Deciding Whether Or Not a Job Offer Is Right For You

After a seemingly endless job search, your excitement about a job offer could blind you. However, it's never a good idea to accept an offer without carefully considering it. Committing to the wrong job could lead to years of unhappiness or a red mark on your resume. Either way, your decision dramatically impacts your future. Before you say a resounding yes, learn what factors you should consider when you decide if an offer is right for you.

What are Your Needs?

Before you accept an offer, write down your exact needs. This list isn't about what you want, but what you actually need to survive. Include details like the salary, benefits, and hours. But don't limit your list to those three details. There are other factors, like the potential for advancement and the daily duties.

When you receive a job offer, you should verify that it meets up with your most basic needs. This makes it easy to disqualify bad offers and shift your focus onto realistic offers.

Assessing Your Wants

If you're not in immediate need for work, you can be more picky. In the event that you have multiple offers or you want the best job possible, have a list of your ideal position available.

Your desired salary is probably more than your required salary. Likewise, some issues, like workplace culture, aren't deal breakers but are important to you. Having this list ready will make it easier to choose the position that is the closest to your dream job.

Factors to Consider in Your Decision

Whether you're looking for the bare minimum or your dream job, what details matter? As you evaluate your options, pay attention to these details:

Salary

While you may know your minimum salary, do you know the average salary for a position? Don't sell yourself short. Do some research and find out what a typical employee in your role would make.

Health Benefits

Of course, you probably don't need a reminder to consider the salary of a position. But you might forget to take the benefits into consideration. Great benefits could make a low salary worthwhile, and poor benefits might make a high salary meager.

One of the most important benefits to consider is health insurance. If you have high premiums, co-pays, and deductibles, much of your salary will go towards health insurance. Additionally, think about how long it takes for you to qualify for the insurance. In some cases, you need to complete a lengthy trial period before you can use the insurance.

Retirement Plan

The retirement plan is another crucial detail. With a great retirement plan, you can set yourself up for a bright future. If your employer matches your contributions, you might overlook a lower salary.

Day Care Services

Although it's not common for employers to offer daycare services, some companies offer it. Either in-house daycare or reimbursement for your child care expenses could save you thousands of dollars each year.

Bonuses

Before you accept a position, think about the potential for bonuses. Depending on where you work, an annual bonus might boost your income by a significant amount each year.

Stock Options

When available, stock options might make up for a lower salary. Look into the stock options and the current price of stock. As you research, keep in mind that the value of stock can and will change. That said, the current stock price is a good indication of the company's outlook.

Time Off

For you to be happy in your job, you need a balance between your work and your home life. And that means getting a fair amount of paid time off and sick days. If you have children, this detail could matter more than anything else.

Training Opportunities

Education costs money. If your employer is willing to pay for your education, you could benefit greatly from a professional standpoint. Your access to training may one day open up new opportunities.

The Day-to-Day Details

Everyone deserves job satisfaction, and that means picking a position that has the job duties you want. Is there a part of the job that you would dread? Or are the requirements everything you hope to do on a daily basis?

Work Culture

If you end up in a toxic workplace, you won't last long. For the best experience, choose a job with a culture in which you'll thrive. You should fit in with the company culture, along with the other employees who work there.

Should You Only Shoot for the Stars?

When you receive a job offer, you have a difficult decision to make. Unless the position is your absolute dream job, you might have some qualms about it. You don't want to settle, but you also don't want to be jobless.

So, job applicants sometimes find themselves in a dilemma. Should they settle for less than the perfect job? Although there is no easy answer to this question, there are a few things that can affect whether or not you wait for the ideal job offer.

Whether or Not You Have Other Offers

You could be searching for work for months, then get two job offers at the same time. When you have multiple offers at once, you can be picky about your selection. If job offers keep rolling in, you might want to wait for the perfect offer.

The Current Job Market

When times are tough, you don't have as much of a selection for jobs. Unfortunately, you can't be as picky when there's a job shortage. It may be in your best interest to take what you get.

Your Finances

If you're still employed or have money saved up for the job hunt, don't rush to find work. You have time to wait for the best job for you.

But why does it all matter? If you're unhappy at work, you're unhappy in life. Furthermore, you're more likely to leave your job or lose your career path. To keep your profession on the right track, choose a job you can stick with.