After a long job hunting journey, you finally settle down with a few formal offers in hand. Now you are the one who gets to decide which job offer will take you to the next step of your career path.You spend one third of your life at work so this is no doubt an important decision. It will be your home away from home for the foreseeable future and affect your entire career path years to come. To help you make a decision you will not regret, here are four things to look into (beyond the obvious salary and benefits) and how to do it.

“But what do you really want?”

One of the things our consultants always ask candidates is what they really want. As broad as it may sound, it can definitely help narrow down your purpose and expectations in getting a job. Just as you would not hike off into the wilderness without a trail map, you should not go into a job without having at least a rough idea of where it will take you later in life. The answer to this question can be anything, but it needs to give you a glimpse of what you are trying to create for yourself.

Is your priority building great working relationships with your boss and colleagues? Do you prefer work-life balance to spend more quality time with your family? Is salary the most important to you since you have big plans in the future? Ask questions until you know what you really want. If everything seems like a priority to you, chances are, you have not found your priorities yet. The more understanding you have of your personal goals, the easier it is for you to decide if the job offer is for you. 

Visualize yourself at the job

Give and take. After thinking about whether a job can offer you what you want, start thinking about what you can contribute to the job. Your level of satisfaction will be a lot higher when it is a win-win situation for both you and your company.

Write down a list of your skills and abilities. Consider companies that can suit those skills that you have. Think deeply about the kind of jobs you are truly able to perform and where your presence will be valued. Visualize how it would actually be if you were working in this company every day. Imagine what type of duties you will be assigned to do, who you will be collaborating with, who you will be reporting to. Will it be something you enjoy doing and thrive as a critical part to this organization?

Do your research properly

It is always beneficial to take advice from others when considering a job offer, but you need to do the work yourself. Calculate long-term financial impacts, commuting costs and health benefits, list out the pros and cons of the job, so that you can understand the job you are being offered better. Take some time to learn as much as you can about the company, and utilize different means to do so. Browsing the company’s website and their social media is a good way to get a good sense of what the company wants their consumers to see. You can also check out other online reviews or ask your circle of friends about the company.

Another way to get more information is getting assistance from a recruitment agency. Recruiters are the ones who have carefully learned about the business and the job opportunities they have. Often, they have some inside details about the company that not many would know about. They can also give you advice on which opportunities are for people with your knowledge and expertise, and which expectations are realistic.

Trust your gut

At the end of the day, YOU call the shots. It is necessary to take other people’s opinions into account but you should hear them, and listen to your own thoughts. You are the one who will potentially be working in this company for years to come. So make the decision yourself, and, when you do, trust your gut.