Evaluating the Job Offer

Believe it or not, that excruciatingly long period, often beginning in the final semester of college, known as the job hunt does come to an end one day. Hopefully, you've learned everything you could about a given company before gracing them with an application. Even if you got caught up in the nerve-wracking pace of the hunt and neglected to find out before The Company of Your Dreams gave you the nod that they are going to ask you to relocate three or four times a year, all is not lost. Most companies will give acandidate a few days to mull over an offer, particularly if there're family considerations to take into account.

So, use that time to your advantage!

There are plenty of ways to find out what life at Company A will be like. First, consider your local library. We know, you promised yourself you'd never set foot in the place again after graduation . . . but a library does have invaluable resources. If the company ismassive, consult some trade publications or check out a business oriented newspaper. Thekey words you may be looking for here are "downsizing," "litigation,"and "record setting fines." Of course, keep your eyes peeled for positivecompany info as well. If you have a specific interest in the company, such as theirtreatment of working families, hunt down a special interest periodical like WorkingMother which annually ranks companies on their family-friendliness. For those with alittle more technological savvy, the Internet provides a wealth of valuable companyinformation that can be easily hunted down. Does a friend or acquaintance work there? Give him or her a call.

If you're having problems knowing what to look for in a new employer, ask yourselfa few questions: What do I want out of my career? Does the salary meet my current needs?How about in the future? What will be asked of me? Can I meet those demands? Am I jumpingat the first offer--did I want to work in a different industry? Do I see myself spendingmy whole life here? What if I want to leave at some point? Do I know everything I shouldabout my salary/perks/benefits? Do they meet my needs? Any of these would be a great placeto start. And if you can answer them they'll give you some inkling of whether or notyou'll like the job. Just because you get the offer doesn't mean the hunt isdone. Better to figure out whether or not you really care for Company A before you startthe job.