When you’re in the middle of a tough job search, you may get discouraged if you don’t get any offers after months of looking. Eventually, when you finally get an offer, you may be tempted to immediately accept it and put your search to an end. Instead, it’s important to carefully consider any offers you get from an employer. Your job could last through the rest of your career, and you want to choose wisely. Here are some important things you need to think about before you say yes.
Company’s Reputation
First, check out the company’s reputation. Some employees don’t think about how their employer is perceived by the world, but this topic does matter if you want meaning in your work. Check out your potential employer’s reputation for being friendly to the planet to start. You also want to see if your company makes it a point to give back to the community. Charitable giving and other helpful projects are important to a company’s identity and help make employees feel better about working there.
Corporate Culture
Next, you should evaluate the company’s corporate culture. This can help make your time at the company more enjoyable if the culture is positive. Working for a company that has a negative or toxic environment can make you miserable. You’ll get a sense of the corporate culture at your interview. Be sure to ask plenty of questions during the interview that give you a hint about the company’s culture at the workplace. Additionally, look to find recommendations from people who work there about what it’s actually like in the workplace.
Commute Time and Perks
Another thing to consider before accepting an offer is the commute time and company perks. If you live in a crowded city, you may have to spend hours in your car or on public transportation getting to and from work. Some people don’t mind taking this time each day, but for others, this can be mind-numbing. Next, research different perks you may get as an employee and see if that helps make the commute more doable.
Salary and Benefits
Salary is another big part of what makes someone accept an offer. You should also consider the benefits package that your potential employer offers to you as well when thinking about accepting or not. You can use a few major websites to compare salaries before you step foot into the negotiating room if you want to demand more for your talents and skills. If you know your worth, you can get closer to what you want.
Quality of Life
Lastly, think about the potential quality of life you’ll have if you take the job. If the job demands long hours and gives little vacation time, that is something to think about. Your job is not your entire world, so be sure to investigate how your job will fit into your life before going forward.
Accepting a new job is a big decision in life. Before you make this important decision, make sure you do plenty of research and know exactly what you’re getting into. That way, both you and your employer will be happy with the new situation.
