What to Consider Before Accepting a Job Offer

Congratulations! You've received an exciting professional opportunity! Take a moment to celebrate, whether it is an internal promotion, a role in a new company, or a career pivot. As you consider your next steps, proudly reflect on what you accomplished and be present with this opportunity. This company recognizes the value you can bring to their organization; now, you can decide if this aligns with your professional and personal goals.

There are many aspects – in addition to salary – to consider when accepting a job offer. Using your values at this professional stage is important, just as you did when applying for the job or promotion. Review the career maps you created and consider how this opportunity fits in or takes your path in an exciting new direction.

Ask yourself what is most important to you right now and what will be important to you in the near future. Use the following criteria to evaluate the role and how it aligns with your career goals.

Corporate and Organizational Structure

Understand the compensation and internal opportunities at the company and get information on the promotion and compensation structure. Ask for details about different levels in the company and think about whether it's clear how to move from one level to the next. If the structure is ambiguous, this could point to a potential future pain point. You can also ask about the latest promotions during the interview and even try to speak with someone recently promoted internally.

Additionally, ask about the company culture. The company wants to hire you – so make sure they are not offering anything that is unfeasible to the business. With remote and flexible job postings gathering the largest share of applicants, you can also narrow in on the company's work location policies. Does the company have clear policies that imply that whatever arrangement you are signing will remain the same? If your company has an unlimited paid time off (PTO) policy, ask how time off is approved, if there is a minimum amount of time off expected, or any other benefits such as summer Fridays or company-wide breaks. These questions can give you more insight into the organization and if it's genuinely a good fit for you.

Engineering Culture

Think about what kind of work you'll be doing and your direct impact on the company. Gain clarity on your ability to shine and build on your strengths in this role. You may be maintaining a new system or working on a new product, including collaborating with different departments. Understanding whose role it is to ensure successful collaboration can be helpful. Understanding how the company approaches collaboration and project management will speak to its culture, where engineers fit in, and whether or not it will cause challenges, misunderstanding, and confusion.

Consider how the company handles technical debt to understand its priorities. You will want to consider how much ownership you get over what you are working on, how your manager supports the technical teams, and if you'll have on-call shifts that require irregular hours with or without extra compensation. Being clear on the expectations and workflow will help you make a decision that aligns with you. 

Stability

With recent layoffs, it is impossible to re-enter the job market without questions of stability and economic downturn. Many companies who've conducted rounds of layoffs are still hiring in different functional areas. You will likely be considering an offer at a company that just had layoffs, but think about which department you will be focused on when debating the stability of a potential role- profit-centers, profit-generating areas of their business, or internal areas of the company.

Research and gather data to help you make your decision. If you read that the company conducted layoffs in the past, ask if the recruiter can address these layoffs and what strategies are now in place to prevent future layoffsIf you are considering a start-up, there are more risks – and rewards – to weigh amidst layoffs. Funding round announcements and earnings reports are often public. Make sure you feel compensated for taking this risk. Rewards often come in a higher salary and additional equity.

Conclusion

When considering a job offer, use your self-reflection to evaluate your priorities and if they align with the company, role, and compensation. Whether you're considering an offer at a start-up, big tech firm, or tech department in a company