Last week, one of my clients was faced with the dilemma of whether or not to accept a job offer from a Fortune 500 company. It can be tough to know what the ‘right’ thing to do is, when many factors are at play – not only with the job or company, but relative to your own values and goals.
Accepting a job offer for the wrong reasons can lead you down the garden path with regret and unfulfillment. Declining an offer isn’t any easier, even in a job hunter’s market like today.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are 10.9 million open jobs and only 6.5 million unemployed workers in the U.S., so it’s definitely a candidate’s market. With the Great Resignation (along with the Great Reshuffle), employers are competing for the best talent, while seeking to retain and grow their current employees.
Therefore in today’s job market, it makes perfect sense to hold out for the best career opportunity that’s right for you.
How do you stand in your own power and make the right choice for you? A few questions to reflect upon:
- How well does the job content align with your career aspirations? Is this the dream job you’ve always wanted, or are you experiencing shiny object syndrome?
- What do you *really* want? Is it truly about a higher salary, or something else? Often money is not the underlying issue. Consider the full spectrum of the job offer, besides compensation – including:
- Benefits, paid time off, training reimbursements, other perks available to you
- Company culture
- Work lifestyle, travel requirements
- Changes to your commute, if any
- Career growth opportunities
- Do you like the team?
- How would accepting (or rejecting) the role impact your mental and physical well being? Gut check – would you feel good or regret it?
- What can you tolerate or live with, by accepting or declining the offer? Is this role a steppingstone to another role, and if so, what will you get out of it?
- How well do your values align with the company’s culture and values? Hint: How well do you see yourself meshing with the team?
Making the ‘right’ choice is deeply personal, and it takes tremendous courage and honesty to act on what really matters to you.
Making a decision is freeing, and saying ‘no’ can be even more liberating.
Other Resources:
8 Signs You Should Turn Down a Job Offer (Fast Company)
How to (Politely) Decline a Job Offer (BetterUp)
