So You’ve Got An Offer?

You just endured a long hiring process and they’ve offered you a job. Should you take it? How do you know whether you should accept the offer and go to work? Let me say this, don’t be quick to jump on an offer. Even in this market. Take 24-48 hours to evaluate the offer, the organization, the hiring process you went through. Think about it. As much as you need to develop a job search strategy, you absolutely need to develop a strategy for deciding which offer to accept and which ones not to accept. Here are some things to consider when deciding on the job offer:

1. Salary is a consideration. It is not the only consideration and it shouldn’t be the determining factor. But I begin with it because it is in the forefront of your mind when you are interviewing for a job. Are you being paid what you are worth? Are they offering a pay increase or a decrease? How did they land on the amount? What did you ask for when you discussed salary?

2. Culture should be something you consider when making a decision about an offer. Do you want to work with the people you met throughout your interview process? What was the organizational climate when you visited the organization? Were the people happy? Did people seem to enjoy working for the organization?

3. Leadership/Management should be at the top of your considerations. Do you know enough about the hiring manager, your new boss? What do you know about them? Are you willing to work for them, to support them and the organization?

4. The job itself should definitely be a consideration when making a decision. Are you clear about your responsibilities? Do you feel good about the job you would be taking? Do you have people reporting to you or are you an individual contributor? Are your skills and abilities in alignment with the position you are considering?

There are lots of questions throughout this post. I want you to think about why you are saying “yes” to an offer. If your reason for saying “yes” is because you need a job, that’s ok, but don’t let it be the only determining factor in your decision. Make a good decision based on what you need from an organization, what you need for your family, what you need to feel valued. If an organization you are considering doesn’t meet 80% of what you need, you may want to consider saying “no”. You are not obligated to say “yes” to every job offer you receive. Think about it, take your time and when you are ready to say “yes” than go for it and enjoy your new job!

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