WOOHOO!!! I got a job offer! But I have a question...

I've been in school for the past 8 years, never had a real job. I don't know the first thing about how to deal with job offers. I need some guidance.


On Friday, 2/26, I got a phone call from the manager at a company I've wanted to get a job with for the past 3 years. He asked if I was still interested in working for them. After I said "yes" he said he would put together a written offer and email it to me.

Here are my questions:

How long should it take to get the written offer? When should I contact them again to find out if they are going to send me an offer? Should I have sent an email thanking them for the offer, or should I wait until I have something in writing?

I didn't ask a lot of questions over the phone, I figured that I could see all the details when I get the written offer. Was this a mistake? Could they not want me anymore bc I didn't ask about salary/benefits/hours etc?

I know that's a lot of questions, but I figure y'all out there might have some good advice. Thanks in advance!

 

Congrats! It depends a little on the size of the company, who handles their HR (internal or contract), etc. I would say that you would see the letter within a week. As long as it is a medium sized company or better, they probably hire all the time so they dust off the form letter and put your details in it.

As for questions, again, as long as it is a medium sized company or bigger, they probably have a standard "package" that they use for new hires. You shouldn't worry too much about it as they will want to be competitive with the other companies hiring for that job function so company ABC may be slitghtly different than company XYZ (benefits, salary, etc), but it probably all comes out even in the end.

You will want to make sure you know the basics - where to show up the first day, what time, etc. They probably have an orientation process that will open your eyes a lot.

Again, congtratultations! A REAL job is not an easy thing to come by these days and it is not something to be taken lightly.

 

I forgot, the written offer will probably require a written acceptance. You aren't locked in until then but I doubt you will be disappointed.

Also, don't forget they may "test" you a little at the beginning. Look around and talk to those that have been there for a couple of years to see what the job is really like.

 

Thanks for the response Taco John!

In my field most companies that hire at entry-level are big, 1,000-150,000+ employees. This company is only ~45, very small relatively. I would guess they do have a somewhat standard package as there are ~25 people employed in the same position I was offered, most of them entry level or relatively inexperienced.

We discussed a start date over the phone. I won't be available until after I graduate, and that didn't seem like a problem.

The waiting is KILLING me...