Stock Options Strike Price

I have been offered a great position with a salary of $88,500. The offer includes 12,000 stock options with a strike price of $2 a share. The company is planning their IPO for the end of the year.

I know the value of a company is relative, but should I have not been “given” 12,000 shares of stock? Or is this the norm to have to purchase the stocks at a certain strike price? What has been everyone else’s experience?