Candidates - Remember to Choose Wisely!

September 14, 2015

Guest Blog by Bill Fitzgerald, Exec Careers DC, Associate Member of Maryland Nonprofits

ExecCareers DC is an exciting new way for executives and managers in the DC Metro/Baltimore area to hear about career opportunities that are rarely posted or advertised. If you’d like to hear about exciting new career opportunities and receive helpful career advice, follow Exec Careers DC and connect with Bill Fitzgerald on LinkedIn.

Read the original blog here.

There is nothing like receiving a job offer. Whether you’ve been waiting weeks or months, there is no better feeling. It is a joyful moment and so affirming that any self-doubt immediately vanishes.The world has spoken and once again, you know you are great at what ever you do!

In all the excitement of receiving an offer, it is important to take a deep breath, slow down and think about the importance of what comes next. You now have to make a decision. That’s right. You actually have a choice to make.

Here are some important questions to ask your self when considering a job offer:

How are you feeling about the person who will be your new boss?
How excited are you about working with the people you met during the interviewing process?
How clear are you about your responsibilities and how success will be measured?
What opportunities do you see to learn new skills and to get smarter in your chosen field?
What do you think about the interviewing process and how you were treated?
To what degree does the financial offer represent a step forward?
What opportunities do you see to contribute in a meaningful way?
How does the new job represent some form of advancement?
What, if anything, do you have to trade-off personally or professionally?
Is this an organization where you can see yourself for 2 to 3 years?
What opportunities do you see for advancement?
How well is the organization performing in the marketplace?
How well respected is the organization?
Does the organization represent a product or service you would be proud of and excited to represent?
What are you most excited about – getting the job or just getting an offer?

There may be other questions you need to ask yourself but this is a good start. The point – It’s important to be thorough in your decision making process. What raises concerns or confirms this is the right choice will be different for each person and each set of circumstances. Only you know what answers trigger a red flag or give you the green light to move forward.

It’s important to remember that you have a choice in the matter. You are also in a position to ask for what you need to make the offer work. Don’t settle for anything less than what you absolutely need to be successful. At this point in the process, that’s all that matters.