A lot of time the job search is regarded as the employer choosing who they want to work for them, but what about the other way round? We don’t all have the privilege of being too choosey when it comes to landing a job; but when making big career decisions you don’t want to make them lightly.
There are a number of factors you want to consider before accepting a job, in order to find a role that aligns with your personality and career goals. We spend a large amount of our time working, so you want to spend it in a job that you are happy in and suits you as an individual. However there will always be matters such as salary and benefits to consider as well.
If you’re in the process of searching for a new job or have even received a job offer, here are a few factors that you may want to give thought to before you make your decision.
1) Salary
Receiving the salary that you think you deserve and are worth is highly important when accepting a new job, but you need to have a realistic salary expectation. Usually you will be looking to earn more in a new role, however there are exceptions to this, if a new role offers other desirable qualities. Sometimes it may be worth it to take a pay cut if a new job offers other perks and benefits or a great company culture.
This also applies if you are looking to change career or enter a new area of work, as you may be required to take on a more junior role to begin with, which may result in a smaller salary.
2) Perks and benefits
Most companies offer some kind of perks to their employees, some better than others. For example, some organisations may have gyms or child care, available to their employees; while others may cover the cost of their staffs’ transport or let them clock off early on a Friday.
Flexible working is something that a lot of employers now offer, so if the option of working from home or working flexi-hours is important to you, this may be something that you want to negotiate on.
You may also want to look into whether the company has a pension plan in place. In the UK all employers have to provide workers with a workplace pension scheme by law in the near future.
3) Advancement
When considering a job offer, research the company’s structure. Is there room for professional development, or does it look like there will be any advancement opportunities within the company? If you are aiming to climb the career ladder, you may want to consider which position will look better on your resume or provide you with the best gateway to bigger opportunities later on.
4) Location
The location of your workplace is important. Can you get to your office in a reasonable amount of time? Are you willing to commute? You may not want to drive two hours to the office and another two hours back home. If you don’t drive, can you get there by public transport? When considering a role, make sure that you have factored in the cost of your commute, both money-wise and time-wise, to see if the job offer is as attractive as it sounds.
5) Work environment
When you went to the company for your interview, did you notice what the work environment is like? Some people prefer to work in cubicles, while others like to work in an open plan office environment where the whole team works together. Considering that you’ll have to be in the office for 8+ hours a day, it’s very important to work in an environment that you can maximise your productivity and not feel overwhelmed by distractions.
It’s important that you choose a company with a company culture that suits you as well, so ahead of accepting a role, make sure that you are familiar with the company’s nature and values.
6) The immediate supervisor
If you haven’t already met the immediate supervisor of the position you are being offered, ask if you can meet him or her before you accept the offer. Pay attention to his or her attitude and demeanor to get a feel of of his or her personality. Do you think you can work with this person? Chances are you’ll be spending a lot of time with this individual, so it could be crucial to your experience in the job.
