Receiving a Job Offer

Should the outcome of your interview be successful you will be offered a position within the company.

It's one of the most important parts of the whole process, so it is recommended that you pay close attention here and make sure that you do the right things.

• Be prepared for questions about your salary expectations following the interview. In order to provide an informed answer you should try to determine what the general level of remuneration the position that you are applying for attracts. Be sure that you have a good idea of what the market pays before you face the interview. Do however remember that an employee’s qualifications and experience usually correlates directly with their salary.

• When asked questions about your previous salary and expectations, be as truthful as possible. You may feel that the salary you were earning previously was too low and could give the wrong impression of your worth, or indeed, would set the threshold for negotiation too low. If this is the case, explain why you feel that your previous salary was too low, whilst providing positive examples of the added value that you would bring to the position. You should come across as deserving a salary uplift rather than just wantonly seeking an unjustifiable pay increase.

• Be open. You may say that you were expecting a specific salary figure. But be aware that the interviewer will definitely want to find out why you named that amount - and you should be ready to answer.

• Be prepared for a lower offer. Whatever you say, if you are dealing with a highly established company or organization where positions and pay are fixed, they could offer you a lower figure than you desire. Sometimes it is better to accept a position in a good company even though the pay is lower than expected to start with. The prospects for promotion may be good and professional growth opportunities are usually better.