Making It Official

by Angela Copeland | Nov 23, 2016 | Advice, Career Corner Column, Media

Can we agree that the interview process can be stressful? It can be exhausting. You spend weeks, sometimes months, going through many rounds of interviews, tests, and background checks. You do all this in secret, slipping out of work and trying not to spill the beans to coworkers and friends. Your current job stress may be growing, and you cannot wait for the process to be over.

Most often, when a job offer comes, it’s delivered by a human resources representative or the hiring manager. They call you on the phone and offer a few quick stats, including starting salary and vacation days. Then, they ask if you accept, and what date you can start.

Often, your first instinct is to accept right away. You want to keep the hiring manager happy, and to ensure your future at the company. You definitely don’t want to rock the boat.

Unfortunately, this approach can have pitfalls. For example, your hiring manager may not end up being your actual manager. This sounds unlikely, but I once had my own hiring manager announce his departure on my second day. If we had not agreed to our terms in writing, there’s a chance I might have had to renegotiate with the new manager.

When you receive a job offer, the best approach is to thank the company and express your gratitude and excitement. Then, you should thoughtfully ask if they are able to send you the details of the offer in an email or official letter. Tell the recruiter you have a personal policy that you must sleep on the decision overnight.

When you receive the offer in email, review it closely. First, ensure that all the details explained on the phone are outlined as expected. If something is left out, or is different than your understanding, ask clarifying questions.

Sleeping on an offer also gives you a chance to discuss it with your family. And, it can give you an opportunity to decide if you want to negotiate the offer up. There are two key things that candidates are concerned with: salary and vacation. To ask for more of either, follow up with the company. Express your gratitude and excitement again. Then, ask if they would be willing to adjust their offer.

Select your requests carefully. A good negotiation is one where both parties walk away feeling as if they have won. Neither should feel like they were taken advantage of. But, don’t avoid asking for what you need. As long as you communicate in a professional manner, the company should respect your request. The worst case scenario is that the company will not increase the offer – not that they will resend it.

And, note – if a company cannot increase your salary, many corporations have flexibility around vacation (even if they have a standard vacation policy).

But, again, get everything in writing – no matter what you agree to. It will ensure there are no misunderstandings and help to solidify your future success within the organization.

Angela Copeland is CEO and founder of Copeland Coaching and can be reached at CopelandCoaching.com or on Twitter at @CopelandCoach.

External Recruiter 101

by Angela Copeland | Nov 16, 2016 | Advice, Career Corner Column, Media

I received a question that’s important for job seekers to consider: “Should I work with an external recruiter, and if so, how does it work?” If you’ve never tried it, enlisting the help of a placement firm can appear to be a confusing proposal. It can be tough to know where to find a recruiter, how to begin, and what to expect.

The good news is, working with an external recruiter (aka a “headhunter”) is not hard to do. First, you should know how they work. Typically, headhunters are paid a commission if they are able to help place a job seeker in a job. The hiring company pays this commission and they are only paid when and if a placement is made. Think of a recruiter as a matchmaker, or a salesperson, of sorts. They help source candidates that fit well within the companies they work for.

Arranging a meeting with a headhunter isn’t hard. You can find local recruiters online. Then, you can reach out to them by phone or email to request a meeting. Most placement firms are open to meeting with new candidates because it allows them to keep the pulse on the available talent in the job market. They will keep your resume and personal details in their database.

Along with your resume, you must typically disclose all your salary information right up front. This is a bit different than applying directly to a company, where you can often skirt the salary issue until the end of the interview process. In addition, you may also be asked to take exams in order to demonstrate your competency in certain subjects.

Keep in mind – headhunters meet with many candidates every day. You need to work closely with them in order for the process to be effective. It rarely works to sit back and hope the recruiter will show up with the perfect job completely on their own. Keep them up to date on your employment status, what kind of job you’re looking for, and of any changes that occur. If you stop reaching out, they’ll assume you found a job.

Although there are many positives to working with a headhunter, there are also pitfalls to consider. We often feel that because a placement firm makes a commission, they work for us, the job seeker. Although they are there to help, they ultimately must keep their client happy – the hiring manager. Additionally, they will only be paid a commission if they make a placement. If you’ve ever sold a house, you know that there are times when a real estate agent would be happy to sell a house at a lower than ideal price, in order to ensure a commission.

Placement firms can be helpful, but like other parts of the job search, they’re a tool rather than a complete solution. To maximize success, continue looking on your own. You’re your own best advocate, and after all, you’re searching on behalf of just one job seeker: you.

Angela Copeland is CEO and founder of Copeland Coaching and can be reached at CopelandCoaching.com or on Twitter at @CopelandCoach.