Why you should know your career non-negotiables before accepting a job offer

Accepting a job offer can be a pretty tough decision, especially if you’re eager to take the next step in your career journey. However, don’t let the first offer you receive be the one you accept if you’re not 100% sure about the role.

Before you start your job search, think about your non-negotiables and create a list. This will help you narrow down the sort of roles you’re looking for and you will have a better understanding of what you want out of your next job.

If you are wondering what your non-negotiables are, think about the standout factors; the factors that are most important to you and the ones that will keep you engaged once the initial excitement of a new job wears off. What do you expect from an employer? Do you want a fun workplace culture? The opportunity to work from home? Do the company’s values align with your own?

Career non-negotiables will be different for everyone so take the time to think about what’s most important to you. To help you get a head start, we’ve come up with a list of things to consider when deciding whether or not you should accept a job offer.

Salary

Salary is often the first factor that comes to mind when creating a non-negotiables list. It can be disappointing when you’ve been offered your dream job and the salary is lower than what you were expecting. However, if the role at hand is your breakout job in the industry, or if the role is above your experience levels, sometimes a lower salary may be something you have to accept.

Once you have undergone training and have some more experience under your belt, it may be worth organising a meeting with your manager to discuss a raise. This can be a difficult conversation, so have a look at our advice on how to ask for a pay rise and actually get it.

Location

It can be easy to look past the location of a job if you’re excited about the offer you just received. But you should be thinking ahead to when you have started the job and the excitement has worn off, will you really be happy with a two-hour commute every day?

Alternatively, consider the distance and transport options between your home and potential workplace. If you don’t have a car and there’s limited public transport, you don’t want to be stuck with your only option being to call an Uber to and from work every day.

WFH and flexible work

When thinking about the necessity of having a WFH option in your next job, consider if it is actually a dealbreaker or if it is just a factor you would prefer to have out of general convenience. If you have kids or you are caring for someone, working from home may be a non-negotiable as you have other people relying on you. However, if you want to have WFH and flexible work options due to not liking the commute, or not wanting to wake up early, think about whether or not you should consider it as one of your non-negotiables.

Is it really worth giving up the benefits and experience you would gain from a job that doesn’t offer flexible work options for that extra half hour of sleep each morning? For some, yes, but for others, no; it all depends on your personal preferences and priorities.

Company culture

Workplace culture can have a huge impact on your performance and overall wellbeing. If you’re the type of worker who needs space and silence, and who prefers to avoid co-worker interactions, then a vibrant workplace culture may not be for you.

However, if you’re looking for a workplace that commits to weekly happy hours and regular social events, you will want to be asking the hiring manager about their workplace culture before accepting a job.

You will, most likely, be spending 40+ hours a week at your place of work, so make sure it is somewhere you’ll be comfortable and that you’ll be able to spend time with and enjoy the company of your new co-workers.

Training and development

If you’re just starting out in your career or you are wanting to progress further than the role you applied for, consider the importance of having ongoing training and development opportunities.

Does the company have an allowance for you to attend conferences and workshops that will help develop your skills? Not having these things available may not be a dealbreaker but you need to consider whether this also means there is a lack of internal growth opportunities. You don’t want to feel stuck in a role and have your only option be to leave and start fresh somewhere else.

Travel Requirements

If you have a family or other commitments outside of work, accepting a job that requires a lot of travel may not be the best fit for you. If you think the role could be somewhat centred around travelling for work, discuss this with the hiring manager before accepting a job so that you’re both on the same page.

Alternatively, you might be at the stage of your life where you want to get out of your comfort zone, so why not work and travel at the same time?

Once you have created your list of non-negotiables, you’re well on your way to finding the job that is the best fit for you! You’ve put in the time to reflect on what is most important to you when it comes to your career. This will help you avoid accepting a job purely out of feelings of desperation.

You may be tempted to accept a job offer even if you aren’t 100% sure. This could be due to not receiving as many offers as you’d like, or a certain job may tick all but a few boxes and you believe a better offer won’t come along.

However, it is important that you don’t sacrifice your non-negotiables. There’s clearly a reason for them being on your list and if you give them up now, chances are that in a year, or even after a few months, you will be feeling unhappy and not satisfied in your role and you may need to start the job hunt process all over again!

If you’ve spent the time to make your list of non-negotiables but you’re struggling to take the next step of your career search, fill in the form on this page and get in touch with us today!