What to Consider Before Accepting a Job Offer

The elation of receiving a job offer after an interview can leave you with a tremendous feeling of pride and excitement. However, you shouldn’t let that excitement cloud your judgement. Taking a leap of faith and accepting a job offer without making sure it’s the right fit for you can be a decision you later regret. Before you accept any job offer, here are five questions you should ask yourself first.

“Do I Want This Role?”

Whilst you’ve likely already answered this question during the job interview, it’s still important to ensure you have an answer before committing.  Is the job something you’re looking for and willing to do, or have you just been swept up in the activity and emotion and gone with the flow? What will your day-to-day look like, and is it something you can see yourself being happy with for the foreseeable future? Can the role offer you the new skills and experiences you’re looking for, or is it just a convenient step away from what you are not enjoying at the current time?

Go back over the job requirements and description and make sure you feel comfortable with every aspect of the role before accepting. Engaging a Recruiter can help if you ever need to re-confirm any aspect of a role prior to coming to a decision.

“What Was the Employer’s Culture Like?”

More and more people are starting to prioritise workplace culture during their job searches. If this resonates with you, then try and find out as much as you can about your potential new role and its environment before accepting an offer of employment. The risk of not being familiar, at least on a superficial level, with an employer’s culture beforehand, is that you can quickly become dissatisfied with your new job and potentially land back on the market a lot sooner than you’d hoped.

The job interview provides a great opportunity to gauge what the workplace culture is like. Think back to your interview and ask yourself, how was everyone dressed? What was the layout of the office like? What was the atmosphere like and did everyone seem happy to be there? Answering these questions can help paint a picture of an employer’s internal cultural and whether you’d thrive being a part of it. A third-party Recruiter can help circumvent this potential issue altogether by eliminating the risk of choosing an employer who isn’t right for you, however, there are a number of websites where employees post reviews of companies, which can give you some insight.

“Would I have a Good Work/Life Balance?”

Whilst you might touch on it when considering the employer’s internal culture, if possessing a great work/life balance is important to you, it will be worth checking whether your prospective role can offer the working conditions or hours that cater to your needs. For example, confirm what your working hours will be and whether this will have an impact on your lifestyle. Don’t just take your working hours into account either, but consider the necessary commuting time or travel you might need to undertake as part of your role. If you’re working an hour less each day but have to sit in traffic for an hour longer, then that doesn’t make your life any easier.

Many organisations are starting to open themselves up to providing greater flexibility, knowing that it’s going to help them attract top talent, so don’t be afraid to ask if the option exists. Under New Zealand law you have the right to request a formal flexible working arrangement, so consider this if you feel like you need greater flexibility (although the employer is under no obligation to provide this). If you’re struggling to find a role that provides a great work/life balance, then you could consider becoming a contractor with the freedom to choose your own assignments.

“Will This Role Challenge Me?”

Finding a role that challenges you to learn new skills, embrace new methodologies and otherwise step outside of your comfort zone, is crucial to your professional development. These opportunities to learn and adapt can help progress you further towards your career goals and objectives. It’s very likely that you’ll quickly grow bored if you secure a job that doesn’t test or challenge you in some way. Additionally, if you remain in a role that doesn’t challenge you to grow for some time, you’ll be less likely to learn new skills and further hone your current ones. In the long run, this could have an adverse effect on your ability to secure your next job.

“Am I Happy with The Salary?”

Although salary is often a high priority for IT professionals looking for a new role, it has since dropped on the list of priorities when it comes to job satisfaction. So, the real question to ask yourself is: “Will the rise (or fall) in your annual salary be worth it in the long term?” Bear in mind that changing employer could result in increased travel expenses or relocation costs, which may lead to that salary boost not making too much of a difference.

For roles that aren’t entry level, most employers will be open to negotiating salary. When it comes to this interaction, engaging a Recruiter can be of great benefit to you. Recruiters are prepared to negotiate salary expectations on your behalf, so you can focus on other important aspects of the job offer.

Summary

The excitement from receiving a job offer can often lead many people to making rash decisions that they can later regret. The key to avoiding such a mistake is to be critical of the vacancy at every step to ensure its offering exactly what you need and want before accepting it. If you’re struggling to get past those job interviews or if it feels like your CV isn’t getting the traction it deserves, get in touch with us today to find out how we can help move your IT career forward.