5 things you should consider before taking on a new job – Make wise career decisions!

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In life, everyone loves to be appreciated. Appreciation boosts self-worth and confidence especially in the market place. Imagine receiving a job offer after sending thousands of applications and attending several interviews; suddenly you get that one mail that doesn’t parade the usual phrase ‘unfortunately, this time you were unsuccessful’.

You have become accustomed to those lines that you almost clicked delete before noticing the word congratulation. The joy that bubbles within you is unexplainable. Finally, someone recognises your skills and abilities. The interview practices have finally paid off. Your self-esteem automatically increases. An employer is willing to pay for your services. You feel valued. You never want to go back to job hunting. Therefore, the easiest thing to do will be to accept the offer. Hold on! Before you leap, look carefully.

It is always important to review a job offer before signing a contract. You may be desperate but retrogression should never be an option. Some of the things to consider before taking up the offer include:

1. Training and development opportunities:

Are there opportunities to develop within the company? What does the company offer in terms of training and development? What value will the job add to your CV? Will you become part of the competition in the job market? These are some questions you need to ask yourself before taking the offer. You should work for a company where you can progress or acquire skills for your next career move.

2. Benefits:

What benefits are they offering? Some companies may advertise benefits as bait to pull candidates without actually offering them. Ask about the benefits. Make sure they are right for you. Don’t just fall for the trick if it isn’t necessarily. Whatever benefit offered should be relevant to you. For example, if they offer childcare facilities and you don’t need them at the moment, then it isn’t beneficial to you.

3. Culture and values:

Every organisation has a culture. What do they promote? What is their vision statement? Do they value people more than results? What are their values? Do their values contradict with your personal beliefs? The pay may be good but it is not worth sacrificing your personal values and beliefs because you may never be satisfied in that environment. For example, you cannot work in a company that promotes gambling if you dislike gambling.

Even though you researched their website before the interview, you need to spend time to review it again. Read the reviews by employees if available. Ask questions and find out what people say about them.

4. Location and travel:

How long do you have to travel each day? How much do you have to spend on transportation? Some may overlook the fact that they have to travel for about four hours to and fro each day. Shoving from train to train during rush hour, hopping on buses and getting home exhausted each night may not be an ideal way to paint the life you desire but this becomes reality when the distance is too far. Hence, it is essential to consider the travel routes and cost before accepting a job offer.

5. Track record and stability of company:

Research more about the company. How long have they been in existence? How are they doing financially? The last thing you want to do is join a company that is about to go under. Read their reports and goals for next few years. Ask questions. Be sure that the company is stable before you dot the lines.