Do You Want This Job?

Have you ever taken a job only to regret your decision later??

I have.

Whatever your circumstances, whether you’re excited by a new title that will look great on your resume, or the higher pay level and/or incentive, or even the opportunity to sink your teeth into meaty assignments that will gain you experience points, you’re all smiles.? Or perhaps you were in transition and an offer came along that handed you a career lifeline.

The emotional side of your brain wanted to shout, “Yes!”, but perhaps the logical side should have been cautioning you to look for red flags.? What could be wrong with this picture? It’s all good news, right?

How many of us though, will pause to kick the tires when we get offered the car that we thought we always wanted? This can be a very heady moment for you.

Unfortunately, sometimes there may be problems ahead – perhaps big problems or even dealbreaker issues that could/should have you reflecting on the adage, “Decide in haste, repent in leisure.”

Are There Worms in That Apple?

So, what could be wrong??

Reflect on the interview process, and do you recall how many questions you asked the recruiter? Perhaps all your energy was spent selling yourself to that potential employer, while not enough time was spent on having that employer sell themselves to you. That’s an interesting concept, having an employer convince you that you should work for them. But it should be a two-way street, shouldn’t it? You have value.

When you don’t take the time to learn enough about the players, the policies, the business environment, and the immediate challenges that you would be facing, it’s easy to think of your goal as simply getting the job offer. I’ve previously written on how to handle yourself when you receive a job offer, and it’s usually not to immediately shout, “Thank you God, yes!”

Getting a job offer is a big boost to one’s ego, but it’s likely not the only job out there. Unless you’re facing dire circumstances it’s worth your time and effort to carefully consider what you would be getting yourself into. Look past the title, the compensation package and even the office size to consider the work environment that you would be plunged into. And who you would be working with.

Don’t worry, if they want you to join their company, they’ll be willing to answer your questions and give you the deciding time you need.

I Did Not Sign Up for This

A job candidate loses all leverage in negotiations after they say “Yes” as then they become “staff.” And like when purchasing a car, once you accept a job offer you might find that the star treatment you’ve previously received has faded a bit, or even a lot.? The folks you’ve been dealing with have suddenly moved on to other, more urgent job openings, projects, or day-to-day issues. That’s when your new reality sets in. And hopefully that dash of cold water won’t hit you with too many surprises.

·???????? Maybe the change agent they advertised for is really an administrator tasked only with keeping things afloat. New ideas not wanted, thank you.

·???????? Maybe your new boss follows less of the collaborative management style spoken about during your interview and more the autocratic, “My way or the highway.” It could be like meeting a different person on your first day at work. A person who expects you to do what you’re told.

·???????? Maybe you’re not accustomed to or comfortable with the hard nose style of office politics that is played at your new employer. Which team are you supposed to be on? Will you be comfortable taking sides? How can you keep track of who is up and who is down?

·???????? Perhaps the business partner role you expected to play is more an aspirational concept than a reality.? Maybe Human Resources is not as respected as you were led to believe.

·???????? Perhaps the competencies and performance record of your new staff (or colleagues) leaves much to be desired – with little likelihood that you could make needed changes.

Whatever your new reality looks like, if it’s not what you expected and you feel that you might be stuck in an awkward or even negative environment for the foreseeable future, this is what happens when you don’t kick those tires during the interview process.

Sadly though, there’s likely no one else to blame but yourself. Your options are to stick it out a reasonable time for the sake of your resume, try to become that change agent even though the deck is likely stacked against you, or bail out as soon as you find something else.

Whichever you choose, difficult times will lie ahead, at least in the short term. Perhaps longer.

So be careful.? Ask questions.? Become a bit of a skeptic when listening to the recruiter and/or hiring manager.? And make sure that they sell you on the job. Assume nothing.