Five Things to Consider Before Accepting a Job Offer

Lately, I have written mostly about what it takes to land an interview: great resume and cover letter, proper phone etiquette, and powerful interviewing skills - the works. I have covered very little, however, on what to do when you receive a job offer. Often, especially in this economy, people are so relieved to have a job opportunity that they do not take the time to really consider things from all sides. Below is a compilation of several things to take into consideration. Each of these recommendations came from respected sources, including U.S. News and World Report, Levo League, and Forbes.

1. You accept the job requirements, expectations, and challenges

There is nothing worse than walking in on your first day than discovering that you were hired to do a completely different job than you imagined. Ideally, it is best to be aware of the expectations of a role during the interview. As outlined by U.S. World & News Report, “make sure you've probed deeply into exactly how you'll spend your time and what your most important responsibilities will be.” Do not be scared or too ashamed to admit to your recruiter or hiring manager, however, that you still have questions after the interview. Most people will be more than happy to speak with you again, especially if they want to hire you.

Mistakes College Job Seekers Make

Forbes staff writer, Susan Adams, published an article on April 22 titled, “Five Mistakes College Job Seekers Make”. The title immediately caught my attention. My first thought was, “what could I possibly be doing wrong? Maybe the author doesn’t actually know anything about being a job-seeking college grad.” After reading that Adams has been writing about careers for Forbes since 1995, I figured that she might be on to something and decided to read on (and you should too)!

Adams cited five main issues that current college job seekers face: 

1. Students are not applying for enough jobs

2. Failing to do enough of their own networking

3. Spending time on Facebook and YouTube when they should be on LinkedIn

4. Believing that applying through an employer’s website is all they need to do

5. Taking no for an answer when you get no response from an employer

Tips for a Professional Phone Call

Yesterday, I was at the gym sweating it out to Beyoncé’s ‘Drunk in Love’ when my music was suddenly cut off by a phone call. I vaguely recognized the ten numbers that popped up on my screen and had a sneaking suspicion that it was not another telemarketing call, but rather a follow-up call from a phone interview I had the previous week.

As I watched my heart rate on the elliptical monitor rise from anxiety I began to wonder, should I answer it? What if it’s urgent? I was a second away from pressing the answer button before I realized I should not answer it. This was not the best scenario for me to sound professional or be properly prepared. I told myself, “Let it go to voicemail and call them back later.”

It’s later now and I am about to call them back. I figured this was the perfect opportunity to outline some tips for a professional phone call. Whether or not it is a phone interview you should always come across as professional, poised, and calm in any business related phone call.

Networking: Conversation with Michael Thomas, Recruiter

Networking can often be a scary thought. Where do you start? How do you become good at it? Mike Thomas is a Recruiter for Razorfish Healthware, a healthcare advertising agency. With his years of experience in sales and recruitment, Mike has become a networking connoisseur. I spoke with Mike about his background, how he landed his most recent gig, and his thoughts on the importance of networking.

Ali: Hi Mike! I really appreciate you taking the time to talk with me today.

Mike: Sure thing!

A: Let me start off by asking a bit about your background and how you ended up working at Razorfish Healthware.