You have just finished up your phone interview with a new potential employer. The interview went amazing and the hiring manager was more than impressed with what you had to offer the company, so he invites you in to meet with him and a few other members of their team. You accept the interview with some hesitation and wonder to yourself, “Do I really want to work there?”
Whether you are unemployed looking for a job or simply looking to transition careers, accepting a job offer is not something to tread lightly upon. Most people spend more time at work with their co-workers than they do with their families so you want to make sure the experience will be a positive one not only in your day to day life but will also serve as a good stepping stone as your career progresses.
Your time is precious, so before you get too far into the interview process you need to evaluate the situation and figure out if the company you are interviewing with is indeed where you want to work. You can do this by advising the following 10-pronged checklist. The more checks you can make, the more likely you have found your ideal next job.
- I like the people I have met and I will enjoy working with them.
- I believe in the management team to lead the company to the promise land and believe they will inspire me to be my best.
- The skills I will gain will be marketable as my career progresses.
- I will be challenged, engaged and pushed to my limits.
- I will be given the autonomy to be creative so that I can directly connect my contribution to the success of my project/company.
- I will make a positive impact on the world around me. The bigger the impact the better the job!!
- The company’s culture fits well with my work/life expectations.
- This job and company will look good on my resume once I conduct my next job search.
- My financial rewards are fair and directly connected to my effort and work performance.
- The company’s future is secure enough to make me feel comfortable.
Definitely good advice. I interviewed with a company that I wasn’t sure I’d fit in with. I did not receive an offer, so I didn’t have to worry about making the decision, but still, the points you touched on definitely crossed my mind.
Of course, in these tough economic times and all the layoffs, I believe those looking for jobs will likely put aside these 10 tips and be more open to what they find acceptable.
Excellent advice!
#5 is a hard one to come by, I think. People need to realize that they’re hiring talent and they should give them a certain level of trust when hired… but I’ve seen less and less companies willing to be that open.
Good point Gary. Whereas this checklist definitely hits the nail on the head for that perfect job, in this ecomonic climate I wouldn’t recommend turning down any interview requests until you have that offer in hand. Only at that time, can you afford the luxury to sit back and make a comprehensive decision.
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