Before accepting the job

OVER the years, I have coached and mentored many young professionals from diverse backgrounds, and the problems each struggle with when it comes to getting hired are very similar.

In job hunts, it is always about supply (employers providing jobs) and demand (people looking for jobs). Hence, before accepting a job offer, there are several aspects you have to look at.

First, let’s talk about employers. Generally, employers have the upper hand from the beginning. They interview you, tell you what roles they have open, and what they want to offer you.

But here is the mistake most people make: They allow prospective employers to dictate the entire hiring process without understanding what they are getting themselves into. To avoid unmatched expectations and be more in charge of your hiring, below are three things you must ask prospective employers before accepting a job offer.

Personal development plan –We spend 65% of our waking hours at work, so we may as well make sure we get the most out of it. You should not just work for the money. Yes, it is important (and I do think most employers underpay fresh graduates), but what matters is whether your prospective employer has the right learning and development path for you and the role she is hiring you for.

Understanding your role and the team’s vision – Most candidates ask prospective employers about company vision but rarely ask about the vision of their new roles and the teams they are joining. The good old days of staying in a safe career for decades are now obsolete.

At the speed workplaces and the world are changing, your role today can be completely different in a matter of months. Knowing the vision for the role can help you chart your career path and give you more clarity on how you want to shape your career expertise, learning journey and the results and performance expected from you.

Opportunities, career progression and financial compensation – For some, the opportunity to work abroad is an important factor. For others, lateral movement within a company is more enticing.

Whatever you prefer, you have to ask about your options. However, the truth is that most people are afraid to ask about these things because they think it will affect their chances of getting hired. You have the right to ask and clarify things such as salary range and progression, history of bonus payouts and specific examples of other employees who progressed tremendously in their roles. It is beneficial to both you and the employer.

Now that you understand the employer better, the final decision should be about you. Here are some questions I ask when I run my Ultimate Confidence Seminar and work with clients on their career paths to help them gain clarity about what they want from their career.

What is your career for? –Ifyou do not decide on a goal, others will decide for you, so be clear about what your expectations are. Some want to learn in the early stages of their careers. If you are part of this group, be specific. What exactly do you want to learn? Which skills or competencies do you want to build in the role you applied to?

Are the employer’s values aligned with your personal values? –Thismay not seem important, but it could greatly affect how you feel about your job. People leave their jobs because of other people, not because of the company or money. Ask about and understand the employer’s values and how those values are demonstrated and evaluated in the workplace.

Have you done enough to understand the role? – We often hear career advice to do what we love and love what we do, but what no one tells you is that there will be tasks you may not enjoy but must do anyway. Find out what kind of tasks these are through research or by asking an employee of the company in a similar role. – By Cheah KarFei, performance coach and founder of Life Redesigned