How do you decide whether to say ‘yes or no’ when offered a new job? This article gives some tips and insights to help make that important decision.
Recently I was struck by a story by one of the participants at a Career Seminar when deciding to accept or decline a job offer. His coach reminded him to revisit his Personal Values and his Career Anchors (Edger H. Schein Career Anchor assessment, 3rd edition, Pfeiffer) which he had worked on earlier and these, he said, helped him make his decision.
This reminds me of two of my client stories, one of whom accepted a job offer and one who didn’t.
How do you decide whether to accept or decline?
Client one decided to apply for a similar role to one she had left in which she had become frustrated and stressed by the unremitting expectations and ungrateful culture. Despite not really wanting the role and asking lots of difficult questions during the process which lasted months, the role was offered at a considerable salary increase over her previous salary.
In discussing the offer some months ago, we revisited her values and reflections which we had worked on earlier and she declined the offer. I revisited the question last week; she is very happy with her decision despite the new COVID-19 reality.
Client two had been in an IT support role and when this was made redundant and had strongly expressed a desire to change direction and work in IT security. This would be difficult without retaining and up skilling. He took a course and upskilled. Earlier this week he was offered and accepted a role in IT security at a salary lower than his previous role. He reflected that he could easily have got a role similar to his previous one at a higher salary and was really happy with his decision and for the new learning and challenges he will get in his new role.
So, when deciding to seek a new role work on your Personal Values, Career Vision and ‘Career Anchors’, preferably with a coach who will challenge you; when you have to decide ‘yes’ or ‘no’ you will be making your decision on a sound foundation.
Three key factors in making a career decision are:
- What do you do best? What do your skills, knowledge, competencies, experience and personal characteristics enable you to do? So that ‘it stretches rather than stresses you’.
- Do you like the role? you need to at least like what you do, love and passion is great; at least like it.
- How does it fit in with your values, your personal preferences, motivations and drivers? (The commute, location, flexible working hours, working from home or whatever is important to you).
Do work on these areas and ‘yes’ or ‘no’ will be an easy decision. If you would like help or if you would like to discuss this or any other career issues, please contact us.
