Even though you find the perfect job listing, write the most awesome resume and nail the interview, you still need time to consider the job offer from your potential employer. Consider several factors before you accept a position, and go over the basic job duties, expectations and perks of the job before you sign on the dotted line.
Evaluate the job offer so you can make an educated choice regarding the position. Consider everything about the compensation including base salary, bonuses and other perks. Go over medical insurance, vacation days, work environment and company culture to ensure this position represents what you really want.
Get paid what you feel you deserve. If the initial job offer has a lower-than-expected compensation package, negotiate upward until you reach a middle ground. Research positions similar to yours, and find out how much people in that type of situation make. Take into account your skills and experience to make a counteroffer.
Examine the benefits and perks included with the job offer, such as health insurance, vacation days, family leave, life insurance and sick days. If you have any questions about what a benefit entails, call human resources to receive a better explanation. Ask how much you should contribute to retirement plans or health insurance in order to have matching employer funds.
Flexibility remains one relatively new aspect of someone's work environment. Know how many hours your employer expects you to contribute per week. If you have a managerial or supervisory position, you may work 45 to 50 hours or more per week. Before you accept a position, determine whether your paycheck comes as a salary or as an hourly wage since that may delineate your commitment to the job. Add in time for commuting and you may see than an eight-hour day could turn into 12 to 15 hours.
Take into account your children and family situation. When you travel, can your significant other handle your time away from home? Review your personal life, and ask yourself if your professional life can handle the new position. If something doesn't feel right, you may turn down the position. It is far better to reject the job offer before the company invests a lot of time, effort and energy into your career.
Ask around the office to find out what happened to your predecessor and to get a feel for the people at your new company. Did your predecessor leave on good terms? Did that person have too much stress? How does everyone perceive the person who had your job before you? Does the staff at the office seem upbeat about the direction the company seems to be going? Get a feel for the people already there to see if this office represents a place where you want to spend 40 hours per week.
The best guide to determine if a job offer sounds right for you revolves around your life circumstances. When the job feels right and your family agrees, jump right into your exciting opportunity. Otherwise, tell your employer you may need a few days to think about it.
Photo courtesy of Stuart Miles at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
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