The job offer is what every candidate in the interview process with an employer wants to see. That’s the ultimate stage they want to reach.
However, what should you be looking for once you reach that stage?
There is a certain amount of excitement that exists when an organization makes an offer of employment to you. That’s because it feels good to be the candidate of choice; the one who made it all the way through the process, the one that the company wants to hire.
But you can’t let that excitement and that emotion cloud your judgment. You must look at the offer objectively and make a good decision based on what you want for your career.
There are a number of different aspects associated with the offer. Each of them should be considered when you’re deciding whether or not to accept it.
Below are six things to look for in a job offer:
- Starting salary—Up to this point in the interview process, you’ve probably discussed salary with the hiring officials or with your recruiter, if only in general terms. As a result, there’s a good chance that the salary offered will be close to what you’re seeking. If you’re fortunate, it will be more than what you’re seeking.
- Benefits—These are closely associated with salary, and sometimes they can make the difference if the starting salary is lower than anticipated. This is especially the case when it comes to health insurance. That’s because the cost of said insurance has risen drastically during the last several years and shows no signs of reversing itself.
- Other perks—This doesn’t always apply, but it does in some situations. These perks might include a company car or car allowance, tuition reimbursement, and reimbursement for other expenses. Whatever perks are available should be weighed accordingly during the decision process.
- Position title—Does the position title indicate a move up the ladder? Or is it a lateral move? The importance of the position title can be more of a subjective consideration, depending upon the person involved. Some people put more stock in a title than other people. What importance do you put on titles?
- Access to professional development—Ideally, you’ll want to grow in your new position and gain knowledge and experience. As a result, gauge whether or not ongoing training will be available to you. Identify which avenues for development exist and what it will take for you to pursue them.
- Opportunity for advancement—No matter how great the job is, it will lose its luster unless there is opportunity for you to advance through the ranks. As a result, you’ll want to have an accurate idea of what of kind of advancement is available. So ask the right questions!
There’s also one more thing to consider. If you’re working with a search consultant, then they are the one who should extend the offer to you. That is a best practice.
In fact, if you’re working with a search consultant, then they should be working with both you and the organization to ensure that an attractive offer is made and that you feel comfortable enough to accept it. Make sure that your recruiter knows what you need to have in order to accept the offer.
We help support careers in one of two ways: 1. By helping to find the right opportunity when the time is right, and 2. By helping to recruit top talent for the critical needs of organizations. If this is something you would like to explore further, please send an email to stacy@thevetrecruiter.com.