Got an Offer?Factors to Weigh
So, you have been offered a job. Congratulations! Before you say yes, consider whether this position and company will be a good fit. According to the Society for Human Resource Management, top five contributors to workplace happiness in 2012 were: 1) opportunities to use skills, 2) job security, 3) compensation, 4) communication with senior management and 5) relationship with an immediate supervisor. Here’s how to decide whether those factors are being met.
Salary
One of the most important things to know is that the offer is negotiable, so think about countering. One option that may help: Check out the Regular Military Compensation Calculator, offered by the Office of the Secretary of Defense, to determine your equivalent civilian pay. Of course, you also don’t want to negotiate yourself out of a job—a company may be less flexible on salary, for instance, if it hasn’t employed a lot of service members. If you get that impression, consider negotiating scheduled pay increases that would occur at employee evaluations; this shows the company you’re willing to prove yourself first.
Benfits
As a service member, you’re used to the military doing everything for you in terms of housing, food, insurance, etc., so that you can focus on your job. In the civilian world, this is not the case, but a company that understands and appreciates veterans will cover some of the costs and logistical issues (such as moving) that you might face. If it doesn’t offer generous benefits, it’s not necessarily a deal-breaker, but it’s something to consider.
Workplace Environment
Culture and relationships will help determine your happiness, and a company that understands veterans will show that it cares about both of those facets. Here are telltale signs of a veteran-friendly workplace: 1) Does the company have an Employee Resource Group for veterans? Besides networking opportunities, a veteran ERG also provides mentoring and can be an advocate for you. And 2) Did people seem happy and satisfied during your interview? If you couldn’t gauge the mood, ask veteran employees on LinkedIn about employee relationships.
