By Jackie Simmonds, NEJS Blog Editor

You have finally received a job offer.  After being out of work for so long the temptation is to jump on it right away.  Not so fast.

Just as you put in the time to understand the company that just offered you the position you should put in the time in to make sure the offer is what you want.  Many people who have been job searching in the past year have had had their happiness at being offered a job shaken when they see the dollars they are being offered.  An offer is not always just about the money but it is the place we first start.

Can you really negotiate salary during these tough economic times?

“This is no time to roll over and just take what they give you,”  Ford Myers, author of Get the Job You Want, Even When No One’s Hiring and president of Career Potential, a job consulting and coaching firm based in Philadelphia told Forbes.com last year.  You made it to the top of the resume pile; you succeeded in passing the other candidates in the interview process.  You have already proven you are the one for the job.  They don’t want to start the search all over.

“Companies expect you to negotiate,” says Myers,. “They’ll be disappointed if you don’t, since you’re hired to be smart and savvy when doing business dealings for their firm. They don’t want you to be a pushover.” » Read more: Negotiation: Know Your Own Worth