Do you accept the offer (or counteroffer)?
Accepting a job offer has many layers and quickly gets complicated, especially when it becomes emotional. Making a change is scary (or also known as exciting). It involves leaving behind the comforts of what is safe and known and saying goodbye to your co-workers that have been there for you and you for them. Even if you dislike your current job or some co-worker, it is still "comfortable" in that there aren't any mysteries with it.
So I am going to break down the offer acceptance process, which begins right when you open yourself up to a new opportunity, well before the interviews and the offers.
Answer this right away
"Why am I interested in exploring this new opportunity in the first place?"
Write down your wish list & answer these questions
What is my dream work schedule?
What projects would I like to pass off?
What projects would I like to take on?
What role is best aligned with my current skill set?
What role is best for growing my skill in _____?
I want to work with ______ because they _______
Where do I want to live?
How do I want to live?
What do I want to change about my current workload?
What do I want to change about my current work culture?
When you begin the process of interviewing, write down your wishes. Dream big, and don't skimp on the details. Then, as you interview and learn more about the opportunity, write down how this new job might check each item off your wish list. Refer back to this when you get the offer to combat the uncertainty of moving forward.
Examine your resistance to change
Write down/or verbally share with your recruiter, mentor, or spouse your fears about resigning
Go through a change that was hard at first that then became a positive result
Rid yourself of self-limiting beliefs
People tend to create their own ceilings because they have been conditioned to think what they have now is what they deserve. But what you believe has a massive impact on what you receive. So know that when an opportunity knocks, there is a good reason for it. Don't get in the way of your growth potential. Be yourself while acknowledging you are always capable of learning and growing into an even better version of yourself.
Some call it self-sabotage, or maybe you've heard of imposter syndrome, but this is where an internal, hyper-critical inner voice leads your mind toward staying "safe." Interviews, or anytime you are reaching out into the unknown, is vulnerable. Putting yourself out there and seeing if a new tax department is interested in your skills can feel vulnerable. So your brain creates protective measures that, while they intend to keep us safe, actually only keep you the same. So acknowledge the critic inside and let it know that you've got this, and this is something worth exploring. Don't let fear run the show; lean on your wish list and the new opportunity's answer to them.
Red flags to listen to
Communication is vague or sparse
The interview process is confusing
The job description doesn't match the interviewer's answers to your questions
Inconsistencies between HR and the Hiring team/manager
The staff seem tired, disgruntled, or are showing non-verbal cues of noncohesion.
Leadership is undergoing large changes (the job you get hired for might not be the job you get)
Counteroffer red flags
Counteroffers that promise system or culture changes (it just doesn't happen that easily, especially for one person's needs)
Large project promises that have not historically been done for others in your department
Down-the-road promises based on hypothetical transfers, promotions, or leadership retirement timelines
Just remember: money can easily change. Culture, staff, and systems do not
Test the offer (and counteroffer)
"If ____ offers me _____, will I accept?"
Listen to your gut, not your ego
Your gut is important intuition. The difference between feelings and intuition is it is not emotional or fearful. It is deep wisdom and "tells it like it is."
Be careful of your ego, which is prideful and fragile, and doesn't always look out for you in the long-run
Sleep on decisions, and trust your highest self is looking out for you!
Ask for help
Lastly, you are not alone! PGAA Tax is here to be a sounding board. Having a third party in the business of career moves for 19 years is...duh, helpful! So run it by Phil and see what he hears in your voice, thoughts, and feelings. You've got this!