Evaluating a Job Offer: Should I Say Yes?

Published on Wednesday, 25 May 2011 21:18

By Chaz Kyser

You worked hard throughout college to gain the knowledge and skills needed to land a great position upon graduation, and after what’s seemed like an eternity of emailing, calling, and sometimes near stalking employers your persistence has paid off.  Someone wants to hire you!

Not only does this mean you may soon say goodbye to ramen noodles and feeling bad for living with your parents, it also means someone truly recognizes your potential. Yet, while this in itself may tempt you to yell, “Yes! When do I start?” it’s okay for you to take a few days to consider the offer. And it may be wise. While it’s true that job offers are few and far between—especially for new graduates—not all jobs are worth taking. What’s more, accepting a position that you know is wrong for you could take you off course from finding one that truly has your name on it.

Consider the following seven factors before making a decision to accept or reject a job offer.

Your Responsibilities

Most job descriptions are one-dimensional items organized with bullets, says Pamela Waston, a career consultant and resume writer. Consequently, unless you asked key questions during your interview, you may not know exactly what a position entails, like whether the title of assistant means you’ll be fetching coffee all day or actually assisting someone on a project. Furthermore, you can’t be sure if you’ll enjoy the work. Without this information you can’t properly weigh a job offer. If you’re still unsure about how the hours of your work day will be spent, call the hiring manager to ask some follow-up questions. “It’s important to know the priorities of a position, of the department, and even the priorities of the manager who will supervise you,” Watson insists. “In this way you can accurately assess what you will be doing at the new company on a daily basis.”

Your Opportunity for Growth

Ideally, each position you take should be one that increases your knowledge and skill set, preparing you for bigger and better things. This includes your first post-college job. However, Lindsey Pollack, a career development specialist and author, stresses that it’s important to remember there are different ways to grow in a particular position. “Growth can come in the form of advancement, training or network opportunities, skill-building, and personal development,” Pollack says. “I always advise students to make the most of any opportunity.”

Your Salary

The salary you’re offered will depend on a number of factors, including your job duties, the demand within your field, your experience, the city you live in, and what your employer can afford. To determine if the salary is fair, you have to do your research, says Pollack. “Talk to your university’s career services office or a relevant trade association to find out what salary range is appropriate for your particular industry, type of company, and region of the country,” she advises. Pollack also encourages you to take advantage of websites that offer salary information, such as salary.com, vault.com, and wetfeet.com.

If the salary appears fair or better than expected, that’s great. Nevertheless, Andy Masters, author of Life After College-What to Expect and How to Succeed in Your Career, says to avoid placing too much emphasis on your starting salary. “Looking at the highest bidder to start is short-sighted and shallow, yet an often enticing mistake,” he explains. “Ten years from now, you won’t remember how much you made, but you will remember if this was the right company or position to launch the rest of your career.”

Your Benefits

While many new grads focus heavily on the salary a job provides, they often ignore the benefits. Francina Harrison, a career expert, author and radio show host, views this as a big mistake. “Sometimes the benefits a company provides can outweigh the salary,” she says. “It’s important to compare the benefit programs with competitors, which is often on the recruitment pages of major companies.”

Benefits to compare:

• Health insurance
• 401(k) Plan or other retirement plan
• Paid annual/vacation leave
• Paid sick leave
• Paid family sick leave/maternity leave
• Stock options
• Educational reimbursement
• Free or reduced childcare
• Employee discounts

Masters recommends that you have a friend or family member who is in management or human resources look over the benefits package with you to see how they measure up with others. “Health insurance costs, matching 401k’s, or even tuition reimbursement programs can mean thousands of dollars in difference from one hiring company to another,” he says.

The Company’s Culture

Just as the school you attended had its own way of life and culture, so will the company you choose to work for. Harrison says it’s important to know whether you’ll mesh with the culture of a potential employer, and to determine this, you have to know you. “For example, if I accepted a high-paying opportunity in a conservative company culture, such as insurance or banking, I would literally suffocate professionally or personally,” Harrison explains.

Watson says that talking to current and former employees is a great way to discover what working for a company is really like. She also recommends reviewing the company’s mission statement, annual goals, products and services, and financial data.

Lastly, you must reflect on the vibe you received from your potential colleagues and boss during your interview or company visit. “Since you’ll be spending an enormous amount of time with the people you work with, you don’t want to minimize the importance of these relationships on your career and well-being,” Pollack says. She adds that more employees leave jobs because of their direct managers than for any other reason. Once you have taken this into account, you will be better able to decide if you will feel like an insider or an outcast.

The Company’s Location

It is not unusual to have to move in order to take advantage of a job offer. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, about six million people move each year for career-related reasons. However, if the position you are offered requires you to pack your bags, make sure you’ll want to live in the place you’ll unpack them.

Things to gauge include the diversity of the city, the cost of living, such as housing, car insurance, gas, state and local taxes, and utilities.  A city’s job market should also be analyzed, as it’s important to know that there are other suitable job opportunities should you lose or quit your job. Finally, take into account the local climate, the crime rate, the variety of recreation and entertainment venues, and the number and type of universities in the area, in case you plan on seeking another degree or taking additional courses.

Even if you don’t have to move to accept a job, you should still consider its location. Harrison says it’s important to find out how long your commute to work will be. A two-hour drive to and from work could zap your energy and time.

The Company’s Commitment to Diversity

If you are a woman or a person of color, you want to know you’ll have same chance to advance as your white or male counterparts. Considering this, Masters says it’s important to look at the promotion and growth opportunities for women and people of color because this is where companies often lag behind. He advises you to look at the levels of minority and female hiring, and what percentage of management and upper management are also minorities and women. If there are practically no minorities or women in positions of authority, this may be a red flag.

Once you have taken time to examine these seven factors, you will know whether it’s time to politely decline a job offer or happily accept it.

Chaz Kyser is the author of Embracing the Real World: The Black Woman’s Guide to Life, www.embracingtherealworld.com, and a speaker on topics geared toward undergraduates and new grads.

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