Free Career and Job Search Advice

AnnaLime · Guest

The normal procedure is to wait for the offer to come verbally and then it is okay to ask about what benefits the company provides its employees. Sometime the company would send you by mail the offer letter along with the benefit list. How much time is a reasonable time to think over the offer?

There is another issue – I will have to undergo a minor surgery for which I will need to be absent about 10-15 days next month. Should I inform them before or after I have the offer? I am very scared that this might cast a negative shadow on my chances to land the job. What do you advise?

I will need the medical benefits and if I do not get them from this company, then I would be inclined not to leave my present job, till my surgery is done; what should I do?

Lillian · Guest

Do not ask anything before you get the verbal offer at least. Only after accepting the offer, should you actually inform about the upcoming medical emergency. Watch how they react to the announcement.

Sally on JOb Offers · Guest

The best way is to find out when they expect your answer and then wait to check about the benefits the company offers in the letter. As regards the surgery, it is always good to be honest; otherwise you may get the job but you will may be holding it long if they think you have tricked them into offering the position when you know about the upcoming inconvenience.

Be frank and say you do now know whether it would be needed or not and what does it involve if it does – money, leave, etc. In this way the employer can make proper arrangement for your replacement in time and nothing suffers.

Guest · Posted: Wed Aug 09, 2006 1:51 pm Post subject:

Whether or not you get medical benefits will be given in the offer package; it will also tell you whether you can count on it immediately or you will need a probation period before it comes into effect. Ordinarily, you should not take longer than 2 days to give your answer to an offer.

Depending upon the overall package – you will be able to decide whether you want the job or not.

L.

mikeLEE · Guest

My dear friend you should know that most of the medical benefits have an incubation period of 30 days minimum; you also have 60 days and 90 days kick in periods. In that case you still have a good workable alternative which does not need to disturb your new job.

Use COBRA on your old benefits; this may be a bit expensive initially – but it will help you with the surgery costs without upsetting the apple cart. The fact that you need off so soon after taking up the job will be a very alarming situation for the new employer. This is because they might count on your work and need you urgently – for which the new employment is made – and secondly, that you need surgery is indicative of a major health problem.

Hence, you should immediately inform the employer if there is no way to postpone the surgery for a few months till things settle. If you can postpone it, then by all means do so; this will help you gel with the new environment for sometime which will do a whale of good when you will need the time off for the surgery.

jobhunter99 · Guest

It is common sense you will need to have an active medical insurance from anyone of your employees; preferably it should be the old one, not the new one.

Dr Ram · Guest

I read your question with some concern. You have written than you may or may not need to take the surgery. What type of surgery is this? Elective or necessary? If it is a voluntary exercise, then postpone by at least 6 months; if it is required I would advice to stay with your old job till you are out of all the post-surgery treatment. This is important because there might be other development after the surgery. You can never say what happens post-surgery; have you thought what will happen if you need a longer recovery period?

Regarding informing your new employer, be sure you speak matter-of-factly and inform them about your concern regarding the benefits. The company should give you a list of benefits along with your employment letter. If they do not, you may ask for it. Ask them time which should not exceed two days for giving them your consent.

Wish you all the best!

Guest · Posted: Wed Aug 09, 2006 2:41 pm Post subject:

Honesty of the best policy here. The employers should know what deal they would be getting the same as you so they can prepare for the eventuality. You can ask them straight forward that you wanted to know about what benefits you are entitled to.

As regards the surgery I agree wholeheartedly with Dr Ram. You should be
honest an straight forward about everthing.

Lillian tells her story I have gone through a similar predicament with positive results.

However, I had informed them about my plans to take off during the interview – when I saw that the balance is tilting towards them making me an offer. They in turn were quite candid about it and agreed for me to take the required off.

I would advise that you inform them as soon as you can regarding the impending trip – lest it will look that you have tricked them into
giving them the job and then dropped the bombshell on them.

The best would be that you cancel the trip and plan it at least 6 months after when you can give the required notice. It does not look appropriate for you to choose leisure when you have a job to do.

In that case you might need to take stock and see what you want more –
the new job or the trip. Think carefully and choose well.

All the best!

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