The news came yesterday that Albert Pujols has taken an offer with the Los Angeles Angels and will leave the St. Louis Cardinals. The offer was reportedly for more than $200 million, leaving many St. Louis Cardinals fans upset. These fans are claiming, through Tweets, Facebook posts and comments on articles, that it was all about the money.
Obviously, the money was on the table as a huge consideration. However, any job seeker knows that changing careers involves a much larger picture than dollar signs alone.
The opportunity for him to make a switch happened as he became a free agent this year. It is also the year that the Cardinals' team manager announced his retirement. How much, if any, weight this had on his decision is unknown.
When weighing his decision, Albert Pujols had many things to consider. Though most St. Louis area job seekers don't have million dollar figures to consider, every person looks at the pros and cons of a job offer in much the same way.
Some factors to think about when making a job change include:
- Family - Is it a good move for your entire family? In Albert Pujols' case, this includes a wife and children (one a special needs child).
- Job Requirements - Do the job requirements fit your ability? For most, this doesn't involve thinking about things like a physical injury landing you on the bench. However, like sports, manual labor jobs are tough on the body. In layman terms, you would consider what kind of disability insurance is offered. And, how does the company deal with those who can no longer perform their duties well.
- Travel - If the job requires travel, how will this affect you and your family.
- Benefits and Contract Terms - In addition to salary, what are the other benefits that the company is offering? Also, ask what is expected of both you and the company in the job contract. In Albert Pujols' case, this could have included considerations such as a no-trade clause.
- Other Employees - One thing that can make or break how well you enjoy your day-to-day job is how you get along with other employees. In Pujols' case, this would include looking at other team-mates and considering the personality of a new manager.
Of course, Albert Pujols' decision comes on a grander scale than most St. Louisans will ever encounter in their job search. However, breaking it down to reality can walk job seekers through the steps in deciding about new employment. It can also help disappointed fans accept this tough decision on the part of a home-town favorite Cardinal.
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