How do you decide on a job offer?

Best decisions are made when you learn the most important aspect of communication – “hear what isn’t said”

When you get a job offer, you may be so excited about it that you may not delve into various essential aspects. However, you may not be the first one to accept an opportunity without thinking, there are many more.

Yet, it is essential to research substantially before taking any decision. You must collect information like how long has the organisation been in business; how does it rate on ethics, credibility, market-image, investor-confidence; is it well-established globally/nationally; how are its products or services accepted by the market; how does it rate on employee-satisfaction-index; how are its HR policies; do they have career-planning for their employees; does it have a generous compensation plan; how does the size and culture of the organization impact on an individual’s goal?

If you we looking for a long-term employment with the organisation; it is important to ask questions to get a complete idea of the organisation. Many of the above questions cannot be  asked during an interview but there are several other sources of information. Talking to the organisation’s HR and senior management may help get some information. But this needs to be further vetted through external sources including talking to the current & past employees of the organisation and external sources including vendors / bankers to the organization and others who are working in the same industry.

For a new start-up company, we need to research on much more information, as there may be huge potential for career growth, but it can also be a huge risk. Further, there may not be much information available about the organization, since it is new and may not even have launched its products/services. Remember, it is your career that is at stake. A wrong decision will set your career back be several years. You must get maximum & independent information to make the right decision to join the company.

It is much easier to get the relevant information for organizations who have been in business for some years. 

Evaluate the following before accepting an offer

• Will the type of skills developed in the new organization help you in your career in the longterm
• Will the organisation’s image & culture affect your career prospects
• How is the employee engagement in the organisation

To summarise, Implementing the below-mentioned plan will help in making a decision. Remember! “Knowledge is powerful when you know how to use it”

Extract Information

Gather as much information from the human resource manager about the company and simultaneously research online keeping in mind the organisation’s financial stability and future prospects. Ask others in the same professional network if they have an idea about the organization. If a negative response comes up don’t cancel the interview, meet the interviewer and be sure to get clarifications.

Think Beyond

The biggest mistake an individual commits is to accept the job-offer solely on the basis of designation and salary offered without considering other factors including work-life balance, growth opportunities, peer-competence etc. While taking the offer there are some factors we need to consider which includes:

Finances

We need to understand about the complete salary package offered including tangible benefits (e.g. performance bonuses) and non-quantifiable benefits (e.g. health insurance for self, family, parents; annual vacation plans etc.). Insist on having all details including when you will be due for appraisal next. Also, ensure you know the periodicity of the reimbursements of perks (e.g. variable payout or medical reimbursement is on monthly/quarterly or annual basis). Often, to inflate the CTC offered, organizations ofter indicate the maximum value of a benefit (e.g. annual bonuses). Find out, what is the realistic level of payout.

Work-Time

Understand clearly your complete daily schedule including commute time and late-working

The People

You’ll be spending most of your time on work with colleagues than with friends and families. Try connecting & understanding well your future supervisors and peers

Professional Growth

The organization you are seeking employment, would normally be  one where you intend to continue for a long time. Hence, check out on the organisation’s career-planning, career-enhancement, learning & development philosophy

Have we been able to improve the level of your decision-making whilst deciding on a new job-offer???

For more inputs on Career-Management log on to www.jobmantras.com 
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