The Importance of Job Offer Negotiations
Negotiating offers for a role is a crucial skill that can significantly impact your career trajectory and financial well-being. Remember, negotiation is not just about money; it’s about ensuring that your job aligns with your career goals, personal values and attempts to address priorities for work-life balance. By honing your negotiation skills throughout your college years, you can secure positions that offer growth, satisfaction, and long-term success.
Getting Started
Always start with Handshake to support your first step in the negotiation process by scheduling an appointment to connect with your school or college career center or Syracuse University Career Services to see how we can help take your negotiations to the next level.
- Freshmen: As a freshman, you might think it’s too early to consider job offers, but this is the perfect time to start building your negotiation skills. Engaging in internships or part-time jobs and negotiating even small aspects like work hours or responsibilities can boost your confidence and prepare you for more significant negotiations later.
- Sophomores: By your sophomore year, you likely have some experience under your belt. This is the time to start seeking internships that align with your developing career goals. When you receive an offer, don’t hesitate to negotiate your stipend, work schedule, or project assignments. These negotiations can help you gain more relevant experience and make your resume stand out.
- Juniors: As a junior, you’re getting closer to entering the job market full-time. Internships during this year are critical, and negotiating your offers can lead to better opportunities and higher pay. Focus on negotiating aspects that will provide you with the most growth, such as mentorship opportunities, diverse project experiences, and professional development resources.
Summer Experience Survey
Freshmen, Sophomores and Juniors, take one minute to tell us about your plans for the summer by completing a very short survey. Whether it’s an internship, research, volunteering, or classes—we want to hear all about your milestones on the way to graduation!
In your senior year, you’re likely receiving full-time job offers. This is the most crucial time to negotiate effectively. Salary, benefits, work-life balance, and career advancement opportunities should all be on the table. A well-negotiated offer can set the tone for your career and ensure you’re starting on the right foot.
First Destination Survey
Understanding where our graduating Seniors go is vital to the work at career services. This information helps us celebrate and support each generation of students, whether they are freshman, sophomore or juniors. We also share aggregated information with campus partners in academics and vital student services programs to help them enhance each student’s experience on campus. Whether you’re attaining your first job, continuing your education, entering the military, volunteering, or taking some time off to collect your thoughts—we want to hear about your plans as you approach graduation!
Visit our Outcomes page to learn more about others just like your and to share about your experience.From evaluating employment offers to negotiating, schedule an appointment with your school or college career center or Syracuse University Career Services to help provide support, guidance and to answer any questions you may have.
Resources and Tips
The Office of Financial Literacy at Syracuse University is tasked with empowering students and alumni to take control of their financial futures by providing them with trusted, trauma-informed tools, and resources. Our services allow individuals to learn how to shift their financial decision-making mindsets from survival-based thinking to strategic planning with inclusive programming, peer counseling, and continuous career-long support.
Save the Smart Money Events webpage for easy access and stay on top of upcoming events hosted by the Office of Financial Literacy. hese events cover topics such as negotiating job offers, budgeting, understanding insurance, credit, retirement and more. If you need to request direct support, you can contact the office by email.
After expressing appreciation for the offer and asking to receive the offer in writing, ask for some time to think carefully about your decision. Agree on a date for your decision. One to two weeks is often reasonable, but it could depend on the situation.
Now’s your chance to do some research and evaluate the employment offer. Take a look at Evaluating Employment Offers below to learn more.
While it may be hard to imagine, the most difficult part of a job search can often be accepting an offer of employment. The first offer may not be exactly the best job for you, you may be waiting for other offers or you just may not feel ready to make a commitment.
- Am I comfortable with the mission and values of the organization?
- Am I being offered a good benefit package outside the realm of financial compensation?
- Does the organization’s expectations fit my lifestyle?
- Does the job fit with my career plans and personal goals?
- Does the financial compensation package meet my needs?
- Is the location of the job where I want to live or am I allowed flexibility (remote options, flexible schedules)?
- Is the salary appropriate for the responsibilities of the position?
- Will I be doing work that interests me and will I be able to best use my skills?
- Negotiate terms of the employment offer: You’re interested in the employment offer but areas such as salary, benefits and more may not be supportive of your lifestyle. Negotiation helps meet your needs with the employer’s needs.
- Accepting the employment offer: Once you’re ready to accept an offer, some employers will ask you to sign a document to confirm your acceptance, while others will require that you write a letter to this effect. Employment acceptance letters typically open with a thank you and an acceptance statement. The second paragraph should restate your understanding of the position and any special considerations which may have been negotiated.
- Declining the employment offer: This is a delicate matter – one which requires tact and brevity. Whether declining due to another acceptance or because you’ve decided this job is not a good fit for you, act professionally to ensure you retain a good image with this employer. When writing a letter to inform the employer of your decline, open with a thank you and a straightforward, one-sentence statement of the decline. (Including the rationale for your decision is not necessary and may, in fact, damage your relationship with the employer.) It is also appropriate to include your appreciation for the professionalism displayed throughout the interview and selection process.
Negotiating the job offer of an internship may leave you wondering if the experience is still right for you. If you are concerned or need further support to compliment a finalized internship offer, you can seek assistance from Syracuse University Career Services through our various internship funding applications.
Visit our Internship Funding Opportunities webpage to learn more about eligibility and requirements.
