How to evaluate offers and find the right position
By Chaz Kyser
For the St. Louis American
“Failure to recognize opportunities is the most dangerous and common mistake one can make.”—Mae Jemison, astronaut
Of course you want to make the right choice. You didn’t come this far to get stuck with a low-paying job or one that doesn’t challenge you. You want a salary your mom’s eyes will widen over, a benefits package your friends wish they had, perks to die for, a boss who has your back and co-workers who want to see you succeed.
Okay – it would be fantastic to have all of those things, but more than anything you want to know that the chair you’re sitting in at work is the chair God wants you to be in.
Well, unless God gives you a pretty good sign, you’ll need faith, intuition and research on the company whose offer you’re evaluating in order to make a wise decision. Not all jobs are worth the taking. Making the right decision becomes even more important when you’re considering moving away to take a position. Consider the following when evaluating a company and its job offer:
1. The Industry
? History of growth
? Predictable future need for goods and services
? Degrees of dependence on business trends
2. The Organization
? Prestige and reputation
? Growth potential
? Size
? Financial stability
? Quality of management team
3. The Job
? Training program
? Day-to day activities
? Amount of stress/pressure
? Requirements to relocate, travel
? Requirements to work long hours/weekends
? Responsibility/autonomy
? Opportunity for advancement or individual achievement
? Salary
? Benefits package
? Involvement with supervisor, peer associates
? Physical work environment
? Social significance of work
? Pace of work
? Opportunity for continuing education/training
4. General Lifestyle
? Your comfort with the organization’s goals/philosophy
? Geographic location
? Recreational, cultural and educational facilities
? Proximity of educational institutions for further study
From the Job Search Handbook of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, used with the permission of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, copyright holder.
Other factors
? The number of African Americans and other minorities present and the primary positions they hold (entry-level, middle-management, management).
? The female to male ratio and the primary positions women hold (entry level, middle management, management).
? What is deemed professional and unprofessional as far as styles of dress, hairstyles and jewelry. Some companies may demand that you come to work in a business suit everyday. Other companies may consider your khari shell necklace, braids, or short cropped natural hairstyle as “unprofessional.”
It’s good to get other people’s opinions on the job offers you receive, but the final choice will be yours. People determine how good a job offer is according to their own values and goals, and you must do the same.
What is worth more to you? Money? Peace? Excellent benefits and perks? Challenging work? Do you want the chance to rise in the ranks, or do you really just want something that will keep you busy and provide a steady paycheck?
There’s no wrong or right answer, just think about the kind of person you are and the type of environment you will be comfortable in. A person who hates working in teams will probably despise a job that requires them to work on a lot of team projects. Someone who has no sense of time doesn’t need to be in a deadline driven environment. An ambitious, hopeful young professional has no place in a company that hardly ever promotes from within.
Also consider your gut feeling about the company. You know, the little voice that says there’s something funny going on with this company, or you and your employer probably won’t get along.
After the interview, reflect on your initial thoughts about the company. What positive aspects of the company stood out? What did you find odd? Did you feel like you wouldn’t fit in right after you met the person who may become your boss? Did the employees look or act like the last people you’d want to work with or did they make you want to start work with them off-the-clock?
You should take all these issues into consideration when you’re evaluating a job offer.
Chaz Kyser is a journalism instructor and newspaper advisor at Langston University. Her articles are taken from her book, “Embracing the Real World: The Black Woman’s Guide to Life After College.” Questions/comments on this article can be emailed to chazkyser@hotmail.com.