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There's nothing better than getting offered the job
you want. But no matter how psyched you are to have an offer, you should
always give yourself some time to think it over - preferably a day.
Spend this time figuring out if the offer truly is right for you. The
following guidelines are precautionary, but they'll prevent problems
from happening down the line.
Get the offer in writing
The written offer should spell out the important
terms of the job and your obligations to the company. Even if you've
already had some time to think over an offer and you've assured the
company that you'll accept it, you should still ask to see the offer in
writing. Make sure the job title, salary, and benefits match or improve
upon what you had in mind when you said you'd accept it. If it doesn't
measure up, promptly send it back and let the company know what's amiss.
You may want to find out when you will be paid, too;
some companies pay every two weeks, while others pay twice a month. This
will mean the difference between 24 annual paychecks and 26!
Know what you're getting into
Be sure that you have a clear understanding of your
job responsibilities. Again, you may be thinking "duh," but many people
don't really know what is expected of them before they start working. We
always think of the right questions to ask after the interview, so by
all means ask them-before you make a serious commitment. Ask for a job
description that spells out your responsibilities. This will help you
understand the position and the expectations-and later on down the road,
if you've exceeded the requirements for the position, it will give you
some leverage with which to negotiate.
You should also try to get a sense of how the
department you'll be working for fits into the company as a whole. Will
you work with people from other departments? Is there room for
advancement? What if you start in publicity but become interested in
doing something business-related? Does there seem to be much
flexibility?
If you're being offered a job to replace someone, you
may want to ask what happened with the previous person. If the hiring
manager doesn't answer your question or seems uneasy, there may be
something the company isn't telling you. For instance, there may be
interpersonal tension in the office that you should know about. Maybe
the job description is misleading and led to the previous person's
resignation. Are you walking into the same trap?
Know what you're after
Make sure you know what you're looking for in a job.
After all, a job isn't like a date-you shouldn't just accept the offer
and see what happens. Whether you see it as a way to pay the rent or
consider it a fundamental step in a preordained career path, taking a
job that you're unsure of is asking for trouble.
Know your skills, what you're good at, what you enjoy
doing, and what you would rather never do again. Don't start believing
the slet phrases you used to spice up your cover letter, unless you
really mean them. Be honest with yourself: Are you really multitask
oriented? Just how keen is your eye for detail? Is this job something
you can truly handle?
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Make sure the description of the job appeals to you
and serves your objectives-just those of the company. It may be better
to temp and hold out for something better than end up in a situation you
eventually regret.
Like the people
How was your rapport with your interviewers? Although
every company is made up of individuals, each recruiter also serves as a
representative. If any of your interviewers acted less than professional
or left you feeling unnerved, you should think twice before accepting an
offer-ask to meet with more people at the company before making your
final decision.
You should also try to meet the people you'll be
working with day to day. You may get along swell with your
manager-to-be, but what if the people on your level are intensely
competitive, boring, or unfriendly? Would you be able to succeed at your
ideal job in a less-than-ideal company?
Get a sense not only of the individuals at the
company but the office culture as a whole. Was there a buzz of energy
when you walked in, or were you met with dead silence? Is it the type of
environment you would be able to concentrate in? Was there personality
to the office? If not, can you bear looking at white walls all day long?
Find out the hours
Many people accept a job without knowing what kind of
time commitment it will involve. Ask the employees you meet-your
interviewer-how many hours a week are standard. Is overtime paid for or
included in your salary? In many positions, you'll be expected to work a
50-hour week-and you should know that in advance. Otherwise, both you
and the company lose when you quit after a month of training.
As for vacation, sometimes two weeks means ten days,
sometimes it means fourteen. Be sure to clarify. More often than not,
companies have set-in-stone policies about vacation and sick days. But
if it's a startup, you may feel comfortable asking for the 14 days you
had at your last job, rather than the ten days the prospective employer
is offering. Find out when you start earning vacation days. In most
cases, you'll have to wait three months. If you have a wedding to go to
the following month, be sure to negotiate before you accept the offer.
Again, get the company's policy in writing.
The same goes for sick days. Sometimes companies
allot ten days. In other companies it's more casual: You simply don't go
to the office if you're absolutely too sick to work. Find out if you
have personal days, too, or "floating holidays"-whether religious
holidays count as personal days.
Find out the benefits and consider the perks
Find out when benefits begin, whether the company
will reimburse you for doctor's visits before the insurance kicks in,
and what the policy calls for. (Many plans don't cover dental or vision
benefits.) Other benefits to find out about include profit sharing, life
insurance, health club benefits, relocation expenses, and tuition
reimbursement.
Also, if you're evaluating more than one offer and
feel pretty much the same about all of them, you may want to ask what
the company offers in the way of additional perks. For instance, does
the company pay for dinner if you work late, pay for car service home,
or count overtime hours toward extra time off?
Can you see yourself in this picture?
Imagine what your new life will look like at this new
job-commute in the morning, the neighborhood you'll be working in, the
clothes you'll have to wear. Are you excited about the job or are you
simply resigning yourself to it for the time being? (Depending on your
options and goals, the latter may be good enough.) In any case, you
deserve to be excited about the package deal. Remember, you've already
got the offer. The ball is in your court. Be gracious and polite while
sizing up the opportunity, but don't walk on eggshells lest you get
stuck in a rotten situation.
In evaluating job offers, take the time to make sure
you're making the decision for reasons you're comfortable with-and
taking the job that you want. Keep in mind that by being up front with
yourself and your potential employer, you're saving both of you time and
money down the road. The more clarity you have about the situation
you're getting into, the more likely you'll love what you're doing and
stick to the position you've taken. |
