The job market is tough right now, and it can be tempting to accept any job offer you get, just out of fear that there may not be another one in the foreseeable future. But, keep in mind that a new job is going to take time and energy away from your job search. It can take up most of your day and having a job you dislike can leave your feeling unhappy and stressed, which can have a negative impact on your friends and family.
Before you jump in and commit to a retail job offer, take a little bit of time to ask yourself a few questions to determine if this is the job you should take or if it would be better to wait for something that fits you better.
Here are a few questions to ask yourself:
- Will this job benefit your career? – Maybe, maybe not. There is no shame in taking a job just to pay the bills and to take the pressure off of your job search. If this is going to be a temporary job, the important thing is that you know it going in.
- If it isn't the job you want, will it keep you from continuing your job search? – If this ins't the job you really want, and it is primarily a stop-gap measure, it will interfere with your job search. There is no point in taking a job for survival if there is a very high chance of getting stuck there.
- Will you enjoy the work? - If the job is just to pay the bills, will you like working there? If you aren't able to build your career skills, at least find something that you will enjoy. Some people look at their hobbies to find a survival job that they will enjoy while they continue their job search. For example, a wine enthusiast might want to work for a wine store or an avid reader may want to look for a job in a bookstore.
- Do you have the skills to succeed? - If you really don't think that you would be able to do the work, you might want to consider if your self-esteem could handle the blow of failing at the job and maybe even losing it. This doesn't mean shy away from challenges, but be honest with yourself and be sure you aren't getting in over your head.
- Will you get along well with your boss and co-workers? - Corporate culture is a funny thing. If you fit in with a company that has a strong, clearly defined culture, you will enjoy your job tremendously. However, if you don't fit in with that culture, you can be setting yourself up for a miserable workplace environment.
Be sure that you take the time to think about what you are getting into in order to make a real decision about accepting the job. Even if the job isn't everything you wanted, and even if you don't like it very much, your attitude will be much better and it will be easier to deal with when you have actually made an informed choice.
By Melissa Kennedy- Melissa is a 9 year blog veteran and a freelance writer, along with helping others find the job of their dreams, she enjoys computer geekery, raising a teenager, supporting her local library, writing about herself in the third person and working on her next novel.
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