Determining whether to accept a job offer is often a difficult decision, especially if you’re unemployed in a bad economy or eager to get out of your current job.  It can be tempting to accept the first job you’re offered; even if it’s not the dream job you were hoping for.  How do you decide when to take the job or pass on it in hopes that something better will come along?

1. Research the company.
   Even though you’ve done research initial research during the interview process, it’s important to do dig even deeper after you’ve received an offer.  You need to find out all you can about the potential employer: the culture, reviews of the organization, your future coworkers. Find employees at the company on LinkedIn and then check their social media feeds.  Do they frequently complain about their job?  Or do they boast about the company they work for? You want to find as much information as you can to make sure you’ll fit into the organization’s culture.
2. Determine whether the job is a step up on your career ladder?
   Even though the position you are being offered may not be your dream job, is there a potential for opportunity for growth that could help you reach your long-term career goals? Will the job teach you new skills?  If you aren’t going to be learning anything new and your current knowledge will only be wasted, it may be best to wait for another opportunity.  However, if the position will allow you to gain new skills that can boost your chances of getting a better job later on, then this gig could be a smart career move.
3. Be honest with yourself.
   In a perfect world you’d get multiple job offers at once and be able to compare them.  Unfortunately, most job searches aren’t that ideal.  You received the first offer but have an interview for an even better job next week.  You can’t compare the job at hand to fantastic, theoretical options.  Be realistic about what your other options are.  Take an honest look at the other job’s you’ve applied for and assess which ones you are likely to get an offer from.  Make a list of things you really want in a job and then see how many of those things this offer matches up to.  You may have to let go of the idea that there’s a perfect job you’re still waiting on.  Sometimes taking a “good enough” is better for your career than holding out for a dream job.
4. What if you really need the job?
   When you’re out of work it’s natural to want to accept any offer that comes your way.  Not having a job makes it easy to overvalue a job offer.  However, instead of talking yourself into a job that may not be the best fit because you have bills to pay, consider other alternatives like accepting the job for a short-term period of six to nine months.  Just make sure to consider the investment that the employer is making in you and how disruptive leaving the job in just a short while may be.  A more ideal situation may be considering a temporary or contract job while you’re job-hunting for a better long-term opportunity.
5. Be respectful.
   Should you decide to decline the offer, make sure to do so in a professional way, so that the company doesn’t think you were just playing games.  Let the hiring manager know as soon as possible that you’ve decided not to accept the offer, so that they can move their focus to other applicants.  A good amount of time and effort goes into generating an offer, and you need to show the organization that you respect that.  Let the hiring manager know why it wasn’t a good fit, but don’t imply that the salary or job itself was to blame.  This will keep the door open for future opportunities with the company that are a better fit.

Not getting the job offers you were hoping for?  Let the experienced recruitment team at BOS Staffing help.  Whether you’re looking for a temporary or full-time opportunity, at BOS staffing we go out of our way to match our candidates with jobs that really suit them.  Contact our experts recruiters today and we’ll work together until we find just the right match.