If you’ve been job hunting for a while, you might be tempted to grab the first offer that comes along. But I urge you to scrutinize every detail before you sign your name on the dotted line.
Salary. Benefits. Work schedule. Time off. Travel. Expectations. Evaluate all facets of the opportunity to ensure that the position—and company—is a good fit for your personality and career.
Of course, if you are a serious job hunter, you already performed a great deal of research on the company. You learned about the industry, business and corporate culture. But this is different. Now that you have a job offer in hand, you are no longer gathering data about a potential employer. You are pulling together facts about your future.
Most businesses expect new employees to fill out a pile of paperwork. Here are a few of the forms that might come your way:
The offer. When you work in a professional field, you will probably receive a written job offer (if you don’t, request one). This document will outline your upcoming position and provide the groundwork for a trusting, accountable relationship with the new company.
In the offer, you should find details about your start date, salary, job title, bonus or incentive pay, benefits (such as medical, dental, long-term disability, stock options and vacation/time off) and any additional compensation, such as reimbursement for travel, relocation or working from home.
Read the offer and supplementary materials closely. If necessary, contact your potential boss or human resources representative to clarify specific points or solicit further information, including copies of the company’s benefit plans. Are you happy with the offer? Does something need to be negotiated or changed?
Remember, you should never sign a document that you don’t understand or endorse 100 percent. If you negotiate any aspects in the offer, request written documentation of the changes. And always keep a copy of the finalized agreement.
Noncompete and confidentiality agreements. Many organizations require employees to sign noncompete agreements to ensure that you don’t work for a direct competitor for a certain period of time after you leave the company (usually two years). These types of documents protect businesses from losing proprietary information to rival companies. Similarly, confidentiality agreements protect organizations by restricting personnel from giving away client lists, product specifications and other trade secrets.
Before you sign these forms, it’s essential that you fully understand the requirements and agree to the terms. If you have questions about your rights or feel weighed down by complicated forms, consult an attorney.
Policy and tax forms. In most cases, you won’t begin your new position until you fill out a mountain of paperwork from the human resources office. In your packet, you’ll probably find the Federal I-9 (verifying your eligibility to work in the U.S.) and W-4 (calculating taxes to withhold from your paycheck). You may also come across an employee handbook and acknowledgement sheet (confirming that you received and read the handbook), an Equal Employment Opportunity form (used for reporting purposes) and other materials.
Read each page, one by one. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. And make sure that you agree with the content before initialing or signing your name.
Send your job-search questions to Eve.GetAJob@gmail.com.
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