Being offered a job can be one of the greatest feelings in the world, especially if you’ve been out of circulation for a while. You’ve worked hard perfecting your application and interview and now all that’s left to say is yes. But wait. Don’t sign the dotted line and pop the champagne just yet. Don’t feel like you have to accept or decline right away. You are in a position of strength. They want to hire you.

Maybe you’re juggling multiple job offers. Maybe a little voice in the back of your head is saying you’re not sure. There is no harm in asking for a bit of time to think it through. Here are 4 things to ask yourself before accepting the job offer.

1. Do I feel passionate about this new job opportunity?

How passionate are you about the work this job would have you do? Don’t get so caught up in how much a job pays or how it might advance your career that you forget to ask yourself this simple question. With passion in your life, you can set off fireworks in the workplace. Without it, you’ll fail to live up to your potential. “Find a job that ignites your passion and enlivens your spirit. One that challenges you and brings a smile to you most days,” advises Fernando Ortiz-Barbachano, President of Barbachano International and career coach. “It may take some work to find a job like that, but they are out there. Finding a career is a full-time job.“

When we love what we do, we soar. It feels amazing to be inspired by our work. Remember when you were a kid on Christmas Eve and couldn’t wait for it to be morning? You were up long before anybody else. It pays to have that feeling in your work life—to be so excited about what you do that you’re awake at 5:00 in the morning without the alarm. If you answer no to this question, that’s okay! Maybe this opportunity doesn’t fulfill your wildest dreams, but maybe it’s the job that will help get you to the next level of your career.

2. Do I love my new boss and coworkers?

What do you think about the person to whom you’ll be reporting? Is he or she someone you can learn from, and who can help you grow? Conversely, have you met your potential new co-workers? Can you see yourself getting along with them in a professional setting?

No amount of money is worth having to put up with a boss that makes you hate your existence. Employees don’t leave companies—they leave managers. A study from the University of Tulsa says that as many as 7 of every 10 managers may be incompetent, exploiting, domineering, irritable, and untrustworthy. So pay attention! First impressions are often correct impressions. If you end up with someone who’s truly awful, you won’t be able to get out of there fast enough. You’ll pray for jury duty. Wish for a longer commute. Anything to get you out of the office. You don’t want to live like that. We spend far too much time at work to not be happy there.

3. Will I fit in with the company culture?

Culture is one of the most important criteria when evaluating a job opportunity. Considering you work with team members eight hours a day, five days a week, do what you can to find out if the workplace is one you’ll be excited about and the employees are people you’ll enjoy collaborating with. It could make all the difference in your happiness, your work output, and your sense of fulfillment.

The culture may change over time, but probably not fast enough if you find yourself in a situation that doesn’t sit well with you. Know thyself. What’s important to you? How would you describe the environment that best suits you? Fast-paced? Casual? Corporate? Do you picture yourself in a suit and tie? Do you like an environment in which you know your co-worker’s families? What about company picnics and holiday parties? The clearer you are about what you need, the better you’ll determine the right position for yourself.

This is your chance to do some real detective work. Comb through the company’s site. Look at the board and the leadership team. Read the company’s mission and vision statements. Do they take part in philanthropic activities? Investigate the company’s social media. Look at their LinkedIn profiles. Doing all these things can give you an indication of the type of organization you’d like to work for.

4. Why do I want this job?

Back in 2009, Simon Sinek gave the third most popular TED talk of all time. With over 3 million views and subtitled in 47 languages, he popularized the concept of Why.

Sometimes, we do things without knowing exactly why.

Most people know what they’re doing.

They know how they’re doing it.

But most people don’t know why they’re doing it.

It’s the “why” that gives people a source of purpose and inspiration. It’s the “why” that keeps you going when everyone else is burnt out.

What is your why? Listen to your gut. Is it the big paycheck? Yes, money matters. It matters a lot. How nice, you think—I’ll be able to pay my bills, go out to dinner once in a while, and maybe buy a home. Nothing wrong with that. But hold on. Don’t let money distract you. Higher pay doesn’t automatically lead to higher levels of happiness.

Most people work their entire lives in order to save money so that they can one day retire and begin living their life. From this perspective, work is meaningless. There is a better reason to be working: fulfillment.

Most of us live our lives by accident—we live as it happens. Fulfillment comes when we live our lives on purpose.

Is this job opportunity going to make you happier? We don’t necessarily find happiness in our jobs every day, but we can feel fulfilled by the work we do because it makes us feel part of something bigger than ourselves. That is your why.

Now, keep in mind—no job is perfect. Be realistic! In a commencement speech to graduates, Oprah told the audience she filmed 4,561 episodes over The Oprah Winfrey Show‘s 25-year run. She said she never missed a single day of filming. She confessed she didn’t always like going to work. “Your job is not always going to fulfill you,” she said. “There will be some days when you just might be bored. Other days you may not feel like going to work at all. Go anyway.”
Any job is a good job if:

• Your boss is not a jerk

• The culture fits your personality

• You can make a living

• You are learning

• You don’t watch the clock

Hopefully, you’ll answer these questions with ease, but if not, take the time to consider the job you’re applying for and why you want it. You might be a good fit for the job, but that doesn’t mean the job will be a good fit for you. It’s awkward if you say yes then change your mind and decline. It’s even worse if you start the job and decide you hate it from the outset. It’s much harder to undo something than it is to take the time to be sure. Remember, it’s okay to decline a job offer if it isn’t the position for you.

Should you need guidance on hiring and recruiting leaders in the Americas (Mexico, Latin America, or the USA), please call us at +1 (619) 427-2310 or email us at barbachano@bipsearch.com.
By: Barbachano Staff