Indeed getting a new job always calls for celebration! The question is; do you actually want to work for the company? It’s important to prioritize what is most important to you and evaluate how the offer at hand aligns with your top priorities and your other current options. Even in a tight job market, it’s not always in your best interest to accept the first job offer you receive. And what if you’re faced with more than one appealing option? That’s why it is good to ask yourself these five questions before taking the job offer in order to ensure peaceful stay at work.
1. DOES THE OFFER ADD UP?
When you’ve been job hunting for a while, it can be tempting to accept the first thing that comes along-but failing to consider the longer-term career implications can be a costly mistake. Ensure everything in the documents adds up to what you were offered verbally already. Details to look out for are title, department, location, reporting line, work hours, vacation entitlement, salary, benefits, start date and more. Clarify any discrepancies with the HR representative sooner rather than later. I have seen candidates rejecting job offers solely due to the written offer containing wrong information; this is obviously not a great impression for any candidate.
2. WHAT’S THE REAL JOB YOU ARE BEING HIRED TO DO?
The job ad and even the job description seldom reflect the true requirements of a job, therefore, they do not tell a complete story of what exactly you are being hired to do. The last thing you want to happen is to discover that there are unrealistic expectations and turnaround times for projects. When you know the details of the job you are being hired to do, you can create your 30-60-90 Day Plan so that you can start the job running.
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3. WHAT IS THE BENEFITS PACKAGE?
You may have been asked for your salary expectations in the interview, but it’s crucial to know the details of the benefits package before you accept the job. What is the salary and how does the bonus system work? How much annual leave will you receive? While these questions should never be asked in a job interview, it’s absolutely crucial to clarify this information once you get the job.
4. HOW WILL THE JOB POSITION YOU FOR THE FUTURE?
In today’s job market, no position is forever. With each step you take, you must evaluate how it will position you for the future. Ask yourself; will this job keep you sharp? Will the day to day responsibilities let you hone skills that will make you even more marketable in the future? Does this position come with increased responsibility? Will working at this company give your resume added credibility? Does this job give you a “foot in the door” to make a desired career change? Will you have access to useful training and networking opportunities? It is important to provide answer to the questions.
5. IS THE LOCATION GOING TO WORK FOR YOU?
Lastly, having consider all the above listed questions, ask yourself whether the location is going to work for you. By this I mean both the office layout as well as the physical location of the office. Some people can’t stand an open office landscape, others thrive. Some of us love an hour’s commute in the morning as it gives them some quality alone time. Others think a minute commuting is a minute wasted. You need to visualize what will be like to travel there and back, day out and day in.
