Everyone gets excited by a new job offer and for valid reasons off course. A person seeking change always thinks that he has done well but somehow not been duly rewarded. We sometimes feel that our bosses are aliens without any idea how the modern world works and always hassle us from their ivory tower. Thus frustrated, when we receive a new offer, we feel like being in heaven. It is quite natural to get excited and believe that the opening, longed for so long, has arrived at last. 

 

But beware; all that glitters is not gold. Your current job may not be that great but you would egress from your comfort zone while accepting a new one. A known devil is always better than an unknown friend. Since you would be spending close to 50 hours per week on the job, it is always better to be cautious, even when the offer is from a big corporate. 

 

So, before accepting, make sure you have a thorough background check. Here are seven key questions you must answer before deciding. Even when the salary seem to be godsend and the perks seem to be out of the world; even when you have mentally spent half of your extra salary; do not rush and resign till you have answered these questions satisfactorily.

 

1. Are you clear what you are expected to accomplish on a daily, weekly, monthly and yearly basis? 

Probe long and hard to understand what is expected from you. Job description and designation sometimes can be very vague. I have once come across a job title stating “Conversation Architect” which means “Digital Marketing Manager”. How about “Director Storytelling”? This is a Microsoft PR guy managing their blog “Next at Microsoft”.  So what is your employer’s expectation? Ask this and observe the body language. If it is a new position where you are not succeeding anybody and if you see hesitancy while answering; be cautious. The person might have got a dictate from top about certain initiative without any clue on how to proceed. You might end up being the fall guy.

 

2. Do you know how your success will be judged? 

Understand what are those achievements which will define your performance as success and below what level the result will be seen as failure. A performance management form with Performance Indicators duly charted out in black and white may be of great help but sometimes it may not be sufficient. So when you get clarity on your success matrix, determine whether the organization has measurement tools or not. For example: your job description can state – “ensure within 1% deviation on production specification” but you may end up discovering there is no accurate measurement equipment which can predict below 2% deviation. Then during performance appraisal you would be at the mercy of your boss and his mood on that day. 

 

3. Will you be able to do well in the new role? 

It is nice to be confident and one can always bluff into a job but you have to be true to yourself on your actual ability and qualification to perform. Each one of us has certain strength or weakness. While MBA degree claims to create super monster or efficient robotic humanoid who can perform at any Industry at all levels; in reality it does not happen that way. If the new job does not play to your strength then you may eventually end up losing everything. So, ask yourself this question about your actual suitability and fitment and answer as honestly as possible; if the answer is ambiguous or negative then refrain from accepting.

 

4. Do you know the culture of the company and the team you will be working with? 

It is very important for you to be fully aware about the culture of the place. This has a huge impact on comfort and quality of life on the job. This in turn decides workplace happiness. For example; if you thrive in an informal culture with open door policy and end up in a hierarchical and formal place or in a corporate where aggression and hostility is the order of the day, you may end up regretting your decision. Likewise, if you inherit a team with a veteran who aspired your position but could not get it due to self inability, he may disparately pray for your failure even at the cost of the team being termed as non-performing.

 

5. Do you know your Boss? 

Do you know his working style and expectation? There is an old saying that “People leave bosses, not job”. There is also another school of thought that “No people are allowed to select their bosses”. But both are actually different sides of the same coin. In nutshell, the dynamics and equation between two persons are extremely important for both of them to succeed. It is better to have a thorough understanding between you and your boss about each other’s management style and his expectation from you to have a flying start. At least try to answer this question as best as possible.  

 

6. Are you clear about the entire compensation package including details of various perks? 

Do not focus on exactly what will be your CTC (Cost-to-company) salary but also take a look at others perks like House Rent, Car, Utility, Telephone, Education or Medical allowance. CTC may look bigger but what you are getting net at the end of each month is also important. There is nothing wrong to ask your employer about bonus and other annual facility and detail eligibility of the same. It is better to make them as part of their offer letter. Do not be in a hurry but nail down those details before affirming.

 

7. How does this job fit in your overall career related goal? 

Will it be in line with what you have planned or will you regret this decision two to three years down the line? Sometimes people take a short-term decision knowingly to achieve something bigger. You may decide to take on an assignment not fitting into your long-term strategy due to some short-term tactical goal like flexible timing to pursue higher education or to be in a specific town for some period. But make sure that you decide after due deliberation and not take a blind call.       

 

So the bottom-line is clear. Do not rush into decision. Sleep over it and take more than three to four days – preferably a week-end before you decide. Try to envision your future two, three or five years down the line. Answer those seven questions. Answer them diligently, as best as you can. Remember the word of Confucius – “the expectation of life depend upon Diligence; the mechanic that would perfect his work must sharpen his tools first”. So, for a perfect future, do a proper homework on how to sharpen the tools.