Perhaps the best moment of a job search is when you learn you’re the candidate the employer wants. Before you jump to saying yes, make sure you’ve checked out these three things to know before accepting a job offer.
Company Culture
The interview process should have given you a good idea of the type of company culture you’d be entering. Check out reviews and online articles about the company as a place to work. Keep in mind that some of the review sites are more like outlets for disgruntled employees to air their grievances. But by reading about the company on its own blog and in reputable news media, you can gain insight into whether the company is a good place to work.
Look at the company’s website and see if they publish their employee policies, statement of values, or other information that gives you insight into how they may treat you as an employee.
Salary and Benefits
A verbal offer is as good as the paper it’s written on. Have a pleasant conversation with the HR representative who calls to convey the offer, and find out how long you have to consider it. The HR rep should have already mentioned that they’ll be emailing you a written offer, but if not, say something congenial about how you’ll look forward to receiving their offer in writing.
An offer letter should spell out your salary or rate of pay, your benefits and when they become effective, your title and general responsibilities, and the start date.
It will specify if you will be an “at-will” employee or if you will receive a specific employment contract spelling out the duration of your contract.
Beware of the offer if it seems vague or cagey. Luring someone into accepting an employment contract with misleading or false promises about working conditions, hours, or pay is a type of fraud. Know your rights as an employee so that you can go into a new job with your eyes wide open.
Opportunities for Advancement
Before you accept a new job, gain an understanding of the structure of the company and the department you’d be joining to learn about opportunities to move up. Most companies want to provide a good career path so that valuable employees stick around. This gives them the benefit of great employees putting in years of star performance and saves them the time and cost of hiring and training someone new.
Congratulations on your new job offer! Hopefully, these few things to know before accepting a new job have been helpful as you consider your next opportunity.
