Should You Accept the Job Offer?

Following our last newsletter on when to look for a new job, consider the next step: "I have an offer—should I take it?"

Ideally these questions are contemplated throughout the interviewing process and not just at the end when an offer is in hand.

When evaluating an offer, you may feel a confounding mix of excitement and doubt. Is the grass truly greener? Let’s find out.

Great Questions

Here are five questions to help determine if you should take that shiny new job:

1. Who will I be working directly with, and will they help me grow?

   It’s all about the people. Great people will make it a great job. The opposite is also true. Your immediate team and manager have more impact on your daily experience and professional development than almost anything else.

2. What energized me during the interview process, and what gave me pause?

   Those subtle feelings often reveal more than an itemized list of pros and cons. Trust your gut reactions about company culture and team dynamics—they're usually telling you something important.

3. If I removed the compensation difference from the equation, which role would I choose?

   Money matters, but it's rarely the determining factor in long-term job satisfaction. This question helps separate genuine opportunity from gilded cages.

4. What do former employees say when I contact them directly?

   LinkedIn makes this easier than ever. People who've left will give you the unvarnished truth about workplace reality. Ask specific questions about leadership style, work-life balance, and why they departed.

5. Does this role and/or company help me get to the ultimate or next career goal? If I fast-forward one year into this job, what story do I hope I’ll be able to tell?

   Imagine your future LinkedIn update or holiday dinner conversation. Is that a story you’re excited to share? Keep in mind that it should align with your long-term plans

Remember: the decision isn't simply about whether to take the offer; it's about whether this specific opportunity aligns with your broader life and career goals. Sometimes the right move isn't obvious until you've thoroughly questioned both the opportunity and your motivations.

Great Finds

Yoni Rechtman's newsletter 99% Derisible is a good one. He is constantly challenging the norms of the typical approach to venture investing. His writing is refreshingly honest and often challenges conventional thinking.

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Onward!

Mike