Internship and Job Offers
When evaluating offers, first and foremost, think about what matters most to you in the position you choose. Don’t feel the need to quickly accept an offer. Think it through, as you may have to live with this decision for a while. While salary and benefits are important, fulfillment can be equally important. Professional growth, promotion and upward mobility, location and the assignments and projects you work on all contribute to fulfillment.
In addition, consider the following guidelines:
- Closely look at the work environment and company culture to ensure that they match what you seek.
- Consider work-life balance, what that means to you and how you can obtain it from a particular position/organization.
- Once you have accepted an offer, consider your job search complete. Do not accept multiple offers. If you are not interested in a particular offer, let that employer know immediately.
- Adhere to the agreed timeline for your offer. You may also contact the organization for an extension if you need more time, but it will be at the employer's discretion to grant your request.
- Carefully consider the job offer. Consult with family or others before your offer expires.
- Offers may not be negotiable. Make sure you can live with the terms and conditions.
- If you have other pending offers, immediately notify those organizations when you have accepted another position.
- Do not back out from an offer you have accepted. By not keeping your commitment, you will damage your professional reputation and that of UC Davis. That could significantly impact future positions for you and others.
Salary Negotiation
If you are offered a position, you might have the option to negotiate your salary. The goal of negotiating is to ensure that the salary and benefits you receive reflects your skills, responsibilities and education level; not to get the highest amount. Consider the following guidelines and resources to help you prepare for a negotiation.
Do Your Research
Before starting negotiation, it is important to do your research and consider the following:
- Your skill set, experience and degree. Remember, internships count as experience.
- Job location. Salaries and cost of living vary widely by geographic area and industry.
- The market value for the position. Use the following sites to help determine a rough salary range (don’t forget to factor in location):
- Other benefits. Consider the value of benefits such as vacation time, relocation costs, support for applying for an H1B visa, loan forgiveness, support for continuing education costs, comprehensive health benefits, stock options and more. These may also be considered as part of the negotiation. When looking at the offer, be sure to take into account the value of these benefits and inquire if they are negotiable..
- Your budget. If you have never set up a budget before, consider doing so. The 50/30/20 rule can be a good guide for getting started. For more help with budgeting:
- Your bottom line. Decide in advance if you are willing to walk away from the job offer if your counter offer is not accepted.
What to Consider During the Interview
During the interview, focus on putting your best foot forward and getting an offer. Do not bring up salary, benefits and sick/vacation leave in an interview or before you are offered the position. Wait for the employer to address these topics first.
If the interviewer asks how much you expect to earn, provide a range based on your research, not a single figure. Note that you are appreciative of this job opportunity, are keenly interested in working for them, and have conducted research indicating that $X to $Y is what you were anticipating for a salary.
Note that this information is generally applicable to most types of positions or industries. However, if you are pursuing tenure-track positions, see our guide to careers in academia.
For further advice or specific questions, make an appointment with a Career Center advisor.