The Grass Isn't Always Greener

Your resume was fire. You interviewed like a boss and ultimately landed the job. Sounds like a “win-win,” right? Well, I got a story for you. 
 
Amanda had just accepted a job as a Senior Accountant with AT&T and was looking forward to her first day on the job. Her path to being hired at AT&T was a challenging one. She created a stellar resume that stood out and got her in front of the hiring manager for an interview. 
 
She had previously worked at a company where she was unhappy and needed a fresh start, and AT&T provided her with that opportunity. 
 
After seven months in her new role, Amanda resigned. Wait! What? 
 
She left AT&T due to an hour and a half commute to and from work. 
 
You are probably wondering what the point of my story is. I am getting there. 
 
Amanda accepted this role with only one thought in mind, and that was she had to leave her last position as quickly as possible. She didn’t think about other factors that go into the evaluation of a job offer.
 
Let’s take a look at some of my top factors
 
Commute 
 
It might not seem like much, but densely populated cities naturally are going to have longer commute times. A long commute can cause physical and mental stress that will negatively impact your job. My recommendation is to test the commute during rush hour. This will give you an idea of what your drive to and from work will look like. 
 
Benefits
 
Always ask for a benefits guide when considering a job offer. The guide outlines costs and gives you detailed information on the company’s health benefits. Other fringe benefits include life insurance, tuition assistance, childcare reimbursement, employee discounts, and employee stock options. 
 
Salary
 
This is an essential factor for many of us. I urge you to do your salary research before accepting an initial salary offer. Negotiate your worth!
 
Company Leadership 
 
Strong leadership speaks volumes about the company’s present and future. Use resources such as Indeed and Glassdoor to read current and former employee reviews. Look for trends in what employees are saying to give you an idea of the company culture. 
 
The moral of the story is to do your research before accepting a job. You do not want to find yourself in a position like Amanda.