situational. You really must understand what you need to maintain or improve your personal lifestyle and match the offers to see what is best for you.

 

If the employer brings up money in the interview, you can even ask if the salary is negotiable. If you are comfortable, also ask about their benefits package. Inquire about what sections are negotiated and when. You can also ask for details about performance reviews, raises, and how often that conversation takes place on-the-job.

 

You should know, if you are 100% sure that the salary/wage they give you will not work for you and you ask for more, your original offer with the initial salary/ wage can be completely withdrawn. You really need to be comfortable losing the offer completely before you decide to make this big decision.

 

But, ok, there is more than MONEY!

 

Some companies have a set rate for an entry-level position and that number cannot budge. Many people believe that if you can’t negotiate with money, there is nothing else to negotiate on… WRONG. Listen up, here are some items you may not know you can negotiate:

 

Paid Time Off Sick Days Vacation Days Gym Membership Volunteer Hours Professional Development Tuition Reimbursement Company Vehicle Internet Reimbursement Cell Phone Bill Reimbursement Work hours/days Relocation expenses Bonus

So, how do you even do it? Where to start?

I recommend writing your thoughts down on a piece of paper. Sit down and compare the pros and cons. Write it all out. This will keep it concise, and odds are you will probably clearly see if this offer will make you happy or not.

 

If the offering company doesn’t give you a date to respond by, ask for one. This is nothing to decide on instantly. Take your time and sleep on it. You need to be confident with this number and that all the benefits offered to you will match your financial requirements for your lifestyle and will allow you to grow towards your goals.

 

If you accept the offer as is, simply sign it and thank them for the opportunity. If you have some negotiations, draft up an email with what you are requesting. Same with declining your offer, email the employer and really let them know you are grateful for the opportunity, but you cannot accept this offer. You can share the reason if you are comfortable, but this is not required. Keep your communications professional. You never know when your paths will cross again.

 

Ask for Guidance

 

The best advice I can give you is to ask for guidance. Usually, when you are negotiating your first offer, you are still in college, which is a fabulous thing because you still have a relationship with your advisor or maybe even a mentor.

 

Really use what you have in your back pocket. Most likely, these advisors know you pretty well by now and will be honest if you are getting a fair offer. This is a very new situation you are going through—but not to them. Take this advice –it will be beneficial now and will help you in the future with your next offer.

 

Also, seek advice from friends and parents. When I got my first job offer, my best friend in college did too. We didn’t go into details about our salaries, but we could go through this new experience together, bouncing ideas and situations off one another.

 

There are many great resources for you on the AgCareers.com website in our Career Success Library. I encourage you to prepare for that first offer. I know it will be an exciting and possibly overwhelming time, so start preparing now! AG