Should You Accept A Job Offer Immediately?

One of the most common questions I get from job seekers is, “Should you accept a job offer immediately?”

Accepting a job offer immediately can be tempting, especially when you are so excited that you have finally secured a new job opportunity. 

However, it is advisable that you should always wait a day or two before accepting the offer instead of accepting immediately at the spot.

In this article, I’ll share with you details as follows:

• Why you shouldn’t accept a job offer immediately

• The reasons why hiring managers may even think less of you for doing so.

• Benefits of taking a couple of days before deciding to accept a position.

Why You Shouldn’t Accept a Job Offer Immediately

Accepting a job offer immediately has in the past deprived a lot of job seekers the time to inspect the offer and patiently decide if you have any questions, concerns or requests as related to the offer on ground.

So If you quickly give your positive answer to the job offer whether on phone or in an interview. 

It wouldn’t speak well about you in front of the hiring manager when you later try to ask further questions related to the job since you have already accepted, and it is also already too late to negotiate if you have something odd or unfavorable about the job.

That is why it is advisable that you take your time before giving your approval to the job offer even if you are certain that this job offer is meant for you.

Also, you can’t possibly be sure that you won’t have a question or two about compensation, benefits, start date, or other factors.

Hiring Managers will view it much more positively if you take time to look over the offer and then negotiate or make requests before accepting.

It will also bring about more respect from hiring managers when you take your time before accepting their offers.

Having said this, let’s take a look at the main benefits of not accepting a job offer immediately:

1. Employers Will Think More Highly Of You If You Wait And Review The Offer

Believe it or not, by accepting a job offer immediately during an interview, you are showcasing to the hiring manager that you lack experience or that you are desperate to accept anything that they can offer to you.

So if you want to start your new job with high esteem and respect from your hiring managers, then you shouldn’t accept their offer immediately on the spot.

2. You Can Ensure That You Don’t Have Any Questions Before Accepting

It’s going to look bad if you accept a job offer and then return with questions to ask the hiring manager.

By not doing so, it will make you look more professional if you get the job offer in writing, carefully review the information, and make sure you don’t need to ask any questions before accepting.

If you get the job offer in writing and take it a day before accepting, you may realize that you have a question about some crucial topic such as: the starting date, work uniforms, pay and benefits, job responsibilities, job title etc.

So you need not rush the offer.

3. You Will  Have Time To Decide If You Want To Negotiate

By asking the hiring manager for time to review your job offer, it will give you enough time to decide if you need to negotiate on anything or not.

You can negotiate about your base salary and bonuses, equity, a better health insurance plan, your job title, and much more.

But in a situation where you accept the offer immediately, you will lose the opportunity and power to negotiate.

For instance, Imagine accepting a job offer and then finding out that everyone else in the job earns $10,000 more for the same work whereas yours is stated $8,000.

With this, you will need to enquire why it is so.

4. You Can Finish Interviewing With Hiring Managers If Necessary

Another benefit why you should request for more time is to finish the interview process with another company with similar job opportunities if needed.

Your main purpose shouldn’t be to take the first job you’re offered; rather, it is to have enough time to accept the best offer and position for your career.

So by asking for a couple of days or up to a week to consider job offers, you’re increasing your chances of getting multiple offers to consider which will give you more leverage and confidence to negotiate with each company and secure a higher chance to get a maximum salary possible.

5. You Can Ensure That Is The Right Career Move For Your Future

Sometimes, joining a new company isn’t a big deal. 

So even if you are 99% sure that the job is what you want, it will still benefit you to carefully read the offer letter, understand the benefits, review the salary, and more before giving your acceptance.

Once you give your response, you might find it difficult to negotiate later which in return will make your resume look bad if you change jobs within a space of a few months.

So as you are taking time to make enquiries, also ask yourself if it is the kind of career path that you want to embark on.

A hiring manager won’t be upset that you have a few questions. 

Good managers realize that you could go in a variety of different directions in your career and that accepting a job offer is an important decision.

They’ll be happy to respond and make sure you’re comfortable before joining their team since they want to hire a person who will stay with the company for years.

So therefore, even if it is to answer some questions to ensure the details are clear, they’re happy to make that a part of the process.

For these reasons, you should never be afraid to get a job offer letter in writing and take a couple of days to respond.

Will You Lose Out On The Job Offer If You Ask For Time To Think?

No reputable hiring manager will withdraw a job offer simply because you asked for time to review the materials. 

They want you to read the offer closely and ensure you don’t have any questions before you give them your acceptance.

Many hiring managers will encourage you to look over the details and get back to them after a day or two.

Even if the hiring manager doesn’t explicitly say it, they expect you to take time to review everything and will be shocked if you accept on the spot without any further consideration.

Most experienced professionals do not accept a job offer immediately.

You never have to accept a job offer immediately, and you will not lose job offers by asking for time to review the salary, benefits, and more.

And if the employer has any concerns about the timeframe you’ve requested, they’ll tell you and you can adjust that timeframe accordingly.

Read Also: How To Determine If A Job Is A Good Fit For You

How To Politely Ask A Hiring Manager For Time To Consider A Job Offer

So far, you must have been able to understand the benefits of taking time in order to review your job offer before accepting and likewise the reason why you shouldn’t accept a job offer immediately.

But is there any right way of asking a hiring manager for time in order to consider all the company details?

Of course, “Yes”

Let’s look at the examples of the ways of asking for time from a hiring manager:

Example 1:

“Thank you for the offer. 

I’m excited about the position. I always like to discuss important decisions with my family, and I’d like a chance to review the offer to make sure I don’t have questions, too. 

Would it be alright if I review the details at home and get back to you with an answer on <Date>?”

From this example, you can see how the statement sounds professional, polite, and risk-free.

As you are stating the time limit, it is important to ask for a time frame of less than a week.

By doing so, it will make the hiring team agree easily and if they have a problem with your request. You will notice right away and discuss the reason.

Nevertheless, if you are asking for more than a week to review the offer, you may be expected to give a more specific reason. 

So less than a week is preferable.

Factors To Be Consider Before Accepting a Job Offer

Below are the necessary factors to be considered before accepting a job offer.

They are as follows:

• Do you want to negotiate the starting salary?

• Do you want to negotiate any other perks/bonuses?

• Do you want to ask about the potential for remote work?

• Are you comfortable with the start date?

• Are you comfortable with the job title for the position?

• Do you have questions about health insurance or other benefits?

• Do you have more potential job offers to come that you’d like to receive and consider?

• Is this position the right direction to take in your career compared to the alternatives?

• Will you be learning valuable skills in this new job, and is the position likely to lead you to good opportunities and higher salaries in the future?

• Are you comfortable working under this hiring manager?

• Are you comfortable with the work culture and work environment?

It is important for you to note that having questions or concerns about some of the areas above doesn’t mean you need to decline an offer from the employer. 

It just means that you will want to ask some clarifying questions before giving your acceptance.

But if you rush to give your acceptance immediately after finding out the news on the phone or in person, without going home to think, then you give up the opportunity to ask these questions.

And you give up the opportunity to research and then negotiate salary with this employer, which could cost you thousands of dollars or more.

Read Also: What Is A Salary Range?

Companies Expect You To Negotiate Salary And Benefits

No company will fault you for negotiating salary or benefits before accepting the job offer, and the company certainly won’t take your offer off the table.

As long as you express appreciation and enthusiasm for the job offer before negotiating, hiring managers won’t take your questions or requests as a negative sign.

So don’t be scared to ask, the worst answer you can get is, “Sorry, we just don’t have the budget for that,” or, “We can’t do that unfortunately.”

But if you don’t ask, you won’t know what might have been acceptable.

Just ensure your request is reasonable. Before negotiating the specifics of a job, put yourself in the hiring manager’s shoes. 

Imagine someone came to you with this request, and think whether it sounds reasonable or odd.

For example, it may be odd if you receive a job offer and then ask if you can start in two months. 

Bearing in mind that when a company makes a job offer, they typically want the person to start as quickly as possible.

Regardless, it wouldn’t be bad to ask in the manner below:

“Regarding the starting date, is there any flexibility? 

I have a vacation planned for <Date> and also was hoping to take one extra week to rest and prepare for the role.

The worst response you will likely hear from a hiring manager is, 

“Sorry, we can’t do that because ___ (the reason(s))

Let’s look at another example, it may sound odd to ask for $20,000 in additional compensation without giving any reason for it. 

You would want to back this request up with data and logical reasons.

So you can express that you have done some salary research and found out the averages in your city.

Afterwards, you can politely ask if there is room in their budget to offer a bit higher in terms of base pay or bonuses.

Which will lead to a final negotiation on a particular number.

Conclusion

If you have gone through this article, you must have really understood why you should never accept a job offer immediately. 

Instead, thank the hiring manager for the offer, go home and review the salary and other details, and then inform the hiring manager of your decision approximately by two to three days later.

If you do this, you’ll make a better impression on the hiring manager and also you will be reassured that you’re moving in the right direction in your career.

For further questions…. Drop your comments below.