When you’re a bright-eyed fresh graduate, before you even open your mouth to say that “salary won’t matter, it’s all about doing what you like anyway”—please stop. Repeat until internalized and fully understood: salary is important. Salary is important. Salary is important. And so are many other factors that seem like petty conditions when it comes to accepting job offers.
Here are 8:
Your boss
It matters that the boss should like you from the get-go, otherwise you’ll spend half your time at work trying to prove yourself. Unless that’s something you like.
But to be safe, the moment you feel that the boss is letting you in the job because of something else (e.g. lack of people, the urgent need to hire, or because someone else in the team put in a good word for you), it might be a better decision to spend your time and talent elsewhere.
The working hours
Not the one that’s on the website, but the real, actual working hours. Is OT-ing a norm? Are employees expected to be on call even after working hours and during the weekend?
The benefits
It doesn’t seem important now but trust me, it will matter greatly in the future. It’s definitely better to start with your SSS and PhilHealth contributions now, while you’re still young and healthy. It will definitely go a long way.
And note that not all companies automatically have that, so better ask than waste years of employment not contributing anything to your future.
The turnover rate
If you see middle-aged employees who seem to be aging well, are happy and gay, then that’s a good sign. But if you look around the office and find that most employees are sulking and complaining, or that most of them are fresh graduates, then the turnover rate must most likely be high.
Unhappy employees usually flee (and look for better opportunities) in less than a year or maybe two years maximum. So think to yourself if that’s the kind of experience you’d like to have.
