How to Evaluate a Job Offer

Is This Job Right for You?

By Dr. Stephen Jones

Are you ready to take your journey to a fascinating new career? You began your year by creating an excellent resume. Then you spent time researching companies to uncover the best one that fits your interests. Finally, you prepared for all of the interviews that could land you the right job. You successfully avoided all of the hazards that could befall you on your journey. You are thrilled because you know that you have completed several internships and summer jobs. You want to get the right job because you have invested substantial time interviewing. Now is the time to consider all of the benefits before you actually decide to accept an offer.

Although you feel as if you are in the driver’s seat, you still need to plan how you will make a good job decision. That means that it’s time to know the steps that will lead you to a successful career journey. While you are very excited about the offer, it is good to stop and reflect on all of the things that you heard and observed during the interview process. How did the interview go in terms of information you questioned, and how did the staff communicate their enthusiasm about the company? Did the company appear to have a diverse staff at all levels of management?

You want to get a sense that you fit into the company’s culture. Although you may have done an internship with one company, you will want to also consider the career opportunity that inspires you.

Don’t yield to the temptation to accept the job offer right away. Ask the employer how much time you have to accept their offer. As you evaluate the offer, you should take into consideration the advice from a few professionals. There are career professionals on your campus who have a wealth of knowledge to offer.

THE BLACK COLLEGIAN assembled some career services experts to answer questions about the all-important job offer:

Ralph S. Simpson Director of Career Services  Lincoln University of Pennsylvania

Kellye Blackburn Eccles Director, Career Planning and Placement Morehouse College

Johnny B. Patterson, Jr., Director, Career Services Grambling State University

Linda Lenoir Assistant Director, Career Center University of Maryland

Bill Carson Director, Center for Career Development Morgan State University

THE BLACK COLLEGIAN:  As students transition from college to starting their careers, how should they evaluate their job offers?

Simpson: Assess the fairness of the salary with what the market suggests. Knowing what the market salary range is for the position is critical, not only in assuring your satisfaction in the short-run, but it will also help you when the time comes to ask for a raise based on your ability to consistently meet or exceed your goals.

Blackburn Eccles:  I think the best way for college seniors to evaluate job offers is to have as much insight and knowledge into the job market and the specific area(s) they are seeking employment. College seniors should research entry-level salaries for specific job titles, www.salary.com. I recommend that college seniors interview as much as they can with the ultimate goal of having at least two or more job offers to choose from.

Patterson: Evaluation of job offers should be made based on the cultural climate of the organization. Talk to the present or former employees. Read about the employer’s history in order to evaluate perceived glass ceilings, cultural/environmental indifferences and minority make up. 

Lenoir: I believe that you need to be strategic in your job search. You should put as much thought into what you want in your first job as you put in selecting your college/university and hopefully your major!  You should visit your career center (in person or on the web) to see and use the many resources available to you. 

Carson: Job offers should be evaluated on the basis of the candidate’s plan. Ideally, the first job out of college will be the next step in the student’s overall career plan. For instance, if the student is interested in further study, the first job should provide an opportunity to do so and perhaps even pay for it.

TBC: Beyond salary, what other factors should students consider in making a good decision?

Simpson: Job Location – If you are considering a job in a different city the following factors need to be considered:  1) The cost of living (this could impact your salary expectations), 2) the availability of housing, 3) Public transportation or the distance of your commute, and 4) The quality of entertainment available along with recreational facilities.

Blackburn Eccles: College seniors entering the job market should consider the entire compensation package when evaluating job offers. Many companies provide a relocation/signing bonus for new college hires. Other factors to consider in evaluating job offers include: employer profit sharing programs, retirement matching, medical and dental insurance plans, flexible cafeteria benefit plans for daycare and other expenses.

Patterson, Jr.: Beyond the salary and prestige of the company, the culture of the company and the geographic location of the position are critical. If the student is used to certain creature comforts that are not available at their new work location, you are less likely to stay at that job long.

Lenoir: While salary is the initial factor that you tend to focus on, it should never be negotiated without placing thought to a host of other factors. These factors may include – the location of the new job (and the comparable cost of living) and a host of benefits (health, retirement, leave, professional development, continuing educational costs, etc.).

Carson: Salary should never be considered in a vacuum. It should be tied to the cost of the living index for the city where the job is to begin. Other factors should include the philosophy of the organization and its reputation within its industry, benefits package to include insurance, profit sharing, career path for the position, and opportunity for advancement.

TBC: What criteria should students use in determining whether the job is the right “fit” for them? How can they be sure?

Simpson: The answers to these questions for you will be very subjective, but it is important to really trust your first instinct or your “gut” reaction to new observations about the company you are considering. Ask yourself will this organization be one that you are proud to be affiliated with? One thing everyone should keep in mind is that it will be much easier to apply yourself in the workplace if the organization’s activity and vision are in harmony with your own personal beliefs.

Blackburn Eccles: If possible, try to contact alumni who are currently working in the company you are considering working for. Spend time asking alumni specific questions about the pro’s and con’s about working for a particular company, alumni workers can also offer insight regarding relocating. New college hires should be very open to relocating.

Patterson:  The student can never be sure about the job “fit.”  If during the interview and visit, the employees (not the human resource nor the interview staff) make the student feel comfortable, welcomed, and at home, the student should go for it.

Lenoir: One of the best ways to try out an employer is through an internship experience. Although employers increasingly look to internships for full-time hires, not all offers are based on this. While there are no guarantees in whether you will like a job, you should inquire as to whether there are defined mentoring and/or training programs for new employees, which would allow you to bond with a cohort.

Carson: They cannot be absolutely sure, but there are some things that they can do. The most important thing candidates can do is research. This research should begin with a bit of self assessment. Hopefully, the candidates know enough about themselves to recognize the types of things that they want and like to do, and those that they do not.

TBC: Most students want to leave campus with a job. Is it enough to get in the door or should students seek out the right match?

Patterson: The right match gives you a career. A job pays the bills. Ninety percent of Grambling’s students are on financial aid, thus the recommendation is not to leave campus without a job, if you have a choice.

Carson: For some organizations, getting a foot in the door is just fine, especially if the other side of the door will provide the candidate with the flexibility to explore, take lateral transfers, and seek the best fit. For instance, some organizations have “loop” training programs where recruits work in several different departments or sections over a period of months, and then will have an opportunity to select their preferred position.

Blackburn Eccles - The college seniors that are the most successful in the job search process are those who are the most diligent and tenacious in their job search process. The college seniors with the most job offers are those who attend as many career fairs and information sessions as they can and those that participate in as many interviews as possible. It is imperative to network and even more important to follow up and keep in touch with key contacts and recruiters.

Lenoir: For many students, getting their foot in the door is key. Most students want to leave campus with a job.

TBC: What are some resources that can help students as they make the important decision of evaluating a job offer?

Simpson: Some excellent resources that students should always consult for valuable information are THE BLACK COLLEGIAN, NACE (National Association of Colleges & Employers) publications, and Diversity, Inc. These resources will provide cutting-edge information that is culturally relevant for students seeking an ideal situation in that first job.

Blackburn Eccles:  A wonderful career coaching reference for salary negotiating is, “60 Seconds and You’re Hired,” by Robin Ryan (www.robinryan.com). Ideally, you should do your homework early enough to investigate the many employment options available to new graduates.

Lenoir: Visit Salary.com or review the NACE salary survey – available at most career centers and especially helpful for technical and business students.

Carson: Obviously, the best resource is working with a career advisor or career counselor at the university. This person will be able to review the candidate’s career plan, help them look beyond the salary at other benefits, and offer an objective evaluation to balance the “company commercial” that they may receive from their recruiter.