Through the lengthy job search and nerve wracking interviews, you were extended a job offer, congrats! But, what’s next? It’s a great feeling to know all of your hard work has paid off but there are things to consider before accepting an offer.

Accepting A Job Offer

Once a job offer has been extended, there are a lot of questions and factors to consider before accepting. At this point in the hiring process, from speaking with hiring managers to understanding the company culture and job details, you probably already have a good idea of which way you’re leaning towards. With it being such a huge decision, weighing the pros and cons isn’t the only way to know if the job is right for you. Here are some important factors to keep in mind when you’re deciding whether or not to accept a job.

Work and Physical Environments: From agency life, to a non-profit, the environment can be very different for companies. Wether you like working in a structured environment with little help or a fast-paced team atmosphere, it’s important for you to determine what type of environment you want to work in so you can be happy in the long run.

It’s also a good idea to take the physical location into consideration. Commute time is often overlooked when determining whether or not to accept a position but if you’re stuck in 30+ minutes of traffic each day, that can get old, fast. Consider both the work and physical environment of the job so you aren’t miserable with your decision.

The Perks: Just because a job offers more money doesn’t mean it’s the right choice. Salary and benefits are an important part of the decision, but they aren’t the overall reason for work happiness. Determine a salary range you could live with and the benefits that are a make it or break it and keep those in mind when weighing the options. If this is a job you want but the perks and numbers are a bit off, step up those negotiation skills to get what you want!

The Team: Understanding who you’re going to be interacting on a day to day basis is a key factor to consider. The people you work with can really play into work happiness. It can be tough to figure out personalities after just one or two meetings, but think about the first impression and how you felt through out the interview as well as the vibes you got from emails and other communications. Ask yourself questions like were they timely? Was it easy to communicate? Were they friendly and welcoming? Did you get along? These questions will help you determine whether or not you could get along with these individuals and also show you insights into how you might be treated.

Expectations: An interview is a great place to really get an understanding of what the job entails and what is expected from the person who is hired. Take time to review the position and determine whether you’ll be able to handle what comes with the job. If you push this to the side, you might get a rude awakening two or three months in when stress levels and expectations are high.

Stability and Job Security: Do some research about the company to discover what people have to said about it. Determine whether the company has had recent success or challenges, and if they have been operating profitably or not. A question you need to ask yourself is can the company afford you? When accepting a new position, you need to be secure in every aspect so make sure you understand how the company operates and the stability behind it.

Opportunities: Determine what opportunities will come from accepting this position. Is there upward mobility within the company? Is this position a stepping stone for career growth? Will you gain valuable skills and knowledge to help you grow professionally? Ask yourself these questions and consider different scenarios of how this position could help you get to your career goals.