Evaluating a Job Offer
Once you receive a job offer, you must decide if you want the job. Fortunately, most
organizations will give you a few days to accept or reject an offer.
There are many issues to consider when assessing a job offer. Will the organization be a good
place to work? Will the job be interesting? Are there opportunities for advancement? Is the
salary fair? Does the employer offer good benefits? Now is the time to ask the potential
employer about these issues—and to do some checking on your own.
The organization. Background information on an organization can help you to decide whether it
is a good place for you to work. Factors to consider include the organization’s business or
activity, financial condition, age, size, and location.
You generally can get background information on an organization, particularly a large
organization, on its Internet site or by telephoning its public relations office. A public company’s
annual report to the stockholders tells about its corporate philosophy, history, products or
services, goals, and financial status. Most government agencies can furnish reports that describe
their programs and missions. Press releases, company newsletters or magazines, and recruitment
brochures also can be useful. Ask the organization for any other items that might interest a
prospective employee. If possible, speak to current or former employees of the organization.
Background information on the organization may be available at your public or school library. If
you cannot get an annual report, check the library for reference directories that may provide
basic facts about the company, such as earnings, products and services, and number of
employees. Some directories widely available in libraries either in print or as online databases
include:
Dun & Bradstreet’s Million Dollar Directory
Standard and Poor’s Register of Corporations
Mergent’s Industrial Review (formerly Moody’s Industrial Manual)
Thomas Register of American Manufacturers
Ward’s Business