Candidate?

You might be a candidate considering how to respond to a job offer? I am often asked for advice by candidates who are mid process of their new job search.  They may be an active candidate in the recruitment of a number of roles and want to know how to respond to a particular job offer

This may apply to you or a colleague at some stage.   I thought it useful to jot down my recommendations after 20 years in business.

Firstly, your response to the job offer this depends on four things:

1. Why are you a candidate in this process?

2. Which role appeals to you the most as the next step in your career;

3. How serious are you about leaving your current role; and

4. What salary package will satisfy your expectations.

Your motivation in applying for online job search advertisments or responding to search consultants is the critical consideration in how you move forward.  Perhaps you are looking for a challenge beyond the level where you are currently performing? Alternatively you may want to expand your experience across your industry sector? Or are you looking to increase your salary to support current lifestyle?

If you fit somewhere in here, then it is time to prioritise the roles that you are considering. Just remember though, you may not be offered the role by your number one choice.  Alternatively their offer may not come in first. This is a fairly common dilemma facing candidates.
My first recommendation, is dependent entirely on your relationship and transparency that you share with your manager or potentially, their manager.

1. Request the opportunity to discuss the next steps the organisation is planning for you.
2. Propose areas where you are able to add more value and expand your impact on business outcomes.
3. Request a consideration for a potential increase in salary to reflect the value add that you propose to deliver.
4. Consider, if you were to remain, how confident are you that your organisation is likely to deliver to the agreed changes discussed.

So hopefully my first recommendation has given you a realistic appreciation of whether to stay or to proactively seek alternative opportunities outside your current organisation.

Moving along, and back to the original question, do you accept the first offer available?  Particularly if you believe that you would prefer to work somewhere else.  Do you reject the offer and be honest with them and yourself?

BIG Call as a candidate! “Bird in the hand” versus “hold the line” (and maybe miss out altogether and back to the starting point!) Do you take the ready made job offer or back yourself to land your “ideal” role?

I would suggest that your analysis of which role appeals to you, right from the start of your candidature will give you the basic criteria that you need to know what you are ultimately looking for in your next role and how to move forward.

My recommendation to you as a candidate at this point is twofold:

1. It is time for an honest discussion with the organisation taking a punt on you as a candidate in offering you their role.
   1. Ask to speak with the hiring manager about the finer details of the role and key deliverables.
      1. Specifically, you may wish to raise the potential to incorporate elements that have particularly motivated you to pursue a change of role.
      2. Propose where you may be able to provide added value.
   2. Totally dependent on the style of the hiring manager and their discretion to adjust their expectations, your transparency and their response will soon determine where to from here.
   3. If the role they ultimately offer you is not going to satisfy your primary motivators, then don’t waste your time, effort and potentially denigrate your professional brand in your industry.
2. Contact the organisation or recruiter managing your “ideal” role.
   1. Clarify where you are up to as a candidate in the recruitment process for the other role.  Advise them the time frame required for your response.
   2. Ask for an indication of your potential success in their selection process.  Ask them the anticipated time frame for their decision.
      It is very unlikely that they will be in a position to give you the answer that you want: ie they are ready to offer the role to you, it is in the mail!!!

So, decision time! You have an offer….

• Be honest, will this role offer you 80% of what you are looking for in your next role?
• Can you honestly commit yourself to this organisation to deliver to the best of your ability?
• Could you adjust the role, in agreement with the hiring manager, to challenge yourself to your next level?

I am not going to tell you what decision you should make and the path that you should take. You already know.

Be yourself and you will be where you should be.

If it is not any of these current opportunities, then take a breath and be better prepared for the next ones that present themselves.

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