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4) Offer Evaluation & Negotiation

Reading offer letters properly

Getting a job offer is a huge win, but your work isn't done yet\! In the U.S., an offer letter is a legal contract. You need to understand every word of it because once you sign, it is very hard to change. Think of this as the final math stage of your journey. Here is how to make sure you get a fair deal.

A U.S. offer letter can be 2 pages or 20 pages. You must look for three specific things before you get excited.

Employment "At-Will": Almost all U.S. jobs are "at-will." This means the company can fire you at any time, and you can quit at any time. Don't be scared; this is normal in the U.S.
The Start Date: This must align with your OPT or CPT start date. If the letter says you start June 1st, but your visa isn't ready until June 15th, you cannot work!
Contingencies: Most offers say "Pending a background check." This means the job is yours only if your background check and drug test come back clean.

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