5 Important Questions to Consider Before Accepting an Offer
Written by: Gabriella LoBue, MS Business Analytics, Dec 2019
After a series of networking events, career fairs, and expos, many Zarb students have received job or internship offers for the upcoming semester. Whether you have been made an offer or are still applying, here are five important points to consider before signing the dotted line:
Program Structure
Besides the description of the actual position, do you know what kind of training, if any, the company offers to new recruits? Is there a mentor program to help acclimate you to the company culture? Will you have opportunities for meaningful networking while you’re there? Does this organization have a history of hiring previous interns? Since this will be your place of employment either for the next semester or for the foreseeable future, make sure you can picture your own success in this program, and that the company is invested in your professional growth as much as you are.
Skill-level
If the position is an internship, make sure that it matches your skill-level and offers opportunities for growth. Do not waste your time on an entry-level position if you know you won’t learn anything new. Find a role where you can meet its basic requirements but can also be challenged by working on more advanced projects. Understand that, at the graduate level, the company should have you more involved than simply going on coffee runs. In the case of accepting job offers, you may be more open to taking roles that are at or below your skillset due to highly competitive industries or organizations. Once you establish yourself within the company, you can then work your way up over time and earn your desired position.
Compensation
If this opportunity is a job, are you being paid fairly based on the role and your skill level? Use resources like glassdoor.com to get an idea of what other professionals with similar qualifications are earning. You can also search by company to get an even more specific idea of what’s appropriate. For interns, are you getting paid at all? Some internships are paid minimum wage, but if you aren’t receiving compensation, ask if they at least offer transportation or lunch reimbursement. Furthermore, if the company requires you to get school credit for the internship, know that you will have to pay tuition to work for the semester.
Hours Expected to Work
As graduate students, your place of occupation should be made aware of your part-time status. How accommodating will they be to your school obligations? Will they offer leniency for midterm and final exams? Be realistic when negotiating your schedule and make sure that you maintain a balance between your learning on the job as well as in the classroom.
Location
Where you work can be just as important as the kind of work you are doing. Consider the amount of travel time you will have to take each day. Is it an easy commute? If you’re taking public transportation, is it reliable? Are you willing to leave extra early in the morning to avoid heavy traffic? These are all factors that may affect your overall experience due to commuter’s stress or burnout.
Program Structure
Besides the description of the actual position, do you know what kind of training, if any, the company offers to new recruits? Is there a mentor program to help acclimate you to the company culture? Will you have opportunities for meaningful networking while you’re there? Does this organization have a history of hiring previous interns? Since this will be your place of employment either for the next semester or for the foreseeable future, make sure you can picture your own success in this program, and that the company is invested in your professional growth as much as you are.
Skill-level
If the position is an internship, make sure that it matches your skill-level and offers opportunities for growth. Do not waste your time on an entry-level position if you know you won’t learn anything new. Find a role where you can meet its basic requirements but can also be challenged by working on more advanced projects. Understand that, at the graduate level, the company should have you more involved than simply going on coffee runs. In the case of accepting job offers, you may be more open to taking roles that are at or below your skillset due to highly competitive industries or organizations. Once you establish yourself within the company, you can then work your way up over time and earn your desired position.
Compensation
If this opportunity is a job, are you being paid fairly based on the role and your skill level? Use resources like glassdoor.com to get an idea of what other professionals with similar qualifications are earning. You can also search by company to get an even more specific idea of what’s appropriate. For interns, are you getting paid at all? Some internships are paid minimum wage, but if you aren’t receiving compensation, ask if they at least offer transportation or lunch reimbursement. Furthermore, if the company requires you to get school credit for the internship, know that you will have to pay tuition to work for the semester.
Hours Expected to Work
As graduate students, your place of occupation should be made aware of your part-time status. How accommodating will they be to your school obligations? Will they offer leniency for midterm and final exams? Be realistic when negotiating your schedule and make sure that you maintain a balance between your learning on the job as well as in the classroom.
Location
Where you work can be just as important as the kind of work you are doing. Consider the amount of travel time you will have to take each day. Is it an easy commute? If you’re taking public transportation, is it reliable? Are you willing to leave extra early in the morning to avoid heavy traffic? These are all factors that may affect your overall experience due to commuter’s stress or burnout.
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