She Strengthens

The Job Offer That Wasn’t: A Cautionary Tale

A Dream Job Turns into a Nightmare

After a year of searching, I finally landed an interview for my ideal job. The phone screening went smoothly, and I nailed the in-person interview. I was confident that I’d get the offer. The organization’s values and mission resonated with me, and I was excited to make the position my own.

The Waiting Game

A few days later, the HR representative called to request references. I was thrilled, thinking the job was mine. Within a week, she offered me the position, detailing the benefits and salary. I asked about the start date, and she replied that I’d receive the official offer letter once I verbally accepted. I requested a day to consider the offer and asked for a benefits package to review.

Negotiation Time

I did my research, decided to negotiate for a higher salary, and sent the HR representative some questions. However, I didn’t receive a response for two days, so I followed up and made a counter-offer. She seemed surprised but promised to get back to me.

The Bad News

Five days later, she called to inform me that the hiring process was paused due to budget preparations for the next fiscal year. I was devastated. Two weeks later, I checked in again, only to be told that they couldn’t hire for the position anymore. The job was no longer mine.

Lessons Learned

This experience taught me valuable lessons:

• Get everything in writing: Confirm interview details and job offers via email.
• Don’t count your chickens: Don’t inform your current employer that you’re leaving until you’ve signed the offer letter.
• Be prepared: Have your references ready and be prepared to back up your negotiation numbers with research.
• Take a breath: Job hunting can be stressful, so stay calm and focused.

Moving On

It’s been over a year since this experience, and I’ve moved on to a new job where I received a legitimate offer letter. I successfully negotiated a higher salary without needing documentation. I’m grateful for the lessons learned and the reminder that sometimes, things don’t work out as planned.