It’s tempting to jump on the first job offer you get. But hold your horses! Take your time and think through your options. Before accepting any job offer, it is crucial to consider the following key points.
Vague job description
It’s important to know your exact responsibilities at your workplace. Thus, it’s your employer’s duty to make everything clear for interviewees. Hence, the position’s description, objectives, and expectations should be clear and concise. If you find any of those unclear after you carefully read the job description ask questions. An example of a good question to ask would be: What does an average day in the life of a ____look like in your firm?
Bad reputation
If you feel like there is something off about the firm you applied to, then your gut might be right! So it’s crucial to do your research before you make a decision. You may find out that the founder of the firm has renamed the company in order to overcome negative brand perception! Thanks to the internet, it is so much easier to find out such details about companies and future employees. For instance, Websites such as Glassdoor, LinkedIn and Indeed are good examples of where to start your research. If you find shady information about the company, then working for them may not be in your best interest.
Lack of work-life balance
You might find the salary offered to be unfair when compared with the number of your responsibilities. Thus, consider what’s being expected of you carefully and make sure the firm is not taking advantage of you. A few examples of when you should reconsider the job offer include: demanding long hours, lack of benefit packages, etc. Lack of work-life balance can have a serious impact on your health and personal life. So make sure the employer knows what you expect of the work hours and ensure the salary and benefit packages are up to industry standard.
Unprofessional behaviour
Don’t undermine small unprofessional behaviours you may notice during the interview. Make note of these behaviours whether it’s the late arrival of the interviewer or the small improper comments made by the employer. Most often, minor details like these can be insignificant but if you notice a number of them, take them seriously. You don’t want yourself to end up working for a rude employer so you may want to reconsider their offer.
Unaligned with your career plans
What if the job offer is perfect in almost every way? You may notice positive attributes such as a friendly employer, good salary, benefit packages and flexible work hours! Despite all of these attributes, you must still think carefully about whether this job is aligned with your future career plans. Being able to further progress in your desired career path is crucial since you don’t want to feel trapped in a dead-end job. The experiences you gain from your work should be beneficial to your desired future career. In addition, working within your career path can improve your self-image since you begin to feel more accomplished.
All and all, be mindful of the job offers that come around. Since lots of better firms and opportunities may be out there for you. So know your worth and be skeptical when approaching your career choices. You deserve to work for a place that values your time and benefits your long-term career.
Also read:
