After phone screens and three face-to-face interviews, the job offer has expanded. All that remains is your acceptance of the offer and you are ready to enjoy the next chapters of your career. Some candidates will accept immediately and others may delay acceptance for a variety of reasons.

It is extremely important that you handle job offers properly or you risk having the offer withdrawn. Many job seekers fear that wage negotiations will be a deal breaker; But if done correctly it can be beneficial to both the prospective employee and the employer. Not being prepared for a job offer in today’s competitive job market is considered unacceptable.

1. Slow to respond to the job offer. During the interview process, show enthusiasm and enthusiasm for the job. The employer calls you to extend the job offer and you are slow to respond. The employer sees this slow response as a sign that you are not interested in the position. Not responding or being slow to respond is not good on your part. Jobs are hard to come by during these economic times and your lack of responsiveness indicates that you may not be the right candidate for this company. 24 hours to reply is acceptable.

2. Asking too much time to think about the offer. It is expected that you will need time to consider a job offer. This time should be discussed with the prospective employer. In today’s job market, a day or two would be acceptable. Understand that if you do not plan to accept the offer, the employer would like to be able to move on to your alternate candidate. Being too late sends the message that you are not interested and now creates an atmosphere in which the hiring manager’s enthusiasm for you has diminished.

3. Delay your acceptance until you have heard from other potential employers. If you ask for more time to think about an offer, be sure to explain the reasoning. Understandably, you need to consult with your family, etc. Stating that you have another job offer and want to compare the two jobs is a no-no.

Do your homework and make sure you’ve done your research. As a professional, you must know the job market for the position you are applying for. This means that you must do your homework on the compensation and financial stability of the company. Being prepared for the final phase of the interview makes the job offer beneficial to you and the employer.