Make Sure Not to Make this Simple Mistake when Accepting a Job Offer

Recently I applied to a new job and everything went really smoothly--which is often not common in an interview and hiring process. I sent in my application to a start-up studio, had a Skype interview with, what seemed to be, the whole art team, and they got back to me a few days later with a job offer. Unfortunately, the offer was lower than I expected for the area (the job was in Los Angeles). I used the tactic that I teach: negotiating the salary after the offer had already be granted. As a side note: it seems that most negotiations and offers are given through email these days, whereas in the past I spoke directly with an HR manager about the job details. I interpret this as a tactic to make the offer seem more set in stone and that there is no room for interpretation: like when a car dealership brings you a print-out of the comp of the final price of a car you are looking at. Here's a secret: that is not the final price! The car salesperson can make another print out and the HR manager can edit the pdf document that your offer is neatly sent in. Also, the deadline of the offer was about one week. I have not yet witnessed a formal deadline for an offer letter.

I told the HR manager that the salary was low for my original range that I quoted. As those of you that have been applying for jobs and speaking with HR managers know, one of the first questions they ask you during their very first contact with you is what salary range you are looking to make. You should definitely give a range and definitely research on glassdoor.com beforehand. HR practically expects you to know what others in your field are making, even though once you are at the job they try everything they can to restrict employees from comparing salaries with each other. Thus, it's a double standard and I would fret talking to others about salary, just do it smartly as not to cause animosity between you and them. The best method is to get close to that person, first, as a friend, and don't pop the question until you feel they are ready. This is almost like asking about marriage (for some people it is really serious). Alas, I have deviated, though. The point is that HR tried to low-ball me by not even respecting my original salary range that I quoted them.

They responded with a counter offer that was $5,000 more than the original. Not bad. I would have been comfortable with that offer, but I wanted to see if I could get even more from them. So I let them know that I had been making more than that current figure at my current job, which is in a less-expensive area than Los Angeles. She got back to me with a final offer for the same figure that I was making.

The overall problem with this transaction was that I was out of the country at the time and was not checking email as frequently as I would have, as I didn't want to spend the out of country charge for my phone provider's data plan. I ended up accepting the offer the day of the deadline. I thought I had been in the clear as I didn't know that the deadline had a time that was early in the afternoon. It turns out that I was a couple of hours past the expiration. I couldn't believe it, obviously HR was turned off by me taking time to respond to their emails from being out of the country, and felt that responding too late in the last email was the last straw. I tried reasoning with her and letting her know I had been out of the country, but with no luck.

I have completed numerous art tests before and had been late with my submissions, and everything had been fine, but this is the first time I've experienced being late with a deadline that actually had consequences. The moral of the story is to try and be on time during the application process, for all aspects (especially when accepting the offer). If you expect being late, at least send the HR manager an email update to let them know you will be a bit late. I have done this recently for an art test with another studio, where I knew that they absolutely wanted the test on-time, and have had luck with it. HR is super-sensitive as to personal behavior and demeanor for each of the many job candidates they are juggling on a daily basis. So, make sure to be on your "Sunday best" and don't give them a reason to be upset with you. I wanted to share this story with everyone so that you don't end up making the same mistake.

-Ken