Career Information Online

Leaving your current employer for a new job can be stressful enough.  Having to change jobs and move to a new city or state can up your stress levels to new highs.  Some employers will offer relocation assistance from a service to help you in your search for a place to live.  You might not have that benefit available to you, so once you’ve decided to accept the new position some of your first calls will probably be to find some good real estate agents in your new city.

If you’re not familiar with the new city it’s going to be a challenge to find decent housing.  What neighborhoods are good, and what ones are not so good (in terms of safety or crime rates)?  Is there only one school district or school for the town, or are there several different schools?  If this is the case and you have a family you’re going to want to consider the quality of education for your children.  It’s a smart move to contact a local expert to help you make these significant life decisions.

Don’t be afraid to ask the hard questions of these agents.  You’re looking for a place to set down roots and (maybe) raise your family, so you need to be comfortable with the person you select to help you in your search for a new house.  Remember that the real estate agent works for you, and not vice versa.  If you don’t like the first person you speak with there are many other qualified individuals to help you find your new residence.

I was reading an article in an industry newsletter that said the single most important factor when evaluating a job opportunity is the company’s culture and values.  In other words, “what will it be like to work for this company?”  I started to think about how you can truly determine a company’s culture, and outside of working for the company for a few months it is going to be difficult to know what the culture will be like.  There are a few questions that you can ask in the interview process that might help you get a handle on what kind of culture this company offers.

First, what kind of hours are employees expected to work?  Are you given the opportunity to telecommute or to utilize flex schedules?  Do the successful employees get to work early every day and stay late?  Are you expected to put in extra time on the job (whether or not you are compensated for it)?

Next, what kind of dress code does this employer have?  If you have always worked in a casual dress environment you might find a formal suit and tie environment stuffy and unbearable.

Does the company offer any training and development programs for the employees?  How often are these programs offered, or how often is an employee able to take part in them?  What kind of programs do the offer?

How is the work environment structured?  Are you working in cubicles or is it an open bullpen type of environment?  Is it a bright and cheerful office space, or is it dull and drab?

Does the company have any kinds of on-site perks (like a daycare facility or gym)?

There are no right or wrong answers to these questions.  The culture that is comfortable for one person might not be a good fit for you.  Try to ascertain the culture of the company in the interview process so you’ll be able to include it when making a decision about a new job.

I had a friend who was changing jobs.  The new job had everything she wanted – a good career path, challenging work, flexible schedules and a shorter commute.  She would not be required to be “on call” or work overtime hours on a regular basis (just once in a while, if absolutely necessary).  The salary offered, however, was less than she had hoped to see. 

We talked it out and after some long conversations we determined that while on paper it was a lateral move, it in fact was a good financial decision.  Here’s why:

• Her commute was shortened from twenty-five minutes to five minutes, saving on gas and car maintenance.
• She’d be working at least ten hours less a week, because of no overtime and no “on call” hours.
• She now had the ability to work from home, cutting back on time taken due to the weather or illness.
• She can work a flexible schedule.
• She would have a lot less stress.

My point is this – there are a lot of factors to consider when weighing a job offer.  Don’t get hung up on the salary offered to you.  When you look at the big picture you might be saving money by taking this new job, or you might be losing money.  Carefully consider all the factors involved before saying yes or no to a job offer.

There’s a financial cost associated with every job.  Many people don’t consider this fact when they accept a new position.  It’s important you know how much money you will need to make in order to bring home your desired salary in this new position.

So what kind of expenses do you have with a job?  The most obvious one is health care.  Depending on the plan and the size of the company there can be a significant difference in out of pocket expenses.  And don’t forget things like office visit and prescription copays – they play a role in the cost of health insurance.  Other factors to consider include:  commuting expenses, paid training, tuition reimbursement, and health club memberships.

Before accepting a new job, compare the costs that you will be required to pay out of pocket.  You might just find out that the salary offered to you is a raise on paper but in fact a step backwards in what you bring home every two weeks.

When it’s time for you to give your notice of resignation you’ll of course tell your manager verbally.  The company will probably ask for you to give this notice in writing as well.

The resignation letter is not a time to list all your complaints with the company.  It’s the time to tell your employer you are terminating your employment – nothing more.  Keep the letter brief and to the point.  Here’s an example:

Please accept this letter as formal notification of my resignation from (company) effective (date).

If your experience has been positive you can always add a statement that your enjoyed your tenure with the company.  No matter what, never include any negative statements or comments.

In my previous life in staffing I heard some horror stories about people being offered a job, accepting it and giving their two week notice to their current employer only to have the new employer change their mind and rescind the job offer.

Most companies are ethical and when an offer of employment is made it is solid.  Other companies might rescind an offer but give the person a severance package.  No matter what the position or company, get the offer of employment in writing, and give written acceptance of the offer.

It’s just common sense to want to get an offer in writing.  It will confirm your title, salary, start date, and possibly benefits like vacation time.  Many companies put a spot on the offer letter for you to sign to indicate acceptance.  If they don’t, here is an example of wording you could use in a letter or email:

I am pleased to accept your offer of employment and look forward to starting with (company) on (date).  I look forward to a long and productive tenure with this company.

Getting the offer in writing is not 100% guaranteed that the company won’t be sleazy and take back the offer.  It will give you piece of mind, however, as most reputable and ethical companies won’t go back on their written word.

The salary a person makes is important.  It’s how you pay your bills and support your family.  When looking into a new employment opportunity the salary offered is going to play a role in your decision to accept or reject an offer.  However, your first interview with a company is not the time to ask about salary.

You’ll probably find many web sites and experts who will disagree with me and tell you that it’s fine to talk salary during an interview.  Of course it’s your decision to make.  I’d just like to present a few reasons why you might not want to bring up salary during an interview.

• You will seem to be motivated by money only.  The hiring manager is trying to sell you on an opportunity.  He/she might think the only reason you’d take a job is because it paid more than your previous position.
• You might price yourself out of the position.  Many companies have strict salary ranges for positions.  No matter what, they can’t go over the top figure in the range for any candidate.  You might exclude yourself from a position based on a few dollars.
• You might “lowball” yourself.  What I mean is this – the hiring manager might be planning to pay you more than the salary you stated in the interview.  You could deprive yourself from money in your pocket.
• You don’t know how much it costs to work for the new company.  Hiring managers don’t usually bring up specific information on the cost of benefits until the offer stage.  The cost of benefits for the new company might be higher or lower than the cost at your current company (maybe their health insurance is a lot more expensive than what you pay now).  A lateral salary move would actually end up costing you money out of pocket.

Given this, what do you say in an interview when someone asks “what do you want to make”?  I would suggest you say something along these lines:

I currently make $47,500 a year.  I would want to look at the entire package before making a decision.

If pressed you can mention that you’d like to compare the cost of benefits and that the opportunity is what is most important, not salary.

Of course it’s up to you whether or not you bring up salary in an interview.  I merely wanted to present a few arguments why you might not want to do this.