Before you accept a job offer

By Careers Service team

You got the job! Congratulations. It is normal to feel a bit overwhelmed looking at a job offer, and you might be inclined to just be grateful and accept it. Don't do it – not before you understand all the information you have been provided with (and the information that might have been left out).

Before you sign, ask questions. And if you are promised anything, get it in writing.

Are there promotion opportunities?

The best company to work for is one that cares about developing and empowering its employees. Check that the job you are being offered has clearly defined goals in place, and whether your growth could lead to being promoted. You want to know that your growth and the work you put into the role will lead to a promotion to a more senior position.

ASK: "What happened to the person in the role before me? Did they move to a bigger role or to a bigger company?"

What are your growth needs?

Figure out if the company's growth opportunities align with your needs. If you would like to pursue another degree in the near future, is this something the company could accommodate while you are working for them? If you are interested in leadership, do they provide training on this? If you would like a mentor, could they assign somebody to you?

ASK: "What growth opportunities do you offer?"

Will you have family benefits?

Having a family is probably the last thing on your mind right now, but if you think you will have a child ten years from now, this is something to consider from the beginning. Ask if the employer offers paid maternity and paternity leave (or partiallypaid parental leave). If you are not going to receive a salary during parental leave, you will have to claim the amount from the national UIF, and it will likely only cover a percentage of your usual salary.

ASK: "Do you offer paid parental leave?" and "How many days of parental leave do you offer?"

What is the company culture like?

Do you see yourself fitting into the company, culture-wise? Trust your gut.

"Notice how people interact with you, the speed at which they operate, the respect you are given as a candidate, how colleagues interact with each other, the energy of employees, the hunger with which people do their work, what former employees say about the organisation and the attention to detail of the physical surroundings. Repeat this process for different organisations, so you get an idea of subtle differences in culture. You will immediately know where you feel more comfortable and what aspirations may be met by an informed investigation of differing cultures. If your ‘gut’ sense says I don’t resonate with an organisation, you are probably correct and this is a red flag not to accept an offer."

Not all employers or recruiters will want to show the Employee Handbook to you, claiming confidentiality, but you have a right to see it”

Ask for the Employee Handbook

Policies in the company's Employee Handbook should tell you how the company treats employees. Not all employers or recruiters will want to show it to you, claiming confidentiality, but you have a right to see it if you keep it confidential. How can you agree to live under rules if you don’t know what they are?

SAY: "I like to make sure I understand everything in advance so there are no misunderstandings later. I want our relationship to be solid.”

WANT MORE ADVICE ON JOB OFFERS?

Read our online handout, "Handling job offers". www.careers.uct.ac.za

Watch our Mini-Series, "Own Your Selection Process". Episode 8 covers everything about job offers. www.youtube.com