Your application was submitted, the interviews are over and you just got the formal, written job offer. Congratulations!
Before you shoot off a “heck yes!” reply to a signed offer, take some time to consider whether the company, job and offer are right for you. A job offer that doesn’t provide what you need to succeed is not a good job offer for you.
Here are some questions to ask yourself before you accept the offer:
Company Culture
- Do I understand the culture of the company?
- Is the company culture one I can imagine enjoying and thriving within?
- What aspects of the company values, mission and vision excite me the most?
- Do I know people who work there (so it feels like I have work friends when I start)?
Compensation
- Are the salary and benefits offered aligned with market rates?
- Does the salary and benefits package support my needs and lifestyle?
- If I’m taking a pay cut, have I discussed this with my family and found ways we can supplement or accommodate this change?
- Will I feel fairly compensated for doing the job?
Deliberations
- Have I asked good interview questions? Or have I held back?
- During the interview process, were there any red flags? Can I address them before I decide?
- What do my friends and family think about the offer?
- Have I discussed the job, the company and the offer with my mentors?
Qualifications
- Am I qualified to do the job (or did I oversell myself)?
- Is the job description clear and specific such that I feel confident in my ability to do the work?
- Do I feel overqualified? If so, am I comfortable stepping back to grow my career?
- Will the job allow me to continue to grow my skills and talents?
My Feelings
- Am I excited about the opportunity?
- Can I imagine my career there in the next few years?
- Does the company understand the value a veteran brings?
- Does the opportunity feel right to me? No list (published anywhere) means anything if it doesn’t feel right to me -- in my heart, my gut and my head. I need to trust myself.
This list is intended to be a starting place, to possibly uncover an idea or issue you didn’t fully explore as you pursued the job offer. It’s vital that you do your own due diligence on any opportunity. Research the company online and tap into your network to see what else you can learn about their company culture and practices. Discuss the situation and growth potential with people you trust.
In the end, you will have to rely on your sense of what is best for you. Your jobs outside of the military will carry a lot more uncertainty and implicit rules (as opposed to spelled-out practices and standards). For this reason, it might take a few attempts to find the job that suits your career goals, skills and talents and personal aspirations.
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