Evaluating Job Offers

By Chaz Kyser, Special to THE BLACK COLLEGIAN

Getting your first official job offer will be one of the many milestones you will remember as you make your way in the real world after graduation. However, while it is great to know that someone wants to hire you, not all jobs are worth taking. You’ll need faith, intuition and research on the company whose offer you’re evaluating in order to make a wise decision. Even though times can get rough and sometimes working anywhere may seem fine to you, you still should analyze any and all job offers. Making the right decision becomes even more important when you’re considering moving away to take a position, not going back to school, or taking a professional position that really doesn’t fall in line with your career goals. 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
• 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 and 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, copyright holder; used with the permission.

Other important factors to consider:

• The number of 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 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.

After your 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 the author of “Embracing the Real World: The Black Woman’s Guide to Life After College” ($14.99). Purchase the book online at www.embracingtherealworld.com. Send comments about this article to column@embracingtherealworld.com.