Evaluating Job Offers

Although employers allow you a few days to contemplate a job offer, these few days are crucial in order to completely evaluate a potential new job. Careful consideration needs to be taken when deciding whether or not to accept a job offer. Researching the position and job market to make sure you have all the facts will strongly impact your decision and ability to receive the best job offer available.
One of the first, and often most, considered aspects of a job is the monetary compensation. This part of the job is often negotiable if you are able to present a credible argument. Knowing your worth and comparable salaries, based on geographical location and the current job market, will make it that much easier to ensure fair compensation. Check out the Bureau of Labor Statistics Web site to evaluate your potential self-value.

While many employee benefit packages are standard, there are some compensation features that can be discussed. While health coverage may not be negotiable, paid time off or vacation time can provide for some leverage in your deal-making process. For some job seekers additional vacation time is more valuable and can be offered in lieu of a higher salary. You need to weigh the importance of these factors when finalizing the terms of your employment.

The actual office environment should also be high on your list of considerations. While money and benefits may seem more important at first, the corporate culture should play just as big a role. You will be spending most of your time at work with your boss and coworkers. If you do not get along with them, it can make for long, miserable work days. Also, the work ethic of the company should be in line with your own ideals.

Accepting a new job means enhancing your career. Make sure you are enthusiastic about your new job. Your day-to-day work should interest you and make good use of your skills.

Finally, whether planning to accept or decline a job offer, it is important to do so as professionally as possible. In order to maintain a sense of professionalism, when accepting a job offer, first call the contact at the company and inform them of your decision. This is the time when to ask questions pertaining to your start date, etc. Then, as a formality, send a letter of acceptance (send a hard copy or e-mail based on the company’s preference).

If you choose to decline a job offer, then a call the employer is necessary. There is no need to go into an elaborate explanation. It is sufficient to simply state that after careful consideration, you do not feel that this job would be a good fit. Do not forget to also send a letter of declination. Make sure to keep the letter positive. It is beneficial to your career to remain on good terms with previous and potential employers because you never know when you may cross paths again.

Social Networking Web sites: Good or Bad for You?

These days a person’s name can be “Googled” in order to fulfill a general inquiry. If someone is active on the Internet, then he/she can be found. Social Networking sites such as MySpace and Facebook are popular among youths and professionals alike. Most profile pages are viewable by the public, which allows for scrutiny by anyone.

These Web sites are becoming an increasingly popular tool among employers. Employers search the Web before making a decision between candidates. Since the information is public, than it is fair game. It is similar to a background check, yet more personal. An employer may have to choose between two well-qualified individuals and if one of them has a profile indicating undesirable corporate behavior, it could cost them a job.

Information and comments posted on a social Web site, whether added in all seriousness or in jest, is up for interpretation. Without actually knowing the person, employers may pass judgment based solely on the content of a page. If seemingly offensive content is posted, employers may also question the beliefs and rationale of the applicant, even if the applicant was merely showing off or joking around.

Although social networking pages are public information, some people question the ethical and legal behavior of employers using the sites. Using these sites as a reference may impact employers’ decisions when choosing an employee. Employers are able to find answers to personal questions that are not permitted to be asked during a formal interview. It is also possible that a line is being crossed in regards to discrimination law violations when these sites are being used as an employment screening process.

On the upside, social networking sites can do wonders for one’s career. The Internet can be used to broadcast past career and personal achievements, which make employee candidates more appealing to potential employers. One can also find employment opportunities through social networking. Many past colleagues or acquaintances are involved with social networking. Past relationships with these individuals could open the door to new jobs, employment referrals or even valuable business contacts.

In addition to the mainstream social networking sites such as MySpace and Facebook, there are also sites like LinkedIn that cater to business professionals. Specialized networking sites can be utilized for business or to boost one’s career. Many of these sites require membership and fees to uphold a sense of professionalism.

Also, just because one already has secured a position within a company, that does not mean he/she is safe to then post anything on the Internet. Privacy concerns arise when employees post private information regarding current or past companies of which they have been employed. Since the popularity of blogging came about, there have been numerous stories in which bloggers have been fired from their place of work because of a blog they wrote. In these cases, the blogs were often used either as an outlet by which the blogger vented frustration about their employers or sometimes an online attack of a company. Either way, employees must be wary about what they sign their name to on the Internet; anyone could be watching.

Career Network Saves Job Seekers Time

Fast growing Internet job board actively reaches job seekers, notifying them of opportunities they may have missed through traditional channels

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PRLog (Press Release) – Aug 06, 2008 – Internet job board Career Network (http://www.career-network.com) saves job seekers precious time by reaching out directly with intriguing employment opportunities.

For Americans, searching for a new job can be tremendously time consuming and therefore limited in scope. Searches are often limited to newspapers on Sunday or one of the major online job boards. Career Network assists job seekers by notifying them of open positions by direct contact, and by allowing them to apply for those positions via a quick and easy process.

Career Network pools thousands of jobs and allows job seekers to search, view and apply to jobs directly through their network of sites. A team of recruiting professionals then forwards the applications and resumes on to the employers. At this stage, the employer evaluates the qualifications and education of the applicant, matching them to the duties and responsibilities of the open opportunity. If the employer decides that they would like to speak with the applicant for an interview, the decision resides exclusively with the employer.

Through the use of online advertising verticals, Career Network is able to provide this valuable service free of charge for both employers and job seekers. This is especially helpful at a time when most employers are looking for ways to cut back on expenses, and job seekers are looking for higher-paying opportunities in today’s slow economy. Career Network saves both parties time and money while offering an unmatched advantage and a user-friendly interface.

The following newly added domains will help comprise the Career Network:

Destinyemployment.com
Newstartcareers.com
Professionalcareerstoday.com
Careersolutionsnow.com
Reliablecareersolutions.com