Landed a Job. Good, but to take this up or something else?

Congratulations, you've received the job offer! Your homework and performance during the selection process has paid off. Now comes the tricky part - the Decision!

While it may seem like a tough decision to take, you can follow a set of simple steps.

Step 1: Define what the perfect job will look like for you at the perfect company. You must be prepared that, in most cases, you will not be able to land that "ideal job".

Step 2: Decide which issues are the most important to you and which you would not mind compromising upon.

Step 3: Before you accept an offer, make sure that your complete list of minimum requirements is covered. Now prioritise your comprehensive list of considerations and check in order of importance, how many are being met. If you feel you are compromising on too many of the high priority items it may be prudent to reject the offer.

So, what are those basic factors that all job seekers deploy in their decision making.

Financial:
Your compensation package may consist elements other than a monthly fixed income. Check if it includes commissions? Performance-based bonuses? Are cost-of-living increases being covered? Does the company offer relocation assistance, at the time of joining or if and when you are moved around? How much will the commute cost you? Will you be offered a car or a car plan? Will you have an expense account or company credit cards? Is there a super-annuation plan? What about company stock options? Don't just look at the immediate salary that you will make every month!

Career Advancement:
What are the pay scales in the company? How often are appraisals conducted? Is there fair opportunity for advancement? Don't forget long-term career prospects are important and not just joining salaries!

Insurance:
Is the medical plan offered flexible? Does it cover all of your and/or your dependents' needs? Does the medical insurance plan offer dental and optical care? Medical costs are a killer nowadays and a good Insurance Plan can cut a lot of your potential expenses!

Work Environment:
Interpersonal issues are key to your succeeding in a job. Questions to address include: Is the corporate culture right for you and your temperament? Can you see yourself "playing for the team" already in place? Will you like your boss's style of management on a daily basis? Don't forget that you will spend the better part of your wake up time at work and should feel comfortable in the environment!

Job Security:
Getting hired might have been easy, but what about retaining the job? While one cannot always predict the future in the rapidly changing job market, looking beyond the immediate can help you prepare yourself for a possible downsizing tomorrow. What are the trends in the industry? Is the company ahead of the industry or at worst keeping pace with the industry trends? Has the company recently laid people off? Will you need to learn new skills to keep your job? Why did the previous person in that role leave the company? These and other questions will help you understand your risks in retaining your job!

Work Pressure and Stress:
Stress is something you don't normally consider until you are already fully stressed. While most jobs today are pressured, questions to address would include: How often do you need to work overtime? Will you be expected to work weekends or holidays? If so, how often does this happen? What are, (if any) travel demands? Are company deadlines, quota or quality driven? How are jobs scheduled and executed? Finally, what about environmental hazards like noise, chemicals, ventilation, exposure to heat/cold, etc.? These factors can elevate an already highly stressful environment.

Duties and Responsibilities:
What will your day-to-day functions be like? Will you enjoy it? Will your level of authority be satisfying to you? Will you be comfortable reporting to the person who is your supervisor? How will you be evaluated? You need to enjoy what you will be doing day in and day out!

Opportunities for Education:
Continuing education can only increase your job performance and overall career growth. Does the company offer personal knowledge enhancement? What is their willingness to send you to seminars? These factors are important and will impact your career path.

Vacation and sick leave:
How is vacation time calculated? What are the allowable days per year? When you can take them? How are they requested? Are there chances of it being summarily being refused? While leave matters may not be an extremely factor when considering a job, emergencies may make this important later on and you need to be aware up front to plan !

Other Benefits:
Does the company offer club memberships? Does the company offer employee loans or have a credit society? Company credit cards for company expenses? Long term retirement benefits?

In closing:
Don't rush the decision. Take a few days to evaluate your offer to ensure that you are getting all your "must" needs met. Use this time to clear up any uncertainties or to re-negotiate options. Remember, it's not just you, but your family who will be living with the outcome of your decision!