I’ve been on a of interviews lately and believe I’ll be getting a job offer soon from one of them. I’m ready to start working at a regular job again but I still want to be careful about where I end up working.
I’ve already turned down one job offer because I didn’t think it would be a good fit. That was incredibly scary but it’s even more scary to consider getting stuck in an employment situation that makes you miserable for years.
Obviously salary is a huge consideration with any job, but there are other things you need to think about before accepting a job offer.
Things To Consider Before Accepting A Job Offer
Here are the things to consider with a job offer beyond just salary!
Growth Potential – While sometimes a salary might seem low, the job may offer amazing growth potential. If you see a clear path of advancement or the ability to grow as an individual with great mentorship, you might want to consider accepting the job. Money isn’t everything and growing as a person or growing your career can have huge financial benefits as time goes on.
Job Duties – Sure you’ve read the job description. Dig deeper in the interview by asking questions about your day to day duties and you might find some surprising nuggets of information. Consider whether your job duties will be interesting or challenging to you. You might not want to take a job where you will be bored and unfulfilled.
Commute – Commuting a long distance can add money from your budget and lower your quality of life. A long commute can make a good job a miserable one. If you are looking at a job offer from a company that is too far away from your home, then you have to consider whether the job is worth it. Maybe it’s worth moving closer after a time or maybe it’s a better idea to find a job that is closer to where you live now. Personally commute is a big deal for me and I never have a commute more than 15 minutes.
Company Policies – Does this company handle it’s day to day business in a way that aligns with your values? Look at things like the dress code, vacation policy, and other policies to see if it’s something you can live with. Ask lots of questions before accepting the job offer to find out if there are any policies that exist that will make it hard for you to be employed there.
Coworkers – Were the people you met during the interview people you’d like to be around for extended periods? Were they professional? Polite? While everyone is on their best behavior during interviews it’s still a great time to size up your future boss and coworkers to see if they are people you would enjoy working with. You can ask during the interview why a position is open to see if it was because of personality conflicts or ask to meet people you’d be working with in order to make a decision before accepting an offer.
Management Style – Many people don’t consider management style when accepting a job offer but it will make a huge difference in how much you love your new job or how much you hate it. You boss has a huge effect on your well-being at work so try to find out as much about him/her before accepting your job offer. Their management style and style of interacting with you will greatly determine your job satisfaction so consider this before saying yes to any job.
Savings – How is your savings account? Is it fully stocked? If you are sensing signs a job might not be all it’s talked up to be during the interview process then you might want to consider passing on the offer. If you have a fully funded emergency fund or side income then this decision becomes easier to handle. You might also get into the job and realize it’s not what you expected so having a backup plan and full savings account makes it easier to rectify a mistake or find something else.
Accepting A Job Offer
Basically, try to learn as much as possible about you can about the job you will be taking. You don’t want to end up frustrated or burned out at the new job. Finding the right position with an inspiring leader will make a huge difference in your life.
Those are just a few of the things beyond a salary I consider when deciding whether or not to accept a job offer. I’m pretty picky in terms of where I want to work.
What things do you consider when accepting a job offer?