It can be an extremely exciting and nerve-wracking time when you find yourself looking for a new job. When you finally do get an offer, that feeling in itself is somewhat indescribable. You have an overwhelming sense of accomplishment and your confidence shoots through the roof, and it’s understandable if your excitement can somehow cloud your judgment. It’s important that you take a step back before making your final decision to commit to this new job. This is why we’re going to help you out and introduce you to important factors that you should consider before accepting a new job offer.
You Need Time
The biggest mistake you can make is rushing into making a decision about your new offer, no matter how enticing and solid it may seem. Ask them to give you time, but don’t be obnoxious about it. Let them know that you appreciate that they have considered you and that you just need a bit of time to make sure that you have everything taken care of. In the meanwhile, don’t limit yourself to just one option. Open your mind to a few possibilities that are available in the market, and compare them with one another so that you have no doubts or regrets when you make that final decision.
Ask About Benefits
It’s easy to get caught up in the excitement of something new and wonderful, but you need to stay focused and remember to ask about what kind of benefits they offer. Never mind if you find that it’s more than what you have in your current job; set the bar high from the get-go. Find out how they manage the employee benefits as well because this says a lot about how organized and fair they are. The services provided at Zenefits give you an idea of what a properly organized benefits program looks like. This is crucial because it proves that they aren’t taking you for a ride. Ask about health insurance, sick days, vacations, as well their retirement plans because this could actually make or break the deal for you.
Look at the Big Picture
It’s so tempting to have the prospect of getting a new office with a fresh start doing something new and exciting. However, it’s important that you take a step back and look at the big picture. Imagine your future with this company 5 or 10 years down the line. Are there opportunities for growth- both in terms of education and position? Do they often have webinars and constructive meetings that encourage feedback? The worst thing that could happen is that you sign up for a job that’s great for right now, but finds you stuck at the same place later on down the line.
Find Out More about The Work Culture
The job might look perfect on paper and the offer might seem like a dream come true, but before you go full speed ahead, think about the work culture. If you have worked in a toxic work environment before, then you are familiar with how destructive this can be. Try to learn more about what their day is like, if it’s a healthy competitive environment or if people throw each other under the bus to get ahead. You can ask around discreetly about what people think about the work environment before you make that final decision.
Learn More About Their History
Considering the circumstances that the world has been thrown into over the past year, the pandemic has greatly affected the business world and how it functions. You must look into the company’s history and if it looks like they have the prospect of stability moving forward. When times are hard, have they laid a lot of people off, do they compensate them in hard times? Are they dealing in a service or product that is able to overcome any kind of circumstance? Dig into their history and also analyze the market to see if the field that you’re jumping into has a promising future.
It’s hard enough to get a job offer these days, but just because you’ve managed to get one, doesn’t mean that you should jump into it head first. Be smart and take your time to assess all the factors mentioned here. Keep in mind that this is no small change, and is certainly a big shift in your life, so the decision needs to be made wisely and with much thought. If you’ve looked at every aspect and find that there are no issues that could end up making you regret your decision, then go for it.
