The Job Offer

 

The offer will confirm the exact title of the position, validating if it is a position of project manager, project director, etc. It will also specify the duration of the contract which can be determined or of an indefinite duration.

 

BASE SALARY

 

Compensation (salary) is normally stated in dollars per year (gross salary), but the employer will specify how he agrees to pay the salary; the beginning of the pay period; the method of payment; and other benefits with monetary value (eg, auto, housing).

 

HOURLY BASE

 

In Québec, organizations often offer a basic schedule of 35 to 40 hours per week for full-time work. In addition, the offer will specify if you will have a fixed or variable schedule. This information is presented with base salary.

 

VACATION

 

The employer determines the number of weeks of vacation per year that will be offered to you at the entrance. The offer will specify the reference year for the calculation of vacations.

 

Employers often offer two weeks the first year. Among the factors that influence the number of annual vacation days, there is your work experience in the field (junior vs senior). In other words, depending on your experience, it is possible to negotiate your annual vacation at the entrance.

 

The offer will specify public holidays, in addition to the other leaves planned in the company (eg leaves due to the particular constraints of the employer).

 

OVERTIME

 

Different approaches exist for overtime, especially in the area of ​​project management, where we know that work can be concentrated in certain periods (at the end of the project, where deliverables are expected, for example): may pay overtime, may allow you to manage a bank of hours or may simply not pay them. The last option is normally used for higher level positions (eg senior or executive).

 

Overtime can be paid at 2, 1.5, or 1 times your hourly rate, depending on several factors such as seniority, the company's internal policy, or the terms of the collective agreement, if applicable.

 

A letter of offer will not present all the details of the hours policy additional information, but will indicate its general aspects. The details will be presented to you in the first days at work.

 

PROBATION PERIOD

 

It is regularly mentioned that you will go through a probationary period, the standard term is three months, but can go up to six months.

 

START DATE

 

The job offer indicates the date you start working. This date is normally defined by mutual agreement between the candidate and the employer. It is important that this day be clearly indicated in the letter. This is often Monday, two to three weeks after the offer is issued.

 

EXPIRATION DATE OF THE OFFER AND ANSWER

 

Usually, the employer will give you a few days to make the decision to accept or reject your offer. It is normally expected to be accepted, because if the employer has come to the point of making an offer, it is because the candidate and the employer already agree with most of the elements of their agreement, even if it is informally during the selection process.

 

However, if something does not suit you, you can make the decision to negotiate some items or even refuse the offer. Entering negotiation is an important decision. The employer's response can be positive and open, as he can simply withdraw the offer. Everything is possible so you have to think before making this type of decision.

 

Your acceptance will be confirmed by the signature of the letter, which you will return to the employer. All this communication is normally done by email with the use of digitized signed documents.

 

If you participate in several selection processes and you receive more than one job offer at the same time, or if you receive a job offer from one organization, but you are still waiting for the answer from another that interests you more, think carefully before making your decision. Because to accept an offer and to go back later is a very bad attitude and can close doors in the future. It is always advisable to keep a good relationship with the organization, even if you decide not to accept his offer. Remember that a selection process is expensive for organizations and your time is seen as important by employers. So no party wants to feel like they are wasting their time in the hiring process. Always be professional, transparent and candid with your potential employer.