By Ashley Hall
This is the third and final installment of our Searching for Success series. Previously we covered the new job hunt followed by how to best prepare for the interview. This post continues the journey through the offer and negotiation stages of accepting a new success role.
You deserve a round of applause! You’ve overcome nerves, you’ve mined through opportunity after opportunity, likely hundreds of other candidates, and won over some potentially tough interviewers and hiring managers. Job well done! You should be able to see the light at the end of the tunnel by this point. Here are some tips on how to handle the last few steps prior to landing your next gig.
Discuss salary early and often
The topic of salary and compensation can be uncomfortable for some. I encourage you to do whatever you can to not be one of those people. Discuss the topic with a mentor, read a book or blog, make a friend in recruiting or HR. Your compensation could very well be the largest reason for your search. Know your numbers!
Don’t be afraid to define your lowest possible offer you are willing to accept to yourself and then share a higher number with the prospective company. Discussing compensation earlier on in the process will make sure there are no surprises towards the end. Explain what you are shooting for respectfully and confidently and hold your ground!
Ask questions!
Details can often be overlooked at this stage of the game. If you are joining a new or young team, they may not be experienced in interviewing and hiring. You are interviewing them just as much as they are interviewing you. Be sure you are clear on all the important details: PTO policies, your goals, compensation structure, company holidays, sick and work-from-home policies, what a standard day looks like. Be sure to exhaust all your questions and don’t be afraid to ask for time or more information.
Remain transparent, honest, and competitive
In these final stages of interviewing and receiving an offer it doesn’t hurt to over communicate. Be crystal clear on what their expectations are of how long it will take to develop and deliver an offer. Do your anticipated start dates align? If you have any hesitations or areas of question, ask for a call and be sure to gain the clarity necessary for you to make a decision. Even though you have an offer, nothing is final till you ink the deal. Keep all your opportunities open until you’ve confirmed all details and have an official final offer.
Take some time!
Should you be able to afford it, from a time and financial perspective, take a little time off! It is rare in life to take such a break, decompress, and reset. Even if it’s just a week. What a treat to allow yourself to decompress from one role and get revitalized for the next!
It is no small feat to land a new role. Always remember to be patient with yourself and the fact that you are interviewing the prospective company as well. Be sure to take your time and communicate with purpose to land the next perfect gig!
Want to be prepared for your next customer success role? The Success League offers a CSM Training Program that covers 8 core skills you need to rock your interviews and land your next job. Learn more by visiting our website - TheSuccessLeague.io
Ashley Hall - Ashley loves to lead account management and success teams; from training newbies to building processes out of chaos to working directly with customers. She is passionate about helping customers achieve goals. With an eye on the future she is a powerhouse in building scaleable frameworks that support and drive growth. Ashley serves as an advisor and blogger for The Success League, and currently works for ProsperWorks as a customer success manager. She holds a BA from the University of Colorado, Boulder and enjoys living in San Francisco while traveling all over the world.