Black Collegian Career Center

One of the highlights of completing a baccalaureate program is to receive one or more appealing job offers. Unless you are planning to attend graduate or professional school right away, becoming gainfully employed is the upshot of financial independence following graduation.

When presented with more than one attractive employment offer, though, the challenge is to decide which offer to accept. The following guidelines for evaluating job offers should make such a tough decision a little bit easier.

The Offer Itself

The first important matter is to make certain that you have received a bona fide employment offer. In this regard, don't mistake positive interview comments as indicative of an actual job offer. For instance, the interviewer or hiring manager might make statements like these:

• "We think we can use someone with your talents and drive to join our team."

• "From the feedback I've obtained from the others who interviewed you, it looks like we have a pretty good match."

• "Your academic background is impressive, and you appear to have the ambition and motivation that we are looking for in an entry-level employee."

These kinds of remarks are quite encouraging, indeed; but none of them conclusively indicate that the company intends to extend an actual offer of employment. The speaker may simply be complimenting your interviewing ability. When the company wants to bring you on board, they will communicate that fact without hesitancy or ambiguity.

In some instances, the company will extend an offer verbally—either over the phone or during a second or third interview. In so doing, they want to test your response before putting the terms and conditions in writing.

At that point, you need to determine whether the offer and terms of employment are totally acceptable—or whether you should hold out for a better deal. That is to say, is there any flexibility or room for negotiation in the offer?

Bear in mind, entry-level employees do not have the same negotiating clout that seasoned professionals have, based on their distinguished work history and their name and reputation within the industry.

This fact notwithstanding, the company might be flexible on certain matters such as start date or compensation structure. For instance, in a sales situation, the company might agree to raise the starting base salary somewhat, but lower the accompanying commission structure. If the organization perceives you as a potential "winner," they might be willing to make such concessions. But don't count on it.

Whether or not the company makes any concessions, get a good understanding of all aspects of the employment offer and exactly what is expected of you. For starters, this includes knowing the actual job title, starting compensation, fringe benefits, and initial review period. (For instance, after the standard 90-day probation, will there be any bump in salary?)

In addition, make certain that job duties are clearly spelled out and represent what is in your capability to perform. It serves no purpose to take a job that carries a fancy title and generous starting salary if you cannot handle the responsibilities involved.

What about advancement opportunities? In starting a new job, you are a long way off from being considered for a promotion. Nevertheless, it's good to get some indication of the kind of professional development the company supports. Would you likely be on a fast-track career path, or be pigeonholed in a job that becomes boring and unchallenging?

Once you know what the company offers, what they expect of you and what kind of future you might anticipate working there, it's important to evaluate the offer on its own merits. In other words, would you accept or refuse the job if it were your only offer? To help answer this question, reflect seriously on the nature of the workplace and the person to whom you would report. Trust your instincts; more often than not, they are usually accurate.

The Work Setting

No matter which job offer you ultimately accept, plan to stay with that employer for at least several years in order to develop a good work history. Along with considering the offer itself and the duties involved, make a mental evaluation of the work setting when you visited the company. As part of this reflective process, ask yourself some hard-hitting questions.

How comfortable were you during the interview phase? Did the interviewer(s) seem genuinely pleased to meet you and eager to discuss the opportunity? Or, did they appear to perform their tasks in a perfunctory and un-engaging manner? Initial impressions communicate a lot. If you weren't totally comfortable early on, it's possible that your subconscious is sending you an important message: Think twice about taking the job.

As you observed employees throughout the company, did they appear to enjoy their work? Similarly, when you spoke with potential co-workers in the department where you would be working, did they seem to be cordial and welcoming? Or were they aloof and unconcerned about the prospect of your joining the organization?

Will you be expected to work as part of a closely-knit team, or basically function as a "Lone Ranger" completing projects with minimal interaction and supervision? Depending on your personality make-up and degree of self-motivation, how closely you interact with others can be a key to your workplace success—or lack thereof.

Does the employment setting offer any special perks? Without doubt, it is quite pleasurable to work in a new Class "A" office building offering special amenities: covered parking, workout facility, in-house restaurant, pharmacy, dry cleaners, and so on. Working in a similar position in a less prestigious environment can be equally career enhancing, though not as psychologically rewarding.

The same question applies to the job itself. Does it offer any special perks that would sway your decision? For instance, is there opportunity for domestic or foreign travel, the chance to mentor with industry "luminaries," or collaborate on any special research or publication projects? Although most entry-level jobs don't offer these kind of added benefits, some positions do. They are the ones that deserve extra special consideration.

What about the commute to work? In major cities, it's not uncommon to drive 30-40 minutes both to and from work. In some sprawling metropolises, a one-way commute exceeding one hour is the norm. In the upper Northeast, of course, commuting to work by rail can take even longer—upwards of two hours one way.

Lengthy commutes might not be a problem if you grew up in a large urban area. But if you hale from Small Town, USA, making such daily treks would likely "get old" real soon. If you're not prepared to move closer to the work setting, it's possible that a long commute would result in some degree job dissatisfaction early on.

All things considered, can you envision yourself working at that company, in that location, with that group of people, for several years? If you can't honestly give a resounding "Yes" to that rhetorical question, it might be best to pass on the offer.

The Boss

Suppose the job sounds exciting, the location is great, and there appears to be opportunity for upward mobility. What about the person to whom you would report? More so than anyone else, your direct supervisor can play a significant role in your advancement potential.

Does the boss appear to be someone who would support your professional success as a valuable mentor and career coach? Or do you get the vibes that he would offer minimal support and encouragement?

Similarly, does the boss convey a sense of enjoyment and satisfaction in his work? Or does he speak nonchalantly about his involvement with the company?

Furthermore, as you envision working with this individual, do you sense any potential problems based on differences in gender, race, or cultural background? In short, is the boss someone you can respect, admire, and learn from in your pursuit of workplace excellence?

It's impossible to answer all of these questions definitively without knowing the person better. On the other hand, it's possible to pick up important signals about his feelings during casual conversation prior to your accepting the offer. For example, posing a few innocent questions can lead to some interesting answers:

• "How long have you been with the company? What do you enjoy most about being associated with it?"

• "What kinds of career paths are available to new employees with my background and interests?"

• "How would you describe your management style and secret to motivating employees?"

• "If you could change anything about the company, what would you focus on changing?"

By asking questions like these, you have opportunity to glimpse into another side of your prospective boss. You might be pleased with the other facets of her personality that answering these questions brings out. Or you might intuitively recognize that she is not the person with whom you wish to be associated.

Comparing Offers

Asking these rhetorical questions will help you evaluate any job offer on its own merits. When weighing comparable offers, the decision to accept one over the others is a bit more complicated. Three points of advice are noteworthy in this regard.

Consider trade-offs. An impressive job title and starting salary might, in fact, compensate for a lengthier commute to work. Or the chance to travel and work around industry leaders might be more beneficial in the long-term than receiving a higher starting compensation. Similarly, working for a supportive boss who can help to propel your career is more important than, say, working in a glitzy office tower with a nice window view.

Discuss the offers with those whose opinions matter. Parents and spouse (or significant other) top the list. The viewpoints of siblings and close friends should also be respected. Other valuable perspectives can be gained by discussing the offers, in general terms, with a favorite faculty member or college placement officer. The intent is to get objective feedback from individuals who support your success and can offer dispassionate assessment of the opportunities under consideration.

Trust your instincts. This point cannot be stressed too much. After carefully researching each company and interviewing on-site, you have a pretty good indication of what distinguishes each organization from the others. In speaking with prospective supervisors and co-workers, you also gain a good feel for the workplace dynamics and personality interplay that characterize each employment situation.

In the final analysis, you must ask yourself a key question: "Where will I be most productive, challenged and happy?" That is not an easy question to answer, but one that only you can answer for yourself. Good luck in making the best choice!

Calvin Bruce has 18 years of recruitment experience, including providing career advice to young professionals in numerous fields.