Have you ever landed a job, been excited by the “We’d like to hire you,” call only to experience applicant’s remorse? You wonder, “should I have accepted this job or waited for a better offer?”
If you’d like to know for sure that you’ve landed the right job, ask yourself these questions.
What matters most to me?
Is it challenging and meaningful work or pay and benefits? Do I want a hard-charging or a team-oriented culture?
Make a list of everything that matters to you. With your list as a yardstick ask “How does this job measure up?”
Who will I work for and with?
We spend more waking hours with those we work with than with our family. What do you know or can you learn about your potential immediate supervisor? Did you feel a connection in the interview? What management style can you expect?
What vibe did you get from your prospective co-workers? Do they appear happy and motivated? What value system and ethics do they bring to the table? What’s the corporate culture?
Where might this job take me?
What learning or advancement opportunities come with this position? Does this organization promote from within? Offer training or tuition reimbursement? Allow you the autonomy to make decisions? What growth potential does this organization itself have? Does it stay abreast with social media and technology?
How will this job impact my life?
What level of job stress can you expect? What work schedule and flexibility is offered you? What might accepting this job do to your work life balance?
Is this the kind of organization you can feel proud working for? How are they regarded in their industry and by their clients or customers? How stable are they?
And what if this potential job doesn’t measure up?
Despite the truth in the song, “if you can’t be with the one you love, love the one you’re with,” think long and hard before settling for a job you know won’t be right for you. After all, if you can’t give your job your all, you risk your reputation, and your chance to land your next and better job.
What’s your decision? Is your current job right for you?
© 2016, Lynne Curry, author of Solutions and Beating the Workplace Bully and founder of www.workplacecoachblog.com and www.thegrowthcompany.com.
