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So he called and offered you the job over the phone and you accepted immediately. Right? Wrong. Verify your assumptions first. What is the rate of pay? What are your working hours? When do you become eligible for health insurance? Don’t turn your acceptance into a question/answer session, but make sure you know what the job offers. Sometimes in the excitement of being offered a job, one can ignore important issues. Of course, hopefully you will already have all this information, but the interviewer may well not tell you everything. The job offer "should" be the start of the salary negotiations where discussion of benefits can play a major role. Many jobs and employers have no negotiating room, however; so your job offer may just be, "Do you want it or not; I need an answer today!" If that is the offer, it might be good idea to ask for the necessity for the hurry. If you are the right person for the job, then the employer should be willing to wait. If he can’t, then perhaps you need to examine why you would work for someone who seems to have so little regard for you. Of course, there could be good reasons for the hurry in which case the employer should be willing and able to reveal to you; however, one of those reasons could be procrastination and he might not be willing to admit such a thing.

Salary negotiation is a topic that whole books have been written about, so briefly make note of these points:

1. Don’t forget bracketing as discussed on page 51. When asked what you want for a starting salary, you can mention a range like the mid-twenties or low to mid thirties. Avoid being specific. You can also counter with, "What is the range the company is willing to pay?" Be reasonable in your demands and make sure that job in that area should be in that range.
2. Be positive. Don’t talk about your personal expenses or financial problems. Don’t tell them how much you have to have to survive.
3. Once you state your desires, do not back down. The employer will admire your confidence.
4. Don’t forget to remind him of the benefits of hiring you. Remind him why he wants you and why you are worth your asking amount.

Remember that a positive attitude is one of the key factors to success on the job. Put some thought into your demeanor and your performance. Be tactful, professional, and adaptable. Practice active listening, especially during your training period. Remember that using good communication skills is not only a way to keep your job, but is also an important factor in obtaining promotions.

Keep up your networking while on the job. Continue to keep and update your contact list. It isn’t necessary to begin actually looking for your next job, but in today’s uncertain employment climate, being prepared for the next transition is simply being practical.

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