Strategies To Land The Best Job For You – Including When to Accept Counter Offers
Right now, we’re in an employee-driven job market, with countless available positions waiting for your application. However, just because there are many opportunities to choose from doesn’t necessarily mean they are the right ones for you. Many candidates struggle to pinpoint their next right opportunity in a thriving job market. Fortunately, there are strategies that will help you narrow down the companies that best align with your experience and career goals, and there are also strategies to help with how to handle the counter offers you’ll receive during your search.Â
First, Nurys Harrigan-Pedersen, President of Careers In Nonprofits, coaches job seekers to ask themselves four questions before beginning the search:
- What do you want from a job, career or company?
- Why do you want this from a job, career or company??
- How can I get this job or career??
- Where can I find this job, career or company??
Asking yourself these questions will help you narrow down exactly what you are looking for from a company. Let’s take a closer look.
1. What Do You Really Want (Be Honest)
When thinking about what you really want from a company, you have to be honest both with yourself and during the job interview. It helps to make your wishlist, including career advancement opportunities, higher salary, signing bonuses, benefits package, scheduling and vacation needs, and even what type of office environment you want, such as the work-from-home, open concept or a private office
With 25 years of experience in nonprofit search and staffing, Nurys suggests employees need to be clear on motives before they start interviewing for a new position; that way they can ask great questions of the employer and really get a feel for the job before they consider accepting an offer.
She also reminds job seekers upon receiving a job offer, there is no need to say yes to the first offer or initial offer that comes by, especially in this market. What she calls the “dating” period can be extensive, and she recommends waiting to accept one only after you are sure it is the job you want. Before you accept or reject an offer – understand that there could be better offers from other companies or the opportunity to counter-offer based on an original offer.
2. Create a Career Map to Determine Your WHY
Many employees aren’t sure why they want certain things from a company. Not knowing why often makes it harder to advocate for yourself during the offer and counter offer process. A career map, or a written plan that details where you want to go in your job and why, can help you identify what you want and the steps you need to take to get there. Some maps are as simple as determining a starting and ending point, and then filling in the smaller goals that need to happen in order to get to that end goal. However, the more detail you can add, the easier it will be to follow your map.
Creating a career map is helpful to make sure you are aligning yourself with the right opportunity. It will also help you determine when to accept a counter offer – only after the company aligns with your needs/desires AND meets the goals on your map.Â
3. How To Land the Job – Counter Offer Etiquette
Once you’ve identified companies that fit your career map and started the interview process, you will begin to receive offers. Nurys and her staff are experienced in guiding prospective employees through the salary counter offer process; they’ll help you determine when to accept, when to counter offer, and how to politely decline if the position isn’t perfect for you. It’s helpful to have a team behind you to help you negotiate and respond professionally and with confidence.Â
4. Where to Look for that Perfect Job
Careers In Nonprofits can connect you with the right nonprofit jobs for you. Once you’ve determined what you want from a company and why, you’re ready to start your search. Take the time and stress out of the job hunt, and allow CNP to do the work for you. Contact Us to connect with Nurys and her staff today!