Know when to say no to a job offer

Five red flags that signal you should keep lookingFrom MarketWatch WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) -- Karen Chopra knows all about the dangers of
"first-offer-itis." It's a condition in which job seekers itch to take
the first position they are offered, said the Washington, D.C.-based
career counselor. And in this time of high unemployment, more people
are inclined to do just that.

But rather than letting her clients succumb, Chopra will discuss a
position's pros and cons with them to figure out how much they like the
job versus how much they just want to stop searching.

Working well together

Getting different departments within one company to work well together
is essential in a competitive market. Rob Wolcott from the Kellogg
School of Management explains how a company can foster intra-department
decision-making.

"Most people hate the job search," she said.
"It's an anxiety-producing time. But there are real dangers to taking a
job that is not a good fit."

If you're in a job you dislike, for instance, you may not perform well.
And if you leave the job after a few months, there will be a short
stint to explain on your résumé.

While there can be a tremendous amount of pressure to rejoin the ranks
of the gainfully employed, experts recommend that seekers try to curb
desperation. "You are planning your career as opposed to just getting
another job," said Randy Miller, founder and chief executive of
ReadyMinds, a Lyndhurst, N.J., provider of online career counseling and
coaching. "Take a step back, be clear on what you want to do.
Otherwise, you will be in the same position six months later."

Of course, you must calculate whether you can afford to pass on an
offer. Job seekers without any savings may not be in a position to say
"no."

For those who can afford to be pickier, here are five tips on what type
of offers to take a pass on and what warning signs to watch out for:

1. A big step down

With more than six million jobs lost since the recession began, many
job seekers have less leverage when it comes to salary. Nonetheless, a
real low-ball offer is a red flag, Chopra said.

It can be tough for workers to figure out how low is too low, Miller
said, adding that job seekers should stay strong as long as they know
they are worth more than a company's low offer.

"In today's times, the employee is asked to do a lot more," he said.
"If you are not making the money you are supposed to, you will probably
be miserable."

Job seekers also should be wary of taking a title that's too far below
their most recent position, said Allison O'Kelly, chief executive of
Mom Corps, an Atlanta-based staffing firm specializing in flexible
employment.

At least temporarily, a salary can be less important than a title,
O'Kelly said, because "it will be hard to get back into the higher
role." She added that "people looking at your résumé will wonder why
you were willing to take such a low-level position. They will think you
should be more resourceful and able to find other jobs. I would prefer
seeing that you are earning a little less, but that your title remains
at a higher level. You will be better off."

2. Too-quick offers

Jobs that are offered very quickly may be worth passing on, said Walter
Akana, a career strategist in Decatur, Ga. "It could be a sign that the
company has lots of turnover and [is] desperate on some level as well,"
he said.

While it can be unnerving, waiting awhile for an offer isn't
necessarily a bad thing, Akana added. "The company is under pressure to
fill the position in the best way possible," he said, "so sometimes the
process can take time."

3. No written offer

Companies that don't provide a written offer may be worth avoiding,
said Miller. And that's particularly important during times when many
firms are struggling.

Verbal offers "mean you really have nothing to stand on because the
employer can renege," he said. "If it's a legitimate job offer,
everything should be in writing."

A contract with a specific description of the job could protect you from having your position radically altered.

"The more you have in the document, the more it could protect you, it's
minimizing your risk," Miller said. "You still run the risk of getting
laid off. But it's better to have the piece of paper than nothing at
all."

4. Too few answers

A potential employer's reluctance to answer questions should give you
pause, said Chopra. Employers who are worried that a position may not
be attractive to a particular candidate may try to conceal or avoid
certain specifics, she said.

Another giveaway: when employers won't allow job candidates to speak with a prospective supervisor.

"You can work for a great company, but have a miserable supervisor, and
that determines how you feel about the company," Chopra said. "The
supervisor determines your day-to-day happiness."

5. Unpleasantness

If company insiders are difficult during negotiations, you may want to
take a pass on a job, Chopra said. "Generally speaking, your treatment
is not going to improve once you are hired," she said.

Ruth Mantell is a MarketWatch reporter based in Washington.

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Comments

This
is all good advice, but: I know people who have had no job offers at
all for two years. Their savings are long since gone, and their
unemployment is exhausted. It's fantastic to be able to turn down a job
offer, if you get one. Several friends have jobs now, after one to two
years of searching, which are "only" offers in that period of time, and
the jobs are worse than what they lost, pay half as much or less, and
the benefits are expensive and relatively useless. I do know one guy
who got a better job after taking a buy out from a big communications
company. He used his year and a half severence to further his
education, and he got a new job, paying more, with better benefits.
He's the only one.



I am a part time worker at a recycling and trash collection center.
Over a month I talk to hundreds of people in a variety of financial
status and careers. For the most part, it boils down to those who have
debt and those who don't. My McJob is a mile and a half from home and
part time with no benefits. I tell people it's the kind of job where
you really need to be rich before you apply. LOL. Most people get wide
eyed and all say the same thing, "Oh, I have to have 40 hours a week
and full medical benefits." Good for you. Next! Good for you. Next!
Good for you. Next! Good for you. Next!.............

gabrielpit 19 minutes ago

 


Last year I rejected an offer from Cargill to moove to Switzerland

Was for doing steel trading based in Geneve for developing Italian and Spanish markets

Salary was good and conditions were excellent but I refused because
I am working in a producer , related with the oil industry, and despite
the crisis, oil is not same like the steel

So I didnt know about the crisis that was coming

Perhaps today I would be in switzerland fired out, because activity
in spain and italy in the steel sector is a complete disaster, then
when choosing a job I will evaluate twice the sector where I will work,
in my case as example I will never moove to the automotive industry
that is the first one who is falling down and firing out people




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