Congratulations! You finally landed your dream job in agriculture. All the hard work and interview prepping has finally paid off. Now, it's time to accept the offer and move on to bigger things, but there's a process. It might seem like a simple task, but there are a few steps to mastering how to accept a job offer.
How To Accept a Job Offer
The ag recruiter or hiring manager might call you to give you the good news. It's great to hear the excitement over the phone to be welcomed into the company, but don't start agreeing to things too quickly.
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Request the Job Offer in Writing
Your initial response should be prompt. Call back if you missed the call or respond to the email. Thank the recruiter for choosing you and asking whether he or she can submit the job offer in writing so you can review the details. The agriculture company may have already submitted that information, so request time to review it.
Review the Information in the Job Offer
Go through all the information in the job offer. Break it into the following sections to ensure everything is covered in the job offer.
Compensation
How much money you make is a big part of whether you take a job; there's nothing wrong with that. You have financial obligations to take care of and goals you want to pursue. Ensure the company gave you at least the minimum requested or the amount you both previously agreed upon.
If the compensation is lower than expected, make a note. Remember that salary isn't your only form of payment. You might also get company stock, retirement matching, and bonuses.
Benefits
Do you need specific benefits to maintain a work-life balance? Did you ask for a condensed workweek so you can finish your master's degree or a certification? Maybe you need to work from home because of the kids. Does the health insurance amount look affordable? What about your paid time off or tuition reimbursement? You might only get some of these things but check for what you requested in the interview.
Job Responsibilities
Pay attention to this aspect of how to accept an ag job offer. Too many people show up on the first day of work with no idea of what the job entails, and it is not all their fault, either. Agribusinesses may fail to do adequate personnel planning and might not even give a list of responsibilities. Ensure you have this document with your offer, even if it's just a brief description. Match it with your title and compensation to see if it all adds up.
Timeline
You should know when you will start the job and how much time you have to answer the offer. The company has probably already indicated this in the email or job offer letter, but it's good to double-check. If you are currently employed, you might need enough time to provide notice to your present employer. Check your contract to see what the agreement says.
Prepare Questions
Even if it was discussed during your interview, take the time to clarify every question you might have. Ask about the work environment, growth opportunities, performance measurement criteria, and anything that wasn't entirely clear in the offer. Ensure you ask intelligent questions that reflect positively on you as a chosen candidate.
Negotiate If You Can
You might have heard the saying before that you should never accept the first offer. Keep in mind, most ag employers expect candidates to negotiate and price the salary accordingly. This gives them the room to go up if the person asks for more.
How do you negotiate for better compensation?
- If you haven’t done so already, do online research to determine the market rate for your qualifications for this position in your area before figuring out whether to accept a job offer.
- Remember to look beyond the salary to determine whether other compensation benefits, such as free daycare or unlimited PTO, make up the difference.
- Consider your wording carefully so that you negotiate from an objective place of facts rather than based on what you think you should get.
If you received a generous offer already, it might not hurt to accept it. You should also reconsider negotiating if they give you the compensation you requested. Going back on your word could reflect poorly on you as a candidate.
Accept the Offer
You could call the ag company during business hours and accept over the phone. That approach may work in very informal or casual organizational cultures. Ideally, when accepting a job offer, you send an email instead. Your letter should include these sections:
- Gratitude: Thank the organization for the offer and express your enthusiasm for starting the new ag role. Confirm the position and company here.
- Acceptance: Explicitly accept the offer. This is also an excellent time to confirm your start date if it was not included in the offer letter, so you have this in writing.
- Compensation: Include the salary and benefits in the acceptance. You don't need to detail every aspect of it but note the most important things to you.
- Positive conclusion: Conclude the letter on a high note and mention that you look forward to starting a new chapter with the company.
You don't have to make this email a long one. Here's an example of what it might look like as you cover how to accept a job offer:
Hello Ms. Granger,
Thank you for taking the time to call me yesterday. I feel honored that you chose me over so many other qualified candidates for this position as location manager.
I would like to offer my formal acceptance of the role, and I appreciate that the annual compensation of $150,000 is higher than requested. The 100% retirement match also played a significant role in my decision.
I have submitted my two weeks' notice to my current employer today and look forward to starting with your team on May 4th, 2023. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to ask. I look forward to seeing you soon!
Sincerely
Beck Schafer, CPAg
After Mastering How to Accept a Job Offer
Accepting a job offer can be an exciting yet overwhelming experience. It is important to evaluate all the details and ensure that the position aligns with your career goals and aspirations. Find your next job in agriculture, horticulture, and food production at AgHires.com. With a wide range of listings and resources, we help connect you with the most sought-after employers in the agriculture industry.
