Yesterday we looked at the problem of candidates turning down job offers after you went through a lengthy and expensive process getting to that point. Today we’ll look at how personalizing a job offer can really make a difference.
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To improve the likelihood a job offer will be accepted, one of the simplest things you can do is to personalize that offer. You can find out a lot of information during the recruitment process to help to customize the offer as needed. During your conversations with the candidate, be sure to ask about things like career goals, schedule/availability, and the individual’s priorities and needs.
As noted in the bullet points below, these types of queries may be easiest to discuss during the earliest stages of making the offer. As such, it may be best to keep the early discussion flexible rather than making concrete offers that may seem nonnegotiable. (An offer that seems nonnegotiable may make some good candidates feel their needs cannot be met when, in fact, there may be room to negotiate or change specifics.) To take this route, consider opening the conversation by using questions before making a firm offer. For example, you could open the discussion by noting that the company is still finalizing its decision but that you’d like to know if a salary range between $X and $Y would be in alignment with expectations if you are able to offer the role to him or her. Other similarly-phrased questions can help you understand where the person stands in terms of compensation and benefits most valued. You can choose how in depth to go with this.
In the end, the goal is to craft an offer that takes the individual’s needs into account wherever possible. Consider where customization can be done in areas like:
- Flexible scheduling or telecommuting
- Career development opportunities
- Start date
- Relocation expense coverage
- Start date of benefits like health insurance
- Other insurance options
Obviously, this list is not comprehensive, but the key is to hone in on any areas where the organization may be able to tailor the offer without creating a situation where similarly situated individuals are compensated or treated differently. There may be a lot of leeway on little things that can make a big difference on a personal level. And this type of customization can be offered to anyone.