For Black Professionals in today’s workforce, applying for new jobs and getting interviews seems to be the hard part. The statistics tell us that black people have a more challenging time getting calls for interviews. And then you factor in the competition for these jobs, and getting a job offer becomes even more difficult.

But the job offers do come. That rare phone call from the recruiter saying they want to offer you the job is a welcome relief full of excitement. You finally broke through and got the job you wanted! Now what?

Once you get that job offer, here are the next steps you should follow:

1.  Say Thank You and Get the Offer in Writing

A job offer that is not in writing is a job offer that doesn’t exist. Before you go any further with the following steps, wait until you receive the job offer in writing from the employer. When you get the offer in writing, you begin the negotiation process. Until then, say thank you to the recruiter and await the offer in your email inbox.

2.   First, start with the salary. Is it in line with what you desire?

You may have discussed salary with the recruiter initially, and the offer letter states the exact amount you are willing to accept. If so, then great move on to the next step. If the salary isn’t quite what you had in mind, take note and follow up with the recruiter with your concerns.  

There is usually a salary “range” that companies have set aside for open positions. If you ask, you will likely get what you want if it isn’t too far from where they are in their range. Usually, the company will be open and meet you where you want to be. Regardless of where the compensation comes in on the offer letter, our suggestion is to ask for 3-5% more off the top. There will be times when the salary is firm. If you have multiple offers, it is easy to turn them down. If not, decide if the pay is acceptable enough.

3.  Negotiate Your Start Date

You usually need at least two weeks’ notice for your current job. Most employers know this and will accept this without hesitation. But we encourage you to ask for at least an additional week before you start a new role. Having at least one week between leaving an old job and starting a new one gives you time to reflect, relax, and rest. There is nothing worse than having to wrap up one position and jump immediately into a brand new one. Give yourself a little “me” time so you can take on your new role with energy and enthusiasm.

Getting a job offer is a great feeling and represents the beginning of a new experience that you hope will be challenging and rewarding. But before you say yes to the opportunity, make sure everything you need is outlined and documented in a written job offer. You can then give your notice to your current employer and look forward to all the new possibilities in front of you.