With the job market as tough as it is today, many job seekers are tempted to take any job they can find. But the truth is, sometimes taking the wrong job can be worse than not having a job at all – if you settle too soon for a job that’s not quite the right fit, you might end up 12 months later out looking for work again, with even lower morale and even less career momentum.
Here are some questions to ask yourself before you accept a job offer that can hopefully help you avoid ending up in the wrong job.
Do you like the people? Pay attention to the people you'd be working with. Do you identify with these people? Do they have a sense of humor, some kind of "spark" that makes you want to get to know them better? Are these the kind of people you want to have lunch with or socialize with outside of work hours? If the answer to these questions is "no," you might not want to take the job. It's no fun being in a workplace where you have no close friends or feel different from everyone else.
Here are some questions to ask yourself before you accept a job offer that can hopefully help you avoid ending up in the wrong job.
Do you like the people? Pay attention to the people you'd be working with. Do you identify with these people? Do they have a sense of humor, some kind of "spark" that makes you want to get to know them better? Are these the kind of people you want to have lunch with or socialize with outside of work hours? If the answer to these questions is "no," you might not want to take the job. It's no fun being in a workplace where you have no close friends or feel different from everyone else.
What interests you about the job? Hopefully there's something energizing or exciting about the work itself - do you get to use great new technology, or be part of a growing business, or be part of a dynamic new industry? If you feel bored by the job, or if you find out that the job is in a backwater of the company with no room for growth or advancement, you're going to wish you'd never accepted the job offer.
What can you learn from this job? If you want to grow in your career, you need to learn something new from every job you take. If you’re going to be the most experienced person on the team, or if you’re being hired for your “expert advice” and wisdom, this could be a warning sign that the job, while flattering, might ultimately be a bad fit. You don’t want to be looked upon as an “elder statesman” if you’re not yet in the final stages of your career – you should ideally be able to learn from the other people on your team just as they learn from you.
Is the company the right fit for your values? Do you believe in/identify with the mission of the company, or are you strictly looking for a paycheck? Money is important, but if you feel morally compromised by the work your company does - if you feel like you're working for "the bad guys" - it can be hard to enjoy all the great stuff you can buy during your time away from work.
Do you have a good rapport with your manager? Starting from the first interview with your new prospective manager, ask yourself if this person is someone who you would like to work with. If the manager seems like a mismatch with your personality or work style, or if you just don’t have an easy manner of making conversation with the manager, this could be a warning sign that the job is not right for you. No matter how great the company or how promising the job, a lackluster relationship with the manager can lead to more headaches than it’s worth.
Ben Gran is a freelance writer based in Des Moines, Iowa. He is an award-winning blogger who loves to write about careers and the future of work.
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