What to evaluate as you consider moving jobs

By John Kariuki

After the job interview and many sleepless nights, the call for an offer of employment finally comes. You are excited, but the difficult part of evaluating the job offer begins. Fortunately, most organisations will give you time to make up your mind and report to work. But there are several issues to consider when assessing a job offer.

Preliminary questions.

According to Robert Theuri, a headhunter, the first question is obviously whether or not the organisation will be a good place for you to work in.

"Ask yourself if the actual job as described in the offer letter will be interesting, or if it’s a run of the mill rut cleverly marketed as the ultimate match for your hard earned skills." he says.

He advises prospective employees to scrutinise the corporations’ policies on staff advancement, salary structures and employees’ benefits before signing the contracts.

"You must develop your own criterion for judging the job offer, whether you are starting a career, re-entering the labour force after some absence, or planning a career change," says Theuri.

Assessing the corporation.

HR experts advise that all nuggets of background information on an organisation can help you decide whether it is a good place for you to work. And you can get this easily from the internet, or by speaking to employees there. Some factors that you should consider include the organisation’s business or activity, financial condition, age, size and location. Any available information on the growth prospects for the industry that the company represents is also important to consider.

"An organisation’s business or activity should be in keeping with your own interests and beliefs for maximum productivity", says Maxwell Agwanda, a teacher who has worked in many institutions before finally finding his ideal employer.

Large versus small firm.

"Large firms generally offer a greater variety of training programmes and career paths, more managerial levels for advancement and better employee benefits than small firms," says Victor Mzungu, a HR expert.

He also cautions that large employers may also have more advanced technologies in their offices and factories, and jobs tend to be highly specialised. He therefore reckons they are not ideal for college graduates beginning their careers.

"But jobs in small firms may offer you a broader authority and responsibility, a closer working relationship with top management and a chance to easily see your contribution to the success of the organisation," he adds

New versus old company.

Fledgling organisations often have a higher failure rate than well-established corporations, a factor one should consider when assessing a job from several offers. But even then, some people are excited by the prospects of helping to create a company and the glory of sharing in its success.

"This chance of writing one’s name in immortality more than offsets any risk of job loss!" says Victor Mzungu.

But whileit may be exciting and rewarding to work for a young firm, mzungu advises a person to look for one which already has a strong foothold on success. The most successful firms, he says, tend to be in industries that are growing rapidly.

Private or public company.

Robert Theuri says the choice of working for a private or a public company is crucial in one’s career growth.

"A privately owned company may be controlled by an individual or a family. This means that key jobs are reserved for relatives and family friends", he says.

Such organisations may not respect all labour laws and promotions and sackings can be done on a whim, he adds.

"A publicly owned company is controlled by a board of directors. Often vacant positions are advertised and key jobs are open to anyone with talent", he says.

Where the job is located

If the job is in another town or country, you need to consider the cost of living, the availability of housing and transport. You may consider too the quality of education and recreational facilities available in the new location. Even if the new workplace is in your area, consider the time and commuting expenses in your decision.

Staff turnover.

High turnover may mean dissatisfaction with the nature of the work or something else about the job. A good job offers you opportunities to learn new skills, increase your earnings, and rise to positions of greater authority, responsibility, and prestige. A lack of opportunities can dampen interest in the work and result in frustration and boredom.

"A good employer should have a training plan for you", says Constance Mbithi.