Four Things to Consider Before You Accept A New Job

When you’re on the hunt for a new job, it’s tempting to jump at the first opportunity that arises, however there are four things you should consider before you accept a new job.

If you wait for the perfect job to come up, you might be waiting (and struggling financially) for a while, however if you take a job that’s outside of your desired field or specialty, you may be settling when something else is right on the horizon.

When you’re deciding on whether or not to accept a position, it’s important to ask yourself some questions:

1. Is this the direction you want to take your career?
2. Is there room for growth?
3. Do you have the luxury of being picky about what kind of job you take or do you need to find something now (due to finances, employment gaps, etc.)?

Ultimately, if it’s not the direction you want to take your career, it’s not worth it.

If you have the opportunity to take a new job, but it’s not the direction you want to take your career, it’s not worth the risk. If you’re exploring an opportunity because it has better pay or better benefits, that is a personal decision which you have to weigh out, however it’s important to think about it with perspective. Try thinking about it like this: if you drive 20 miles south when you want to go north, you’re going to have to double back and drive an extra 20 miles back towards the direction you want to go. Essentially, once you take your career in an opposite direction, it is that much harder to get back on track towards your initial goal.

What will happen if you do take a long term job that isn’t what you want?

On the surface, it may not seem terrible. Everyone understands that you need to make a living, however if you do take a long term job that isn’t in the direction you see yourself (or would like to be) progressing towards, it could make it even harder for you to meet your goal.

If you have been working in business development but want to transition into marketing, the more positions you take in business development, the more likely you are to appear as a business development professional, and less likely to appear as a marketing professional.

If you want to transition into marketing, a smart way to start making the transition into that industry is to take some online courses, and/or volunteer to collaborate on projects with the marketing department in your current company. This will enable you to add more related experience to your resume so you can apply for a marketing role with confidence. Even if you have to start out at the bottom, taking a role in the right industry or field is an important step. The more you can put on your resume that’s related to the job you’re interested in applying to, the more effective your document will be.

When you’re looking to transition jobs or roles, it is important to think about the big picture and think about how your actions will affect you later.

This is where the “room for growth” question comes in. Are you exploring other opportunities only to find that you may have to start out from the ground up? If you want to take your career in a specific direction, look for roles that point you in that direction. Focus on positions where there is room for growth, so that even if you have to step down a level in authority, you can take solace in the fact that you are headed in the right direction with room to grow into the role you want. Everyone starts from the bottom at some point, so as long as there is room for you to grow and learn, there is nothing wrong with starting from scratch.

Additionally, when it comes to looking at the big picture, it’s important to evaluate the location of the job and how that will affect your well-being. It may be the perfect opportunity, but the location of the position makes a difference. Will it require you to move away from family and friends? What will the commute look like? It’s easy to get caught up in a great opportunity, but it’s important to evaluate every aspect of a job before you accept an offer. If the location will negatively impact your mental or physical health, the opportunity isn’t worth it. At the end of the day, a job is a job and your health and happiness should always come first.

What should you do if you haven’t found the right opportunity, but you need money now?

If you are struggling financially and find yourself eager to continue working even if it’s not the best position, consider taking on a temporary role where you can explore your options and establish new connections. There is nothing wrong with taking a temporary or contract position to fill the transition space, however taking a permanent job that you’re not suited for could start you down a path that you’re not willing to take.

In this case, I always suggest that people look into temporary or contract positions. There seems to be a negative connotation of temporary jobs, however I personally know many people (myself included) who’s temp positions opened doors which they never expected.

Temporary positions serve three main benefits:

1. They give you income while you’re in transition or in between jobs
2. They give you the freedom to look and apply for other jobs while you’re still working without the guilt of leaving a position you feel tied to
3. They establish networking connections and opportunities for you.

If you excel at your temporary position, chances are that you will meet people who can a) point you in the right direction, b) know of a job that may interest you, or c) will work with you to keep you at the company but progress to an area that better suits your qualifications.

There is no down side to taking a temporary position in between jobs, because if you don’t like it, you can simply end the position. Similarly, if you do find a better position, there is no need to feel bad about leaving a job or a company. A temporary position is made to be flexible, so companies are generally pretty understanding if you find a full time position that is better suited for you long term.

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It can be frustrating when you’re looking for a new job, and it’s tempting to jump on the first offer, but these four things to consider before you accept a new job will make a big difference in your long term career. Ultimately, you have to keep your eye on the prize and strive towards your goal. Focus on finding positions that will propel you in the right direction, even if you have to work your way up, and work hard to highlight your unique skills and abilities.