Executives, How Do You Know This Next Job Is Right for You? was originally published on Ivy Exec.
Congratulations, you’ve just been offered a job! It has been a long, slow job hunt, and you’re relieved to have finally landed an offer.
But something is holding you back from being fully excited. Is this the right position for me? Will this position give me the work-life balance I’m seeking?
Or maybe you’re on the other end of the spectrum. You’ve just started your job hunt, wondering if the job offer you’ve received is the best you can do. You might be thinking, will I get bored in this job too quickly? Are there enough growth opportunities at the company?
Before you accept a job offer, consider the following advice before you make your next career move.
Throw logic out the window – and tune into your feelings.
If you’re hesitant about taking the job, you might want to consider how you feel when you envision yourself in the role. What feelings arise? Are they excited, hopeful ones? Or does this imagining bring up dark, discouraged emotions?
Also, think back on how you felt about the job during the interview process.
“During your interviews, were you hopeful things would work out? Or, would you have been relieved if they chose someone else? Don’t dismiss concerns, even if they were just fleeting thoughts,” said Mikaela Kiner, the CEO of uniquelyHR.
We often call this “a gut check.” If you’re just not feeling an opportunity on the horizon, pay attention to that emotion rather than convincing yourself an opportunity makes sense logically.
Does the position let you live your values?
Before you even started your job search, you probably made a list of values that you were seeking in your next position. Perhaps these were mission-driven values; for instance, maybe you wanted to work at an organization with a social justice-oriented business plan.
Or maybe these values were more about what the workplace or position responsibilities would entail. What does your ideal team look like? What tasks would you like to concentrate on?
“For example, maybe you want a deadline-driven role that heavily relies on team collaboration and creativity. For each value that you see as essential, how does this job rank?” suggested Kathryn Minshew and Alex Cavoulacos.
You also want to determine if the position offers a healthy work/life balance – and flexibility if that’s important to you.
“Flexibility is one of the most important factors for today’s professionals. LinkedIn research has found that one in three professionals would take a 10% pay cut for the ability to design their own schedule,” said Blair Decembrele, a career expert at LinkedIn.
If you’re someone who likes making a pros and cons list, you could start by creating a values list and then determining how many of those values are connected to this job.
Consider if the position will let you use your strengths.
At the same time, you want to take a job that caters to what you do well and what you enjoy doing. In other words, a “strength” is a task that you excel at that energizes and excites you; you might be great at something that saps your energy.
“When we start feeling disillusioned about our work, it’s usually because we don’t have enough opportunities in the position to utilize our strengths,” said Yamini Virani of Celebrus Business Strategies.
Will the position bring you closer to your “pinnacle” position?
When making career decisions, it’s smart to consider the dream job we want at the height of our careers. There may be several pathways to that ideal job – but is this intermediate position you’ve just landed one of them? If the answer is no, it’s an easy choice not to take the job.
At the same time, you’ll need to advance and develop new skills to land your dream job someday. So, it’s essential to determine if the company will give you opportunities to build your skills.
“Along with career advancement, a quality job allows you to develop new skills. See if this new company offers educational resources, such as workshops, seminars, retreats, or online courses,” Indeed advised.
You may also want to research growth opportunities at the company. Does the dream job you envision exist there? If so, it could make this job offer even more exciting. Even if it doesn’t, are there opportunities for you to move closer to that goal at the organization?
“LinkedIn research has found that one of the top career goals for professionals in 2018 is getting a promotion or raise. One factor that helps people to stay driven in their current position is knowing there is an opportunity for growth,” said Decembrele.
Should I Take a Position and End My Job Hunt?
After a long job search (or even a short one!), receiving an offer can be a relief. But it’s time to examine your reticence if you’re less than definitive that taking that offer should be your next career move.
Are you concerned because you don’t think the compensation is fair, or do you wish your schedule could be more flexible? You could address these issues with the hiring manager or recruiter before accepting the job.
However, if you don’t think that the position matches your values or won’t lead you down the career path you want, it’s likely the best decision to turn it down. If you’re not enthusiastic about a position at the start, you’ll unlikely grow to love it as time passes.
Not sure if you should take a job? Consider meeting with one of Ivy Exec’s Career Coaches to receive unbiased advice about if a role you have been offered would be a wise next career move for you.
