Many people in current employment may find themselves being offered a higher paying position by a different employer. The opportunity may come after searching for it due to dissatisfaction with a current job. It may also come when a prospective employer offers a lucrative job offer to a candidate with great skills and experience. If you find yourself in any of these situations, it is always prudent to ask yourself whether the grass is truly greener on the other side.
Money should never be the only factor when it comes to making an employment decision. Many people give in to the temptation of taking home a larger paycheck only to get a rude awakening that their new job is worse than the former one. Before you decide to take the plunge on a new job offer, here are some of the top 5 things you should investigate first.
Working Conditions
Poor working conditions can make a job miserable. It is therefore important to find out what the work environment is like with your prospective employer. Is it supportive? How does the company treat employee grievances? Can you communicate openly with managers and are they approachable? Are there opportunities for growth at the new workplace? Is the company considering a merger or is it under new management? It is important to find answers to these questions since they can affect your satisfaction and job security. Talking with some of the employees working with the hiring company may help you to get some insight on what the new employer is like.
Benefits
Don’t be quick to take up a new job just because it offers a signup bonus or higher pay. Take the time to find out if there are any benefits so that you can make an informed decision about the offer at hand. If the hiring firm offers a retirement plan and you already have one, how do both plans compare? Is the plan portable? If there are new benefits for a health care plan, find out what it entails and whether it is flexible.
Days Off
Investigating an employer’s policy on days off can help you to decide whether a new job is worth taking. How are the working hours? Do you get to work on weekends? How many days off are there in a week? Do employees get a paid leaves?
Contracts with Current Employer
If you are under contract with your current employer, it is wise to find out if there are any legal obligations that you have to full fill before leaving the job. Some terms of employment might cause you not to qualify for your final months pay when leaving a job that is still under contract.
Lifestyle Changes
Finally, you should consider what lifestyle changes you have to make in order to fit into a new job. Does it mean commuting longer distances to and from your place of work? Will the job interfere with personal commitments?
All these are some of the concerns you should look into before accepting an employment offer. Doing so will help you to make an informed decision and possibly achieve job satisfaction.
Lynn Woods is a career coach based in Edinburgh, Scotland. She loves to help other people advance their careers by writing useful job related content. Click here to learn more about one of the top job search firms that Lynn recommends to those looking for retail, hospitality and sales jobs in the UK.