After a hectic search it can be tempting to take the first job offer that comes your way.
Take some time to answer these questions before you say yes.
Will you be sacrificing personal values to work there?
You need to think about the effect the nature of the job will have on you in the long term.
If you are sacrificing your core values, don’t take it. Money comes, and money goes. Jobs also come and go.
Keep your values intact.
Will you be happy?
What kind of person are you?
Do you do better with routine or do you need to mix it up now and then?
These are the kinds of question that can help you project whether you’ll be happy or not down the road.
Does the company’s reputation hold up?
How solid is the company?
What do other employees have to say about the company?
Several resources exist to research an organisation, one of which is Glassdoor.com. Find out what people are saying about what it is like to work there.
Can I grow as a person?
One of the biggest satisfaction factors about any job is whether or not the job uses your talent adequately.
If it does, you’ll grow as a person. If not, the job will feel stagnant after a short time.
Can the company help me achieve my long-term goals?
If you have long-term goals to take your career in a certain direction, then chances are you need a job that will support it.
If you find the job hinders your goals, you may end up having to choose between your goals and your job.
Will you be empowered as an employee?
No one likes to be micromanaged or to feel powerless.
In fact, the ability for employees to have a voice and contribute to important decisions/work can lead to the greatest job satisfaction.
Make sure you have solid understanding about what you are getting into before you say yes.
What will your supervisor be like?
No matter how good the business is, if you have a bad boss or one who does not care about you as a person, you will not be happy.
Does the job offer balance?
Jobs come and go, but family is forever.
If your new job requires you to sacrifice your family time in exchange for “success”, how successful will you be..really?
How far away is the job?
Many people in the workforce—especially Millennials—place a high value on their commute. If it is long and frustrating, you might not be happy in the long term.
Subways, trains, or buses are not always easy—the last thing you want to do is burn yourself out before you arrive at work each day.
How does this job compare with your old job?
If you left your old job—for whatever the reason may be—there is probably a good reason behind it.
Make sure your new job does not have the same issues as your old job.
It may be a person, like a co-worker or a supervisor, working conditions/environment, or work hours.
You do not want to find yourself in the same situation that caused you to leave your old job behind.
What do your instincts tell you?
Thinking about situations objectively will help you make better decisions and keep you from acting impulsively.
On the other hand, if your instincts are telling you to stay away from a job, despite how good it may sound on paper, then perhaps you should listen. There may be a hidden danger around the corner you cannot see yet. Always err on the side of caution.
You’ll thank yourself for it later.
