Properly Evaluating a Job Offer
Posted in Salaries & Benefits
After the strenuous screening process of submitting your resume and going through countless interviews, you finally got the job. The potential employer calls you for an appointment so that they would present to you the job offer, which consists of the work that you would do for the company as well as how much you would earn and other benefits.
You might also get a tour around the office. However, is it right to accept the offer right away? What should you consider before accepting it? Here are some suggestions, and you have to decide quick. A job offer usually does not last long.
Determine what makes you satisfied - Look into yourself and find what gives you the most job satisfaction. It could be the respect you get from your boss, the amount of money you make, or simply how much you love what you do. Different workers choose different answers, which eventually lead to different career paths.
Evaluate the salary - Even if the money you would earn from the prospective work does not make you satisfied at the job, it is just as important. Determine if the salary would be enough to pay the bills. You also need to check if other people working in the same industry, as well as in the same geographic region, earn just as much as you would in your new job.
Evaluate the office environment - You would notice it once you enter the office during the interview. Check out how the employees are dressed and how they communicate with each other. You can also observe what amenities the office have, such as a gym, vending machines, colorful office furniture among others. You need to know if the environment in your prospective work would make you happy.
Evaluate corporate culture - This set of shared attitudes, values, goals, and practices that characterizes a company or corporation should be an important factor in determining your acceptance or reluctance of the job offer. If you need to spend quality time with your family at home, it's probably not advisable to join a company that encourages late hours. You also need to research about the company's policies and determine whether these would make you feel comfortable.
Evaluate your commute time - Take into account how far you are from the office and how long would it for you to get there. It may seem okay during the job interview, but getting there five days a week, in rush-hour traffic, would change all that.
Evaluate the boss and co-workers - You may have seen the boss interact with his workers during your interview. Observe how he treats his employees. Does he like to yell? Does he encourage a democratic workplace? The same could said of co-workers, especially those who are difficult to get along with.
