Accepted a Job Offer 12 Questions to Ask Before You Take the Job!

Accepted a Job Offer 12 Questions to Ask Before You Take the Job! Have you ever accepted a job offer, started working, and found that it didnt turn out the way you thought it would?New Job Failure RatesIf thats the case, join the crowd. 50% of new hires fail. Imagine the damaged careers and the cost to organizations. Ouch!I do not want that to happen to you. And some savvy research and questioning on your part can protect you. Read on to learn more.Written Job Descriptions MatterFirst, make sure youve read the job description. Does it:Outline key deliverables?Communicate timelines?Cover the full scope of your responsibilities?If not, be sure to get clarity on those points and communicate them back in writing when you accept your job offer.Written Job Offers MatterNext, I dont care how long it takes to get a written job offer, do not say yes until you have one. It should document your:Job title.Complete compensation agreement.And any other key points you have negotiated.If your new employer wont put your agreement in writing, you might well be takin g a leap of faith on empty promises. Dont go there.Questions to Ask Before the Job OfferBefore you even get to a job offer, find out about the history of the position:Ask why the job is available (new or not?).Ask how long the previous incumbent held the job.If its not a new role, find out why the previous incumbent left.Trace back five years to learn if and why this is a high-turnover role.Ideally, you want to learn that this job provides a consistent path to promotions, not a revolving door out of the company.Meet the PeopleAsk to meet your prospective managers direct reports. If you cant, beware of:A non-collaborative manager.Secrets your manager doesnt want you to know.Its reasonable to want to meet your future colleagues. Avoid accepting job offers from hiring managers who wont let you do so.When you meet your future colleagues, ask about who makes the decisions that affect them. If its not the hiring manager, you need to meet the real decision maker and ask him/her the same qu estions you asked the hiring manager.Use LinkedIn to Research Your Future ColleaguesAs you prepare for your interviews, review your future colleagues LinkedIn profiles:Use Emma, a psychometric app/Chrome extension, to get a quick read on them.Notice whether or not their profiles indicate job searches in process.Reach out to people you know in common.Assess the Companys Financial ConditionUnless youre a turnaround pro, join a growing company because it will generate promotion opportunities for you.If youre interviewing with a public company, look at its most recent 10-K:Read the Business Description for terrific background information.Check out Selected Financial Information, including the companys five-year stock performance, revenue growth/decline, and earnings growth/decline.Read Managements Discussion Analysis for a more granular description of recent performance.If youre interviewing with a privately held company:Search for it on Google News to see what you can find.If the comp any has private equity investors, ask about their investment thesis.Plus, know that it might flip to new owners sooner than later.If youre interviewing with a start-up, ask about:Its business model.How much cash it has on hand.Its burn rate.The failure rate for start-ups might stun you. Bad business models and lack of cash put those companies out of business more than any other factors.Dont Be Afraid to Ask QuestionsDont be afraid to ask prospective employers tough questions. Explain that you find the people, company, and job exciting. Then say you need more information to decide if you want to invest your most valuable asset, your time, in their endeavor.If they wont honor the importance of your decision, dont accept a job offer from them.The InfographicIve summarized everything discussed above in the handy infographic below. Dont accept a job offer without getting the information that will protect you from making a career-damaging mistake.Non-Compete Agreements2017 Update: Not inc luded in the infographic, but critically important, find out if you will be asked to sign a non-compete agreement after youve accepted a job offer. Companies often wait until new employees quit their old jobs before springing non-competes on them. Click the link to learn more.12 Things You Wish Youd Known Before You Took the JobFeatured on Career Sherpa Lifehacker Updated May 2019 2013 2019, Donna Svei. All rights reserved.Donna SveiDonna Svei, an executive resume writer and former C-level executive, retained search consultant, and CPA, writes all of AvidCareerists posts. She has written for and been quoted by leading business, general, and career media outlets, including Forbes, Mashable, Fast Company, Entrepreneur, Business Insider, Lifehacker, Ask.com, Social Media Today, IT World, SmartBrief, Payscale, Business News Daily, and the Muse. Let her background and experience inform your job search strategy and decision making.Learn more about Donnas executive resume writing service or email Donna for more information. Interviews â€" Questions (3 Posts)