You’ve received one job (or internship) offer – maybe even more than one. But, how do you decide whether or not to should accept the position?
Salary is just one element to consider, and not always the most important one at that. With most recent graduates leaving their first jobs within two years, it’s evident entry-level practitioners need to be educated about properly evaluating job offers. (Please note: I am just as guilty. I left my first job out of college after four months because the organization became extremely unstable.) The main take-away? Do your homework.
1. Workplace culture. “A Zogby poll found that 49 percent of working Americans have suffered or witnessed workplace bullying,” said Asher Adelman, founder and CEO of eBossWatch. “Recent graduates should take extra care to make sure that they avoid hostile workplaces and abusive managers. Speak with current and past employees and receive their feedback about important subjects such as what it's like to work there, the quality and professionalism of the managers, and if they would recommend working there to their friends.”
2. Job duties. “Certainly seekers want their time on the job to be stimulating and fun,” said Mark Charnock, vice president and general manager of MonsterTRAK. “Therefore, they need to ask themselves if the job offered sounds interesting, challenging and offers professional growth opportunities.”
3. Growth opportunities and training. “Once you have a firm grasp of the role you’ve been hired in to, you’ll undoubtedly want to take on additional responsibilities. But, not every organization is set up to provide opportunities for growth. And, at no point is training more important than when you’re first launching your career. The training doesn’t have to be formal, but a little bit of structure is usually a good thing,” said Shawn Graham, author of “Courting Your Career: Match Yourself with the Perfect Job.”
4. Long-term options. “Which offer positions you for the job after your next job? As a recent graduate, it’s hard to think more than a few years down the road, but it’s critically important that you consider short- and long-term time horizons when weighing different options,” said Graham. “In the end, pick the offer you believe provides the best job content at the best organization for where you want to be now and also five years from now.”
5. Non-cash benefits (i.e., medical, dental, vision, life and disability insurance, retirement, etc.). “Reviewing how much of the premiums the company pays is an important factor that determines how much of your gross pay you are actually taking home,” said Paula Kosin, marketing manager and career consultant at Career Vision.
Comments