So, you nailed your job interview and you were offered a job in Luxembourg – congratulations! All the time and effort you invested into your job search, your cv and your application letter has paid off! You’re probably feeling a combination of relief, excitement, and validation. You may be tempted to say ‘yes’ immediately and accept the job before you dive into the details of the job offer.
But before you rush to accept the job offer, it’s important to take a breath and spend a little time evaluating what’s on the table. Consider the whole picture. The last thing you want to do is to make a hasty decision that you will regret later on. No two job offers are the same. You need to make sure this is the right job for you before you make a career move. Your job is a huge part of your life, so you want to make sure you’re choosing a career path that’s a good fit for you. Taking the wrong job can wind up costing your career a lot. We’ve created a job offer checklist to help you assess whether the opportunity is the right one for your career trajectory.
1. do you understand the job?
Do you fully understand what the job entails? Has your potential employer provided you with enough information to understand what’s expected of you? Do you know exactly how you'll spend your time on a day-to-day basis? Do the responsibilities appeal to you?
Ask yourself if this job excites you, if you think you'll excel at it, and whether it will advance you on your career path.
2. do you feel you’re capable of doing the job?
Based on what you know about the job, do you feel it’s a good fit? Do you have the skills, experience and knowledge to be successful in this role? Or do you feel like you’ll be able to learn what you need to know on the job? Do you think the job will be challenging, or do you think you may feel overwhelmed and out of your depth?
3. is the salary fair given the market?
Make sure that you are getting paid what you’re worth and you are happy with the compensation. Does the offer include a compensation package that’s in line with what you expected? Will you be able to maintain a comfortable lifestyle? Based on your research, are the salary and other benefits comparable with what others in your profession and location make? If you really like the job offer, but you do not like the salary package that comes with it, do not hesitate to negotiate your salary!
4. are you happy with the benefits, vacation time, and other perks?
Does the offer include an attractive benefits package? Consider health and dental insurance, vacation time, and other perks such as work flexibility. Are there additional perks you expected in the offer? If there’s a benefit you feel strongly about – such as the ability to work from home – consider negotiating for it. Most employers expect candidates to propose counter offers.
5. do you like your new boss?
Did you have an opportunity to meet your direct manager? Do you think your work habits will mesh with their leadership style? Can you see yourself working in that space? Do the other employees seem happy or overwhelmed? Do you have any reservations about working with them? Do you have any concerns about how you will fit in with them and the company culture?
6. are you satisfied with your job title?
Does the proposed job title reflect where you are in your career and what your job will entail? Will you be happy having this job title for the foreseeable future? Is there room to grow into more senior titles, if you plan to progress your career within this company?
7. are you happy with your potential career trajectory in this role?
It can be easy to overlook growth opportunities when you’re focused on a new role. Make sure this new job sets you on a career path that you’re happy with. Whether you see yourself in this role for years to come, or view it as a stepping stone to your next job, it should help you achieve your long-term career goals. Think about the job after this job. Will what you learn in this role help propel you to the next one, or will it be another dead end?
8. did you receive the offer in writing?
Did you receive a formal written job offer, or did the company make a verbal offer? Before you accept a job, always make sure you have a chance to read over the offer in writing. If your potential employer refuses to provide a written job offer, that’s a red flag and you should be wary of accepting the job.
When you receive the written offer verify all the details are as you expected. Sometimes the person you negotiate with verbally may not be responsible for drafting the offer letter, so it’s important to double check the written offer before signing on the dotted line.
9. did you read the entire contract and look for red flags?
Not every job offer will be perfect out of the box. Are there potential red flags that have you second guessing whether this is the right job for you? For example, are there unreasonable overtime expectations, unusual termination policies, and other company policies that make you question whether you want this job, or make you uncomfortable?
10. do you feel excited about accepting the job?
Does the idea of accepting this job make you happy? You should always feel good about accepting a job offer. Maybe you’re happy about a pay increase. Perhaps you’re looking forward to the work you’ll be doing. Whatever the case, your overall feelings should be positive. Are you interested, but kind of holding out hope for another offer? Your gut feeling will give you a good indication about whether this job is right for you. If you’re unsure, consider what’s holding you back, and whether it’s actually a deal breaker.
Once you’ve worked through our job offer checklist, you’ll need to make a decision. Do you want to quit your current job for this one? Do yuo want the job or is it not quite right? Some jobs are too good not to take, whereas others require serious consideration. Compare your current role, the new opportunity and make a well informed decision about your next career move. Also, don’t forget that you have the ability to propose a counter offer!
The vast majority of employers leave wiggle room in their hiring budget and expect new hires to negotiate on salary and other benefits. If you’re mostly on board, but there’s something about the job offer that isn’t quite right, consider negotiating. Job offers are rarely an all or nothing proposition. You can attempt to negotiate salary, benefits, vacation days and other perks. Even if the hiring manager rejects your counter offer, the original offer will likely still be on the table. If they liked you enough to extend a job offer, it’s in their best interest to work with you. Hirable candidates are challenging to find!
Not convinced that the offer you received is the right one? Check out our vacancies: jobs Luxembourg!