1. Accept It On The Spot
Depending on how long the negotiations have taken, how many interviews you have gone through, and how badly you want the job-you may want to accept on the spot. This might be recommended when you have completed your other interviews with other companies and have already discussed thoroughly the position with your wife, family, or whomever else you wish to consult. Also, you may wish to consider immediate acceptance when the offer extended is substantially above what you were really aiming for. This rarely happens. ...
2. Decline The Offer Immediately
Unless the offer is totally absurd, you should not really do this. There is always the possibility of your coming back and explaining why their offer is not acceptable-and offering a suggestion as to what they might do to interest you. When an offer comes in really poorly, then someone "dropped the ball." You may not have indicated what salary level you are seeking, but by this time the employer should have a pretty good idea just what you are presently earning, especially if there was an intermediary involved. There have been employers extending offers of even less than the candidate was earning at the time. Their erroneous logic was that the employer had to take a chance and train the new employee, so therefore the new employee was not worth that much until he proved himself. If you ever receive an offer like that, then you definitely decline. That employer is wasting both his time, and most importantly, your time.
3. Neither Accept Nor Decline
On most offers you will want to thank them, and ask if you might take a few days to talk it over with your spouse, or whoever, and have an opportunity to reflect on it
This is especially true if you happen to be still interviewing with other companies. It is always a problem, when scheduling various interviews, about what to do with the offers. Offer 1 comes in, but you know that there is a chance for two more, which might be better. What you might do is this: Depending on how outstanding that first offer is, level with the employer. Tell them that you are most interested in their offer, but have scheduled a couple of other interviews at the same time. Explain that you do not want to accept any position, while you are considering another. They should appreciate your candor and go along with a reasonable request of a week or two to let them know. The only reason that they might not, would be if they have a very strong alternate candidate "waiting in the wings" whom they suspect might not be available in a couple of weeks. It boils down to a calculated risk. If the offer is really great, then you pass by other opportunities. If it is not that outstanding, then you do not want to extend them your answer until you have explored your other opportunities.
You should not accept a job while you are continuing negotiations with other employers. This practice is just plain unethical.
Taking the Offer Back To the Boss
Sometimes, the only reason that a candidate will let himself be recruited, or actually go out and seek another position, is because he wants to go back to his boss and say: "Look what I got boss! Another job offer at more money." This technique may work if you are quite valuable, and your company cannot afford to lose you right now! But be careful! Many executives are known to pull this stunt, and wind up out on the street. Some employers respond well under this kind of pressure, while others look at it with distaste: Each employer is different, so you had better know who you are dealing with.
Very rarely does an executive stay any great length of time with his employer after he has "strong armed" them into a substantial raise. It is a little bit like "blackmail." It may work for a while, but eventually the employer will decide, rightly or wrongly, that you are just not that loyal. You spend too much time getting other job offers.
Frankly, if you have to fight with your employer every time you want a raise, maybe that in itself tells you something. Some employees might not mind going through the turmoil just trying to keep abreast of the cost of living. There are plenty of employers out in the marketplace in all industries who have sophisticated wage and salary programs which are both fair to the employees and bring profitable results to the employer.
