You have done the hard part – completed the application so that they cannot fail to call you for interview – and you performed well. You decide that maybe, just maybe, if the phone rings and they offer you the job, you will snap their hand off. 

And then, time passes, and you get to thinking.  

You have performed well. You have improved and so much so, in fact, that they have offered you the job. It is you ‘dream’ job, working for the leading company in your field of expertise and skills. 

Surely, it is a forgone conclusion that you will accept. 

In most circumstances, people do; as soon as the phone rings and those words ring out ‘we would like to offer you the position’, people gush they will accept the sentence have been finished. There are times when this is the right decision but, there are other occasions when you need to make careful consideration. 

But, what factors should you use to make your decision? 

#1 The people 

You may be forgiven that money should be in top spot. However when it comes to work, you do need to be uber-confident that the people you will spend the majority of the time with, are the people that you want to spend the majority of the time with.  

Of course, it is hard to form judgements from only meeting people for a few moments but those first impressions count. It takes seconds for our intuition to kick in, telling us when someone is personable and approachable, and when they are not.  

#2 The place of work, environment and atmosphere 

It may be THE place and the next step up, but is it the right place for you. Being offered a job and choosing to accept it is, primarily, a personal decision. As great as the company may be, with an enviable reputation, if it did not feel right, then trust your gut. 

How they work is important. Some offices and businesses opt for an open plan office. This great in so many ways – but, if you are an ordered, ‘need my own space’ kind of person, this will not be the right environment conducive to neither your happiness nor productivity.  

#3 The benefits 

The package of benefits offered should reflect the calibre of candidate that the company wants, and how well they look after them. Employees that are not only appreciated but ‘look after’ tend to remain with an employer for longer. 

Ask them about their benefits package; what perks are they offering staff and new employees? If the money does not quite come up to scratch, you may find that you financial gain in other ways. Anything from private medical care to cut price gym membership is worth looking into.  

#4 Company performance 

Before leaving a sound, stable job (possibly) you need to make sure your next move is to another stable, sound ship. If not, you could be setting yourself up for fall from which it may be hard to bounce back.  

Asking around about the company, and how well they are performing financially is important. The most recession has taken out some big names from various industries, all names and businesses that have survived previous recessions, depressions, world wars and conflicts. Sometimes, the smallest and lightest straw can break the biggest, strongest camel.  

#5 Salary 

Clearly, looking for and getting a new job is about taking a step up, including a step up in the money. 

For many people, this is the driving factor and thus, their decisions are easy to make but, for others, the environment and people are more important.  

Neither does money equal happiness in a role, thus take care when basing your decision solely on the salary. There are two options in terms of finance – one is the amount you need to live on and the other, is the amount of money that would make the job simply irresistible.  

Perhaps seeing the potential of the whole package is more important that just one factor alone  

In summary

Looking for, applying and interviewing for a new job is a high-stress situation, and not one that many people gladly throw themselves into. Unless it is the job, that represents the next logical step up for them.  

On the downside is the fact that many people can be disappointed. This is because they go the place where they think it is all happening, the competitor that they need to be part of and yet, their gut tells them a far different story when they get there. 

And when will you know? The moment you walk out of the interview.