Questions To Ask BEFORE Accepting Their Offer AND A Career-Ending Mistake

Wanted to share this article with you because it does have some good things to consider before accepting a job offer. It also has some conventional wisdom that can totally backfire and mess up your career or at least your current job!

There are few sweeter words than, “We’d love to bring you onboard.” Even if you haven’t been actively looking for a new gig, knowing another company wants you is a huge ego boost. Plus, even if you don’t plan to accept the job, a new offer can serve as a valuable tool to leverage a raise or promotion at your current job. But in order to maximize the opportunity, you’ve got to be just as strategic as you were while acing your interview.

The above article is called The Job Offer Mistake Everyone Makes though that isn’t quite what it’s about. It has really good questions you should ask–some for you and some for them–before deciding about their offer, Why do you really want to leave, what will be the impact on my life, what is the real financial impact, etc.

At the same time, the continual advice to tell your manager about the job offer and use it to get a raise or promotion is the worst advice ever.

There is research that shows while revealing that information may get you the things you want, it also can be the beginning of the end for you at that company.

Why? Because management may feel a little ambushed, forced into concessions they weren’t prepared to make (for whatever reasons), and they may wonder how long it will be before you do it again.

You have most likely cracked their confidence in you. That same research showed that when people played the “some other company wants me” card, they are usually gone from the company within 9-18 months.

If you feel you deserve a change–more money, a different title or different job duties–have a conversation with your manager that talks about WHAT you’ve done that warrants those changes. Don’t take the easy route of hammering them with a job offer from a different company. They may just tell you to take that offer!

Read the rest of the article here (and ignore the advice to use that offer as a way to get a raise or promotion!)