Job offers and employment agreements, Ngā tukunga mahi me ngā whakaaetanga mahi

It's tempting to say ‘yes’ straight away when you're offered a job. But take time to decide if it’s the right job for you. You may also want to negotiate the pay and conditions with your new employer.

Check your job offer and ask the employer about:

• your pay rate
• the date they want you to start
• the date they need your decision by
• if there are any conditions, like a drug test, police check or trial period.

Then think about if the job has:

• a good match for your interests and skill levels
• hours that suit you
• the pay rate and conditions you want
• opportunities to learn new skills and be promoted.

Does the job offer include any benefits like:

• commission and bonuses
• extra holidays and leave
• equipment like a smartphone or vehicle
• relocation costs if you have to move.

Is the organisation:

• in a good location
• a place with values that match yours
• somewhere you want to work?

If you decide you don't want the job, let the employer know as soon as possible.

Every job must have a written employment agreement. It needs to include information like the job description, pay rate and hours.

Read the employment agreement carefully. You could ask someone you trust to check that it’s reasonable, like a community lawyer or friend.

You can get free advice about employment agreements from:

• Employment New Zealand – call 0800 209 020
• Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) – call 0800 367 222

How to get free legal advice about your employment agreement – CAB

Employment agreements – Employment New Zealand

It’s worth trying to negotiate higher pay, extra leave or training before you accept a job offer. Many employers say they would pay new staff more if they were asked.

Before you start to negotiate, decide what the minimum pay rate is that you’ll accept.

Find out what similar jobs are paying using our career idea profiles and job vacancy websites information.

Explore career ideas

A good start to a pay negotiation could be:

“I’m really excited about the job offer. I’m wondering if there is any flexibility on pay?”

If the employer doesn't want to negotiate, you'll need to decide about accepting the salary offered for the job.

If the employer seems willing to negotiate, you could say:

“Thank you for your offer, I'm looking forward to working here. From my research, and with the skills and experience I have to offer, I'd be more comfortable with a salary around $XX.”

If they can’t offer a higher pay rate, you could ask for an increase in benefits, for example:

“Are you able to increase the amount of leave you’re offering?”

Make sure you're polite, give evidence of your value to the organisation, and show you’re willing to compromise.

If you’ve applied for several jobs at once, you might find you’re offered more than one. Here are some tips for how to handle this situation.

• Make sure you have a written offer. If you’ve only been told over the phone you have the job, ask the employer to put it in writing.
• Be honest. Tell the employers you have more than one offer and need time to think about them.
• It's not a good idea to accept the first job offer and then plan to leave if you're offered the job you really want. This would be inconvenient for your first employer and could affect your professional reputation.
• When you decide which job you want, thank all the employers and tell them how much you appreciate their offers.

If you already have a job, let your employer know in writing that you're resigning.

Always get a written offer or sign an employment agreement for your new job before you resign from your current one. If something goes wrong and your new employer withdraws the job offer, you could end up out of work.