When you are on the lookout for a new job, it’s so important to consider more than just the job itself. Of course, the job is important, but it’s always a good idea to think about other elements rather than just the salary and the responsibilities of the position. The job itself isn’t going to matter all that much if you are unsatisfied in the position.
As a jobseeker your main priority should be to secure a job that matches who you are as a person and that also fits in well with your lifestyle. When the job is as close to a perfect match as it can be, it will mesh with both your personal and professional preferences.
It can be difficult to decide whether a job is a good enough match to submit an application for and even more importantly, how do you know if you should accept an offer for the job? Although there are never any guarantees, following a thoughtful process can increase your chances of making sure that the decision made is the right one for you.
Different Factors to Consider:
An important first step to take when considering if a job is the right fit for you is to develop a list of what you are looking for in a position. Everyone’s profile of the ‘ideal’ job will vary, but here are some factors to consider as you compile your list:
Job Content:
The level of satisfaction that you receive in a job will be determined by how stimulating the daily tasks are for you. Even the most financially awarding positions can get tedious quite quickly if you don’t enjoy the work that you are completing. Ask yourself if the tasks and responsibilities that you are carrying out will enhance the skills that you enjoy developing and utilizing, that way you will be driven by the work and more likely to thrive in that role.
As you read and dissect the job description and discuss the position through the interview stage, gauge how well the job matches up with the list of skills that you enjoy using.
Salary:
Even what sounds like your dream job can sometimes fall short if you are unhappy with your level of compensation in return. Be aware of the level of income and additional benefits that you require, want and are entitled to. Benchmark salaries for your industry and location so you know the going rate. After accepting a job offer and commencing your role in a new position only to find out that you are underpaid compared to your peers can be demoralizing.
The Boss:
Think about your ideal manager and carefully evaluate the person with whom you would be working in a target position. Take into consideration factors such as whether you prefer a hands-on boss or one who will leave you to work independently. Ask potential colleagues to describe the management style of your potential supervisor and look for both verbal and non-verbal cues regarding how the individual’s personality would blend with yours. Think carefully about accepting if you don’t particularly like the person who would be your manager.
Location:
For many jobseekers, the location of the job can be a determining factor of whether they accept or decline an offer. Location can be a powerful push or full factor. Proximity to recreational activities, culture, nature, family, friends and good schools can all be deciding elements. The length of one’s commute can influence how palatable a job will be as well.
Opportunity to Progress:
If you are interested in progression and continuously climbing up the ladder within your chosen industry, then you will want to determine how and when you could potentially be promoted at your target employer and what those positions may require from you. Investigate and research the average salary increase for promotion.
Company Mission:
Make sure that you can embrace the goals of your prospective employer or at the very least you are not alienated by the products and services supplied or by the way business is conducted. For example an individual whose primary values center around personal and public health and well being may not be too please working for a company that produces alcoholic beverages, regardless of how well the job and salary fit them otherwise.
Company Culture:
An important concern for many candidates going to interview for a new position is how well will they fit in with the company culture, and will it blend in with their own personal values and lifestyle. How formal or informal is the dress code? Does the company value innovation? Do decisions flow from top tier management down, or is the decision process more democratic? Is there encouragement towards a work/life balance or employees expected to work 60 hours per week? Is the organization concerned about environmental issues? Do they encourage employees to help out with the community and perform community service? Some of these concerns may not serve any relevance to you personally but for other people they do come into consideration.
Job Security:
It would be foolish to accept an offer of employment without considering the security of the job beforehand. It’s important to think about factors such as whether an employer is in a growing or declining industry, whether their market share is increasing or decreasing, and the quality of their executive leadership can impact the chances that you might be laid off in the near future.
Prestige:
If you are concerned about how other perceive you, the status of an employer or a particular job may influence your decision to either accept or decline the offer. For examply, if you were interviewing for a managerial role would you rather manage a store such as Brown Thomas or Penney’s? At the end of the day, a job is a job but for certain people this could be a deciding factor.
Analyze the Job and the Employer:
Once you have a selected your requirements you will have two options for determining how well a job fits your specifications based on your decision-making style. If you are an intuitive type, you might simply review what you know regarding the position and reflect on how well you feel it meets your needs. We all have a gut feeling and 9 times out of 10, our gut feeling is right, so trust it.
Don’t Be Afraid to Say No (Thank You):
One time I was offered a job that I applied for and I declined. After being offered more money for the same position I stuck with my decision and politely declined because the money was not enough to overcome what I saw as negatives when evaluating the job. I knew that I wouldn’t have been happy working in the location where the job was situated or in the work environment that was established by the company. My instinct said no, so I listened to it. Not long after declining the role, I was offered a new role with a new company where I loved my job.
If you have any hesitation about saying yes, or is the positive elements do not outweigh the negatives then think twice before applying. Definitely think twice before ultimately accepting the offer. It’s much more difficult to leave a job that isn’t working out as you would like than it is to turn down an offer of employment.
When to Say No:
Remember, you don’t have to wait until you are offered a job to turn the position down. If you have already applied and start to reconsider your decision, you are completely entitled to withdraw your application therefore withdrawing yourself from being considered for the role. You are allowed to do this at any point of the hiring process. In fact, employers will generally be appreciative of you doing so, even if you are the top candidate for the job as it will save them investing more time and effort in your candidacy. Hiring managers are also looking for candidates that will be the best fit for their company, just like you are looking for a job that best fits you.