Career Guide 17-18

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CAREER GUIDE 2017–2018
CLEMSON UNIVERSITY CENTER FOR CAREER AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
/ClemsonCCPD
65 64
FOUND THE PERFECT JOB — NOW WHAT?
It is never too late to start researching a company and having
an expected salary range. Research is going to be critical in
successfully negotiating your job offer down the road. It is not
enough to simply tell an employer that you deserve more money
or an additional benefit – you need to have information/data to
support how you meet the minimum and preferred qualifications.
Research is, often, easier said than done but there are numerous
resources available online.
RECEIVED AN INITIAL OFFER
Depending on the company/organization and the hiring manager,
you may receive an initial verbal offer. Here are things to do when
this happens:
1. Be enthusiastic about the opportunity, even if you are not
initially thrilled with the offer itself
2. While you have the person on the phone [or via email], ask
questions:
a. About benefits packages (health, dental, etc.)
b. Paid time off (sick, vacation)
c. Relocation assistance
d. Signing bonus
e. Stock options
f. Performance reviews
g. Advancement opportunities
h. Additional clauses (non-disclosure, non-compete)
3. Ask that you be sent the official offer letter
4. Clarify and note the timeline: when do they want an answer
from you?
The first step after receiving the official offer letter is to review
it. Does it have everything in it that you had previously discussed
with the employer? How does the offer stand next to the research
you’ve done?
Just because you’ve received an official offer does not mean the
negotiation is finished. You now have, in writing, the specific
details and probably more information than you had, even after
your initial conversation.
Compare the offer to what your evaluation of the salary and
benefits should be — make notes as this will help you in the next
step: negotiation.
NEGOTIATION
Steps for successful negotiating:
1. Contact employer through preferred method (in person, phone,
or email).
2. Thank them for the offer.
3. Reiterate your interest in the company and position.
4. Ask if the job offer is negotiable.
5. Be calm, collected, concise, and confident!
6. Explain why you feel you deserve a higher salary – back up
with research (experience, education, preferred qualifications,
and salary comparisons)
7. If the organization cannot offer a higher salary, negotiate other
benefits: vacation time, signing bonus, moving expenses, etc.
CRUNCH TIME: DO YOU ACCEPT OR DECLINE?
Hopefully, you were successful in your negotiation; however, it is
now time to either accept or decline the offer. As with any major
decision in your life, you need to weigh all of your options.
Regardless of if you are going to accept or decline, do so verbally
and in writing.
Accepting the Offer
1. Thank the employer
2. Confirm the following information:
a. Start date
b. Position
c. Salary
d. Location
e. Other pertinent information
Declining the Offer
1. Thank the employer - express your appreciation for the time
and effort they have invested in the process
2. State that you are declining the offer in a professional manner
3. Wish the employer luck in their recruitment process
After you’ve accepted the offer, be sure to notify any other
employers that you have interviewed with, or applied to,
informing them you have accepted another position. Be sure to
thank them for the opportunity to interview and/or the job offer!
Remember, you never know when you may be meeting/interacting
with employers in the future.
Please notify the Center for Career and Professional Development
to immediately withdraw from the On-Campus Interview (OCI)
process.
CHANGING YOUR MIND AFTER ACCEPTING
After interviews with several top companies, you accept a job
offer from Corporation A to begin work a week after graduation.
Then, XYZ Startup, a company that just began recruiting new
college graduates, interviews you and offers you a job to begin a
week after graduation.
You want to work for XYZ Startup, but what will you do about
the job you’ve already accepted at Corporation A? Companies
hire and fire people all of the time, you think. You’ll just let
Corporation A know that you’ve changed your mind.
Before you pick up the phone to renege on your job with
Corporation A, consider this: Your choice today may ruin your
choices tomorrow.
Truth: Some employers keep a running list of names of students
STEP ONE
BUDGETING 101
So you’ve accepted a great job offer and are ready to get to
work. You have been living on a student budget for so long and
it is tempting to believe your money problems are now over. You
rush out and lease a fancy apartment and buy a new car, right?
Wrong! The salary offer you received and the amount of money
that actually shows up in your paycheck are drastically different.
Here is why:
Annual Salary: $30,000
Federal Taxes: $4,500 Sliding percentage based on base
salary (15% tax bracket applies
here)
State Taxes: $2,100 In SC, 7% Income tax
Social Security Withholding: $ 2,300 Current federal rate is 7.65%
Insurance premiums: $ 1,500 Your contribution for health,
dental and other insurance will
vary – be sure to ask!
Retirement $ 1,500 It is essential to save for retirement.
Join your employer’s retirement plan
ASAP. 5% illustrated here.
Other withholdings ??? Employers could withhold fees
for parking, uniforms, use of the
corporate health center, etc.
Total withholding $11,900
Take home pay $18,100 Salary minus withholding
Monthly pay check $1,508 Some employers pay monthly and
you have to budget your salary for
the entire month!
Bi-weekly pay check $696 Other employers pay bi-weekly or
twice a month, stretching your
paycheck thinner!
Weekly pay check $348 Few employer pay weekly, but this is
what remains!
STEP TWO
FIGURE YOUR ESTIMATED TAKE HOME PAY
Annual Salary:______________
Federal Taxes:
15% tax – $7,550 to $30,650 ............................................. _____________
25% tax - $30,650 to $61,850 ........................................... _____________
28% tax - $61,850 to $94,225 ........................................... _____________
State Taxes:
In SC, income over $12 K per year is taxed at 7% .............. _____________
Social Security Withholding:
Current federal rate is 7.65% ............................................ _____________
Insurance premiums:
Nationwide average is 5.6% .............................................. _____________
Retirement: Estimate 5% .................................................. _____________
Other withholding:
Employers could withhold fees or parking, uniforms,
use of the corporate health center and others .................... _____________
Total withholding:............................................................... _____________
Take home pay....................................................................
Subtract your total withholding from your
annual salary. This is your annual “take home” pay.
Monthly pay check
Divide your annual take home pay by 12 ............................ _____________
Bi-weekly pay check
Divide your annual take home pay by 26 ............................ _____________
Weekly pay check
Divide your annual take home pay by 52 ............................ _____________
who’ve reneged after they’ve accepted a job offer — a “do not
call” list. Even without a list, recruiters will remember you.
If you are offered a job, it’s because you stand out in the crowd of
applicants. The recruiting and hiring manager see and hear your
name over and over during the interview and hiring process.
Universities value their corporate partnerships, and they do not
want to risk having companies stop recruiting new graduates
and alumni. That means, if you renege on a job acceptance, your
name may end up on a “no services” list. If your school finds
out that you’ve reneged — and they will — you may be denied
access to university job boards and alumni career services when
you need help finding your next job.
Credit: Kayla Villwock—Intern Program Manager for SAS Courtesy of the National
Association of Colleges and Employers