You have a job offer that you’re excited about that you worked hard to land. While your first inclination is to say yes, something is holding you back.
It’s hard to know for sure whether a job will be the perfect fit for you. You can’t be 100% certain, and it may need a leap of faith.
But before you take that leap of faith, there are some questions you can ask yourself. These questions will at least help you think things over one last time before saying “yes.”
Here are five questions to ask yourself before letting the company know you’re all in and can’t wait to work with them!
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1. Can I Advance My Career Working Here?
Chances are you already did your research and know whether you’ll be able to advance your career. The manager let you know that there’s room for growth, so that’s promising.
To fact check what they said, take a closer look at the employees. See if you can find evidence that their career has progressed while working there.
If you get the opportunity, chat with them about their position, or find them on LinkedIn. It won’t hurt to do a little bit more research, even if an incredible search firm helped you find the job.
2. Does the Job Offer the Salary and Benefits I Want?
The company you work for should ideally offer you close to what you desire for your salary. The same goes for your benefits. If you have yet to accept the job offer because the salary offer is too low, see if you can negotiate with them.
If they’re not willing to budge, find out if they can offer extra benefits. A few examples are giving you a company-owned vehicle or offering childcare reimbursement.
Even if you really want the job, don’t sacrifice your salary wishes. If it’s the right fit for you both, then they should be willing to work with you.
3. What Do I Think About My Potential Boss?
If you hit it off with the person who would be your boss if you accept the position, that’s a good sign. You’ll be working with this person every day, so you must get along.
Even though initially it seems like you may get along, dig deeper. Think about the person’s personality and whether it’ll jive with your character long term. If the boss is rather direct and makes you uncomfortable, ask yourself if you can get a thicker shell.
On the other hand, if you think your boss may be too hands-off, you’ll need to be willing to push yourself. You won’t be able to depend on your boss or co-workers to do things for you or encourage you to work harder.
4. How Will I Feel During My Free Time?
Finding a job that challenges you and makes you eager to learn more is the ideal job to have. If you leave work feeling overwhelmed and discouraged, that’s not a good sign. Besides, these feelings can infiltrate into your personal life as well.
Ask yourself how you think you’ll feel during your downtime. Envision yourself coming home after a long day. Will you feel intrigued by what you learned and excited you’re making progress? Or, as we mentioned, will you come home drained and ready to throw in the towel?
Think long and hard whether you can see yourself being genuinely happy in the position or not. That should help you decide whether the job is right for you.
5. What Do My Friends and Family Think?
Ultimately you should be the one to make the final decision on whether to accept the job. But if you feel that your friends and family know you well, ask them what they think.
They may have some input based on what you’ve told them so far. If you’ve sounded confident and excited, they can point that out to you. And, similarly, if you’ve had a lot of questions and seem uncertain, they can let you know that as well.
If you’re uncertain, they may be able to ask you some questions that’ll clear up any questions you may have. Loved ones are fantastic at being the sounding board you need. Use them to your advantage, especially when it comes to making vital decisions like this.
Conclusion
After asking yourself all these questions, the job still seems like a good fit, then move forward with it! You can’t ponder it over too long. Otherwise, you may miss out. But if you’re still feeling apprehensive, this may mean you need a few extra days to think things through.
Check with the company and ask if you can think things over. Don’t take too long, though. There may be another potential employee they don’t want to miss out on if you decline their offer.
Remember, most things in life require you to take a leap of faith. If you’ve done your research, and feel confident, don’t question yourself. Don’t waste any more time starting a career that you’ll love and will give you the chance to shine!