You’ve just finished your second job interview and it went well (quite possibly, you nailed it!). You‘re feeling good vibes from your potential new employer and genuinely feel like you dazzled them with your answers and your charm. Now it’s the critical time for you to decide whether to accept the job offer if it comes your way. A big decision awaits! 

Here are a few tips to help you make the right call. 

Ask the right questions 

If you’re offered the job, it’s important that you have all the information you need to make an informed decision. Did you ask the right questions during interviews to be able to confidently say this is the right company for you to thrive in?  

Are you clear on: 

• the team and management structure 
• the company culture 
• what success looks like in the role 
• growth opportunities 
• your day-to-day duties, responsibilities and challenges 
• remuneration and perks 
• the review process 
• office structure – hybrid, in-office or remote 
• expectations around after-hours work and travel 
• flexibility and management style? 

If you need any clarification on the above points, remember your Talenza consultant is a call away to answer any questions you may have.  

Make a pros and cons list 

Who doesn’t love a good pros and cons list? Weighing up the good and the bad can help you make a more objective decision. It’s easy. List the positives in one column and the negatives in the other. Then give each one a score based on each factor’s importance. For example, a +5 is a resoundingly important positive, a -1 may be slightly disadvantageous, while a -5 is a definite ‘no-no’. 

Once you’ve rated each pro and con, add up the scores in each column and subtract the total cons from the total pros. A positive score suggests accepting the job may be the right decision, while a negative one shows you should probably walk away.  

Making a pros and cons list will also highlight any questions you may still have and remind you of your non-negotiables that got you looking for a new job in the first place. 

Go back to your non-negotiables  

Have you returned to your original interview prep notes and checked what you listed as a non-negotiable? It’s so easy to get carried away with the excitement of a new role but make sure this is really for you and not just a ‘honeymoon’ moment. And if you didn’t make a non-negotiables list at the beginning of the job search, do it now.

Consider the following examples and decide which are non-negotiables for you.

• Does the company align with your values?
• Did you want to cut your commute time?
• Were you looking for a higher salary, or to develop new skills? 

Anticipate the next step  

As chuffed with yourself as you may be feeling, do you know what the next steps are? If there are still another few hurdles to jump, you’ll want to continue preparing for them. Is there anything else you need to find out to help you make the right decision?

It can be a nice touch to send a thank you note to the recruiter or interviewer. Use it as an opportunity to ask any further questions or find out what the next steps are so you can adequately prepare. 

Need a hand? 

Talking things through often helps us process and clarify things on our mind. Whether you need someone to listen, to poke holes in your reflections or to provide a second opinion, your recruitment consultant is there as a sounding board if you want to chat.