Evaluating An Offer Of Employment

Receiving your first job offer can be very exciting but also overwhelming.  You may be wondering, “Is this the right job for me?” or “Am I going to be happy in this job for the long term?”  Careful evaluation of your job offer and some serious thought to how well the position and organization meet your needs can help you make the best choice for yourself.  It may be necessary to ask an employer for some time to think over your decision. If you do so, it is important to thank the employer for the offer, convey your enthusiasm and ask for some time to think it over so that you make the best possible decision.  The following are important questions you should ask yourself that will help you with the decision making process.

How closely does the offer match your career goals? 

Think back to when you originally started your job search.  What was most important to you in a job?  Has this changed?  Is this position a match?  Is the position aligned with your professional goals and objectives? Is the work environment and company culture suited to you?

Do you need additional information about the offer to make a decision?

Sometimes when you are carefully evaluating a job offer, you may realize that you still have some questions and need additional information. If this is the case, you may need to contact one of your interviewers to ask the questions you have. 

Are there issues you may want to negotiate to bring the offer closer to your goal?

Perhaps the issues which concern you about the offer could be changed.  For example, if the job seems ideal except for something such as the salary or the start date, you might want to raise the issue with the employer.  Although, in some cases things can’t be negotiated and then it will be up to you to determine whether you are interested in the job enough to overlook these issues.

IMPORTANT FACTORS TO CONSIDER BEFORE ACCEPTING A JOB:

ADDITIONAL TIPS:

• After you have accepted the position, you are committed to the position and employer even if a better offer comes along a few days later.  Your professional reputation is valuable and may be hard to rebuild within your profession.  This is why it’s extremely important to carefully evaluate an offer before accepting.  You do not need to accept right away.

• It is important to get the job offer in writing.  This allows you to feel secure in the offer and be clear about salary, benefits, start date etc.

• Once you accept a job offer, it is a good practice to withdraw your candidacy from other positions you may have been interviewing for or to properly decline other offers you may have also been considering.  You may want to send a letter with a brief explanation of your decision and to exhibit your appreciation for the interview/job offer. This demonstrates your professionalism and might help to keep positive relationships with Companies you may be interested in later in your career.

• Lastly, follow-up with your network.  Don’t forget to thank your references and networking contacts that may have helped you along the way.  The professional relationships you have in your network are invaluable and you never know when you might need them again!