Ideally, the job you will accept will be with a company you believe in and has a culture that fits your values. The job duties might not be
exactly what you were looking for but weigh the possibility of future growth and advancement. Candidates will often take a job with the
hopes of moving into a new and more challenging position.
Specific items you may want to consider before accepting a position are:
Salary
As mentioned above, not everything is about the salary. The opportunity for growth, training, and securing the first job are all important
factors to consider. Be mindful of the differences of Gross Income (often referred to as ‘salary’) and Net Income (‘take-home’ pay).
Location
The location of your job is an important factor to consider: know what your values are and how close working near home is for you. Consider
the cost of living in the area and the commute to work. Specific things to consider as you research this: a) traffic patterns, b) public
transportation, c) parking availability & fees, and d) personal safety at different hours.
Insurance
Will you be able to qualify for insurance immediately upon being hired or do you need to wait 30 days or longer? If you need to wait, you will
need to look into temporary health and life insurance policy. What is your cost per paycheck if the employer offers health insurance? How
much will insurance cost on the open market? Especially for small businesses, private sellers are often the only option. Is the employer offering
Life or Disability Insurance?
Vacation & Sick
Leave
Some companies will negotiate with new hires for more vacation or sick days, and, in general, there can be more flexibility here than with
other elements of the employer benefits package.
Flexibility
Some companies may offer options other than the traditional 9 to 5 workday. Be sure you know what the employer expects from you. Does
the organization offer a teleworking opportunity?
Relocation
Expenses
If you are relocating, does the employer offer financial relocation assistance?
Retirement
What kind of retirement package is offered? Is the employer offering to match the contribution? When do you have access or when are you
vested? If no package is offered – how will you save for my own retirement? Roth or Traditional IRA*?
Taxes
What are your tax deductions per paycheck? A good resource is ADP’s paycheck calculator (you can find the link below)
Travel
Know how much travel is expected in your new job. It is important to consider if you will use your own car, a rental car, or if a company car
will be provided.
Commuter
Does the employer offer commuter benefits (i.e.: a parking or public transportation pass)?
Education/
Certifications
Many companies have professional and educational development programs. Find out if your company offers these benefits and whether you
qualify. Will you get time off for continuing your education or attending conferences/seminars? Additionally, some companies offer tuition
reimbursement.
Insurance and
Health Benefits
There will be paperwork to consider and complete, usually within 30 days of hire. Be sure to submit all forms by the required dates. You may
want to consult with someone who works with finances. Organizations and Human Resources departments might offer a session or meeting to
review benefits – ask if that is an option.
Mobile Phone
Will you be given a mobile phone for business only, or business and personal use? Is it in the form of reimbursement or allotted amount
upfront for a certain amount? And, if so, does having a company mobile phone mean you would expected to respond during non-work hours?
* - Roth IRA = money contributed is taxed at time of investment, not at time withdrawn
Traditional IRA = money contributed is not taxed at time of investment, but is taxed when withdrawn even if you are retired
It is never too late to start researching a company and having an expected salary range. Research is going to be critical in successfully
negotiating your job offer down the road. It is not enough to simply tell an employer that you deserve more money or an additional
benefit – you need to have information/data to support how you meet the minimum and preferred qualifications. Research is, often,
easier said than done but there are numerous resources available online.
Cost of Living
Whether you are moving across the state or across the country, evaluating the cost of living will help you understand how far your
paycheck will go. For instance, there is a large cost of living difference between Clemson (Anderson), SC, and Los Angeles, CA. There
are three excellent websites for cost of living:
ORGANIZATION/WEBSITE:
LINK:
GOOGLE SEARCH:
NerdWallet
NerdWallet
NerdWallet cost of living calculator
MoneyGeek
MoneyGeek
MoneyGeek cost of living calculator
Bankrate
BankRate
BankRate cost of living calculator
One of the best tips for negotiating salary is knowing what other employees across the country are being paid for similar positions. There
are numerous resources available online.
ORGANIZATION/WEBSITE:
LINK:
Salary Expert
Salary Expert
Job Search Intelligence
Job Search Intelligence
Indeed Salary
GlassDoor
GlassDoor Salaries
Bureau of Labor Statistics
Occupational Outlook
Handbook
National Association of
Colleges and Employers
Career.Clemson.Edu
Clemson First Destination
Survey Results
Career.Clemson.Edu
Paycheck Calculator
Another helpful tool is a Paycheck Calculator. A paycheck
calculator will help you see how much money you will actually
be receiving after deductions. This money is what you will
have available for bills, groceries, spending, saving, etc. See the
difference between Gross and Net Income.
ORGANIZATION/WEBSITE:
LINK:
GOOGLE SEARCH:
ADP
ADP
adp paycheck calculator
Paycheck City
Paycheck City
paycheckcity paycheck calculator
Depending on the company/organization and the hiring manager, you may receive an initial “verbal” offer. Here are things to do when
this happens:
1. Be enthusiastic about the opportunity, even if you are not initially thrilled with the offer itself
2. While you have the person on the phone [or via email], ask questions:
a. About benefits packages (health, dental, etc.)
b. Paid time off (sick, vacation)
c. Relocation assistance
d. Signing bonus*
e. Stock options
f. Performance reviews
g. Advancement opportunities
h. Additional clauses (non-disclosure, non-
compete)
3. Ask that you be sent the official offer so that you can review it
4. Clarify and note the timeline: when do they want an answer from you?
The first step after receiving the official offer letter is to review it. Does it have everything in it that you had previously discussed with the
employer? How does the offer stand next to the research you’ve done?
Just because you’ve received an official offer does not mean the negotiation is finished. You now have, in writing, the specific details and
probably more information than you had, even after your initial conversation.
Compare the offer to what your evaluation of the salary and benefits should be – make notes as this will help you in the next step:
negotiation.
Steps for successful negotiating:
1. Contact employer through preferred method (in person, phone, or email).
2. Thank them for the offer.
3. Reiterate your interest in the company and position.
4. Ask if the job offer is negotiable.
5. Be calm, collected, concise, and confident!
Gross Income
Net Income
Amount of salary or wages paid
by an employer before any
deductions are taken
The residual amount of earnings
after all deductions have been
taken from gross pay, such as
payroll taxes, retirement plan
contributions, insurance benefits,
etc.
* - not all
organizations offer a
signing bonus; do
your research to
know if they do
6. Explain why you feel you deserve a higher salary – back up with research (experience, education, preferred qualifications, and
salary comparisons)
7. If the organization cannot offer a higher salary, negotiate other benefits: vacation time, signing bonus, moving expenses, etc.
Nerd Wallet
Recent Graduates Are Not Negotiating Salary – Losing Out on Crucial Income
By: Brianna McGurran
62%
80%
84%
90%
of recent college graduates did
not attempt to negotiate a salary
of students and grads who did
negotiate were at least partially
successful
of employers said an entry-level
candidate would not be putting
the job offer at risk by
attempting to negotiate
of employers have never
retracted an offer because an
entry-level candidate tried to
negotiate
Courtesy of nerdwallet.com
ORGANIZATION:
LINK:
GOOGLE SEARCH:
NerdWallet
NerdWallet Study
NerdWallet Negotiation Study
Hopefully, you were successful in your negotiation; however, it is now time to either accept or decline the offer. As with any major
decision in your life, you need to weigh all of your options.
Regardless of if you are going to accept or decline, do so verbally and in writing.
Accepting the Offer
Declining the Offer
1. Thank the employer
2. Confirm the following information:
a. Start date
b. Position
c. Salary
d. Location
e. Other pertinent information
1. Thank the employer - express your appreciation for the
time and effort they have invested in the process
2. State that you are declining the offer in a professional
manner
3. Wish the employer luck in their recruitment process
After you’ve accepted the offer, be sure to notify any other
employers that you have interviewed with, or applied to, informing
them you have accepted another position. Be sure to thank them
for the opportunity to interview and/or the job offer! Remember,
you never know when you may be meeting/ interacting with
employers in the future. #noburningbridges
Congratulations! There is a lot more work to complete before you start your new position.
Before Your First Day
On or After Your First Day
Hiring Documents – such as the I-9
‡
Background and/or Security Check (if applicable)
Drug Test (if applicable)
Benefits Enrollment
W-4
Direct Deposit
Personal Finances
Relocating
Relocation may be the most stressful part of your transition. The key is to start planning as soon as you know the change is coming.
Check with your new company’s Human Resource Department to see what, if any, support the employment might offer in the
relocation process (not financial but other assistance such as contracts with moving companies or relocation specialists). Other things to
consider as your make your move:
Apartment/Housing
Traffic/Commute times
Residency Status
†
Driver’s License
†
Vehicle Registration
†
Voter Registration
†
After interviews with several top companies, you accept a job offer from Corporation A to begin work a week after graduation. Then,
XYZ Startup, a company that just began recruiting new college grads, interviews you and offers you a job to begin a week after
graduation.
You want to work for XYZ Startup – but what will you do about the job you’ve already accepted at Corporation A? Companies hire and
fire people all of the time, you think. No big deal, right? You’ll just let Corporation A know that you’ve changed your mind.
Before you pick up the phone to renege on your job with Corporation A, consider this:
The job you accepted with Corporation A may have been someone else’s “dream job”. By accepting the job, you’ve taken that
job out of the market.
Telling Corporation A that you’re not going to show up for work may have an impact on your future career.
Backing out of a job you’ve accepted may hurt the future job prospects of other students and alumni at your school.
What happens to the job when you renege?
Many times a renege comes at the tail-end of the college recruitment season – April and May
The position may go unfilled and the budget set aside for that position may be allocated for other purposes. One job lost to the
college job market.
Final hiring numbers are lower for the employer, which may affect the company’s hiring numbers next year (meaning, fewer job
opportunities for you and other grads in the future).
The now-disappointed (and frustrated) employer may choose to not interview students or new grads again.
Your choice today may ruin your choices tomorrow
Truth: Some employers keep a running list of names of students who’ve reneged after they’ve accepted a job offer – a “do not call” list.
Even without a list, recruiters will remember you.
If you are offered a job, it’s because you stand out in the crowd of applicants. The recruiting and hiring manager see and hear your name
over and over during the interview and hiring process – in emails, on your resume, and in discussions with other employers.
Someday, you may want a job at Corporation A. Or, you may run into the same recruiter at a different organization where you want to
work. Plus, recruiters talk to each other about students who back out on a job acceptance.
And, even if you seem to have a good reason for reneging on the acceptance – “personal reasons” or “to travel abroad” – your LinkedIn
profile will show that you’ve lied when you list the job you take.
You may lose Alumni privileges
Universities value their corporate partnerships, and they do not want to risk having companies stop recruiting new grads and alumni.
That means, if you renege on a job acceptance, your name may end up on a “no services” list. If your school finds out that you’ve
reneged – and they will – you may be denied access to university job boards and alumni career services when you need help finding your
next job.
Kayla Villwock – Intern Program Manager for SAS
Courtesy of the National Association of Colleges and Employers
†
- research state laws to
know what the timeline is
for declaring residency and
subsequent documentation
‡
- You will need to provide you passport or a valid government-issued photo ID and Social
Security card to complete the I-9