Believe it or not, when looking for your next job opportunity it’s important to look past the paycheck (to some extent) and actually consider whether the job is the right fit for you. Yes, earning enough money is not less important. However, a big monthly paycheck alone will definitely not make you happy or fulfilled in your job in the long run.
If you desire to land a job that will allow you to be creative and advance in your career… Here are four things you should consider before you say ‘yes’ and accept the job offer.
Office Culture
The office culture is probably one of the most important things to consider. Yes, it would be amazing if you could work for the largest organisation. However, knowing what goes on within the company should rather be your main priority and concern. Any company can look great on social media. However, only a few employers truly care about the well-being of their employees. You can find out more about any company by conducting thorough company research and by looking for the following crucial information:
- What the former/current employees say about the company
- How employees are treated
- What the ‘vibe’ or atmosphere is within the company
- What the management is like
- Whether they offer flexibility
- If there is an opportunity to give and receive feedback
And most importantly…
- Whether you share the same values as the company
Great office culture is equivalent to a healthy work environment. This plays a huge role in your overall happiness at work.
Management
This point actually ties in with the previous one. The job role can seem great, however, it won’t be great for long if you have to deal with a terrible manager. Let’s be honest, there are managers out there who can make the lives of their employees quite miserable. Often you can get a sense of the manager’s personality or character during the interview.
For example, if the manager, whose team you will be joining, seems to be quite rude or asks very inappropriate questions, this might be a BIG red flag. In this case, it’s also important to observe a manager’s body language and whether they seemed quite disinterested or open.
Essentially, a great manager can make a tough job rewarding, but a bad manager can make even a dream job unbearable. Especially since your direct manager will have the most influence on your day-to-day work life.
Growth Opportunities
The opportunity to learn and grow within your job role is vital for both your career and personal development. So, another thing to consider before you accept your new job role is whether there are any growth opportunities within the company. Is there room for you to develop new skills? And does the company offer any workshops or training schemes? A company worth working for is always willing to invest time and money in the progress and growth of their employees.
Employee Benefits
Let’s be honest, we all to some extent do it for the ‘MONEY’. We are grown women and the truth is we need to pay the bills. Nevertheless, as mentioned previously, it is NOT and it should NOT only be about the money. Again, that doesn’t mean that you should accept any salary which does not reflect your job experience and expertise. However, when accepting a job offer it is important to look at the overall picture of what the company can actually offer you.
I would personally choose a start-up company with great company culture and a good enough salary any day over a job in a larger organisation which will eventually leave me feeling miserable. In addition to that, you should also consider employee benefits and perks, such as insurance, retirement plans, holiday pay, sick bed pay, bonuses, commission, relocation costs etc.
If possible, try to negotiate all these things, and weigh out the pros and cons – Look at the entire picture before saying ‘yes’ to the job.
Did I miss anything? What are some of the things you consider before you say ‘Yes’ to a job offer?
