What if you have left your job and are now looking for a new one? What if you finally get an offer after months of waiting? When facing the opportunity, the first instinct might be to say yes right away. After all, you've worked hard applying and undergoing assessments for it. But is that the right thing to do? What if there is something else out there that would be better? Welcome to the crossroads! Accepting a job offer is a life-changing decision. You should not take this lightly. In this post, I will share some tips on what to do when you get that offer. If you accept an offer and regret your decision, no worries! I also have tips that you can take note of too!
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| Photo by Mikhail Nilov |
Accepting a job offer means entering a new way of life. It's about entering a new adventure that you are not used to. It would entail a lot of learning and change which could be a bit scary. This could cause anyone to have doubts about whether a job is the right fit. Before you accept, I encourage everyone to consider these tips!
Received a Job Offer? Think About These First!
Do Not Accept Right Away!
When you receive an offer, you might want to grab that opportunity right away. If you've had unsuccessful applications, I can't blame you. The thought that this might be the only chance you have is a reasonable idea. But, you have to remember that it would be OK to ask for time to think about it. Any potential employer would be open to that.
When you receive the offer, thank them for the offer and ask for some time to give your response. They will then give you a time frame after which you can inform them whether you accept it or not.
Think About What's Important To You
If you could have any job that you want, think about what would be the most important thing for you. Is it salary, growth opportunities, work environment, work-life balance, workload? Rank them in order then compare them with what the offer would be providing you.
Do Your Research
I gave this advice before in a post about preparing for job assessments. If you haven't done it, or even if you already did. it's time to dig a little deeper! Try to find out the company's reputation and search for reviews from people who have worked for them. That would give you an idea of whether this would be a good place to work and one that you would be happy with.
Think Long Term
Think about this job in both short-term and long term. Consider if there is potential to advance and grow in the company. Is that path for growth something that you could see yourself in after a few years?
If that is not the case, think about whether the job can be a good fit for the short term. That way you could be earning a living while looking for that one job you want to commit to long term.
Talk to Your Potential Employer
You need to discuss any concerns with your potential employer. Discuss the things that are important to you. Tell them where you see yourself long term. Ask about aspects of the offer that need to be clarified. Never hesitate to ask for information or ask for more details. Any concerns you have on important things should be part of your discussion.
Always remember to ask your questions or professionally express your concerns. Try to negotiate with them with some of your concerns to see if there is room for improvement.
List the Pros and Cons
Create a list of the pros and cons of accepting the job. Write it down. Seeing it would help you to make the best decision. Having a visual of it would put things into perspective better.
Talk to Your People
The people around you are a valuable source of feedback. Talk to your trusted family and friends, as well as any mentors or professional contacts. Talk to these people and ask for their advice.
These are people who know you well. They can give you the best insights on what you should consider before making the final decision.
Think About It
Think about how this offer would impact you. Will this make your current situation better? Do you believe there could still be better opportunities out there?
Take all the information you have gotten that I listed here. Stop, be silent, and listen to yourself. Trust your instincts. If there is any voice telling you this is not the right job for you, then that is worth taking into consideration.
Your First Instinct is to Say Yes, But It's OK to Say No
Jobs are hard to come by these days, but we have to remember how big an impact it has on our lives. It is important to think long-term and about our mental health. We need the work and we need the pay, yes that's true. But we also need our health. If it is something we do not see ourselves being happy in, is it even worth it?
It's OK to say no to an offer. Continue your search and find the right job for you. Be sure to be professional and communicate this with your potential employer. Be gracious and thank them for the opportunity and wish them luck in their future endeavors.
If anyone out there has already accepted an offer and has found that they made the wrong decision, it's not too late. There are still some things you can do to correct this.
Things to Do If You Regret Accepting a Job Offer
It's normal to experience regret after accepting an offer. It's best to address that concern sooner rather than later. You should also be proactive about what you will do about it. A job is a commitment. Any decision you make about it will have long-term effects on your career path. This is the time to make the best decisions by making use of whatever support you have available.
List the Pros and Cons
As with deciding to accept the offer, weigh down the pros and cons now that you are in that job. List down the good things about it and the reasons why you regret accepting the opportunity. By understanding why you had a change of heart, you can figure out what would be your next step.
Talk to Your Supervisor and HR
Talk to your supervisor about any concerns you have about the job. If it is about the work culture or your responsibilities, it may be possible to make adjustments. They could also help to address or clear up any concerns. If you cannot resolve it on this level, speak to HR. They can provide you with possible internal opportunities that may be a better fit for you. They could also provide information on company policies to address your concerns. If there is any other person in the company whom you can talk to for advice, try to do that first. They may have better insight to improve your experience.
Look for Other Jobs Elsewhere
If discussions from an internal level are not able to solve your problem, it's time to look for a new job. You have tried to make adjustments and discussed it within the company. Not finding a solution means it's time to move on. But do not rush things. Start your job search while still at your job so that you will have a new one to fall back on once you resign.
Talk to Your People
As with deciding to accept or reject the offer, you should turn to people you trust before you leave. Talk to trusted friends and family so that you have the right emotional support and advice.
Plan Your Resignation
I wrote a post about what to do before you resign in this blog. You may want to check that out to see what you should do to prepare for your resignation.
You should also consider reviewing your employment contract. Make sure that you follow the resignation policy before turning in your resignation. That way you can maintain a level of professionalism when you resign.
Resign Gracefully
Submit your resignation letter and offer to help with the transition. Make sure that you leave the job with a good relationship with your employer.
Again, I also made a post about this here. It lists down things to do to ensure you can resign professionally.
Prepare for a New Round of Applications
I have a blog post on how to go about the job application process here.
One thing I would add to that one is that now that you have left this new job, you have to be ready to answer why you left. Make sure you keep it professional and can project that you will not be jumping from one job to the next. Place a focus on your career goals and why your qualifications and goals align with theirs.
The important thing to remember here is that accepting a job offer is too important for us to rush into. We have to think about it and be thorough before we make a decision. If even after that decision you find that you regret accepting the job, it is still not too late. Do what you can to make it work and if it still doesn't, decide to leave.
I hope that this post can help people who are in this stage of their careers. If I was able to give some good advice, please let me know by leaving a message in the comments section.
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