7 Questions to Ask When Weighing a Job Offer
权衡工作邀请时要问的 7 个问题

You’ve been waiting for it, hoping for it, dreaming about it, and at last, it’s here: the job is yours. Congrats!
你一直在等待它，希望它，梦想它，终于，它来了：这份工作就是你的了。恭喜你

With an offer in hand, the real decision-making starts, says Dawn Graham, the author of Switchers: How Smart Professionals Change Careers — and Seize Success. You now must weigh not only the salary and benefits but also the role’s potential to challenge and stretch you, the work-life balance it offers, and whether the company’s vibe and values match your own. “When you’re interviewing, the employer holds the power,” says Graham. “But when you get an offer, the tables turn. Now, they want you and envision you in the role, which presents you with a rare moment of leverage.”
Switchers：聪明的专业人士如何改变职业--并获得成功。现在，您不仅要权衡薪资和福利，还要权衡该职位对您的挑战和拓展潜力、工作与生活的平衡，以及公司的氛围和价值观是否与您相符。"面试时，雇主掌握着主动权，"格雷厄姆说。"但当你拿到录取通知时，情况就会发生变化。现在，他们想要你，并希望你能胜任这个职位，这给了你难得的机会。

Making the most of this leverage might seem intimidating, but it’s an opportunity you shouldn’t pass up, according to Chelsea Jay, a career development and leadership coach. “Taking stock of what the offer means for you and your career requires self-reflection,” she says. “This is a big commitment and it needs to align with your lifestyle and your personal and professional goals.”
职业发展和领导力教练切尔西-杰伊（Chelsea Jay）认为，充分利用这种杠杆作用可能看起来很吓人，但这是一个你不应该放弃的机会。"评估这份工作对你和你的职业生涯意味着什么，需要进行自我反思，"她说。"这是一个很大的承诺，需要与你的生活方式以及个人和职业目标保持一致。

Graham and Jay recommend giving yourself ample time and space to think about the offer. As you consider your options, here are seven questions they suggest asking yourself:
Graham 和 Jay 建议给自己充分的时间和空间来考虑这个提议。在你考虑你的选择时，他们建议你问自己以下七个问题：

1. What am I overlooking?
1.我忽略了什么？

During the interview process, you were laser-focused on landing the job. However, this single-mindedness might have led you to make assumptions or overlook important details about the position or company, says Graham. “People tend to focus on certain aspects of the job and end up ignoring red flags,” she adds. For instance, you might be so caught up in the company’s prestige or the prospect of a bigger paycheck that you disregard your hiring manager’s distracted personality or that the company’s rigid attendance requirements could strain your family life. But don’t assume challenges will resolve themselves once you start, says Graham. It’s unlikely your boss will change their behavior and negotiating a hybrid schedule might not be feasible.
在面试过程中，你一心只想获得这份工作。然而，这种一心一意的态度可能会让你做出一些假设，或者忽略有关职位或公司的重要细节，Graham 说。"她补充说："人们往往会专注于工作的某些方面，最终忽略了一些信号。例如，你可能被公司的声望或高薪的前景所吸引，而忽略了招聘经理心不在焉的个性，或者公司严格的出勤要求可能会给你的家庭生活带来压力。但是，格雷厄姆说，不要以为你一开始工作，挑战就会迎刃而解。你的老板不太可能改变他们的行为，谈判一个混合时间表可能也不可行。

Jay recommends talking through the offer with trusted sources, including your spouse, friends, or career coach. Address your hesitations, uncover blind spots, and go over any parts of the job or the organization that feel a little off. “Consider all your priorities,” she advises. “If you have to sacrifice one, maybe it will be okay. Just make sure they don’t all fall by the wayside.”
杰伊建议您与配偶、朋友或职业指导师等可信赖的人一起讨论这份工作。解决你的犹豫不决，揭开盲点，并对工作或组织中感觉有点不妥的部分进行复习。"考虑你所有的优先事项，"她建议道。"如果你必须牺牲一个优先事项，也许这也没什么。只要确保这些优先事项不会全部落空即可。

2. What’s the company culture really like?
2.公司文化真正是什么样的？

Gaining a realistic understanding of a company’s culture as an outsider can be difficult, so be alert for subtle signals.
作为局外人，要想真实地了解一家公司的文化是很困难的，因此要对微妙的信号保持警惕。

Start by reflecting on your interview experience, says Graham. Note any signs of an unhealthy work-life balance, such as the company scheduling interviews late at night or frequently sending emails over the weekend. Then reach out to potential colleagues and ask open-ended questions. Her go-to is, “What surprised you when you took this role?” Happy employees usually share positive experiences about their team or benefits. “But unhappy employees focus on the negatives,” she says. “You ask for one thing and they tell you six.”
格雷厄姆说，首先要反思自己的面试经历。注意任何不健康的工作与生活平衡的迹象，比如公司将面试安排在深夜或经常在周末发送电子邮件。然后联系潜在的同事，提出开放式的问题。她最常用的问题是："当你担任这个职位时，有什么让你感到惊讶？快乐的员工通常会分享团队或福利方面的正面经验。"她说："但不开心的员工会把注意力集中在消极方面。"你问一件事，他们就会告诉你六件。

Jay also recommends learning more about the company’s onboarding process. “You want to hear that you’ll be shadowing colleagues and attending trainings,” she says. “That shows the company is proactive, intentional, and invested in your success. What you don’t want is to be alone trying to figure everything out by yourself.”
杰伊还建议更多地了解公司的入职流程。"她说："你要听说你将跟随同事学习并参加培训。她说："这表明公司是积极主动的、有意识的，并为你的成功而投资。你所不希望看到的是，你一个人孤军奋战，试图独自解决所有问题。

3. What’s my prospective boss really like — and will we click both personally and professionally?
3.我的未来老板真正是什么样的人，我们在个人和职业上是否会一拍即合？

Jay recommends having an open conversation with your prospective boss about their management approach and how it aligns with your work style and preferences.
杰伊建议与你的未来老板进行公开对话，了解他们的管理方法，以及这种方法如何与你的工作风格和偏好保持一致。

“You should feel comfortable having this conversation because you’ll need to discuss these things anyway if you decide to take the job,” she says. “If you’re uncomfortable expressing yourself and your needs, it might not be the best place to work.”
"她说："进行这样的对话，你应该感觉很舒服，因为如果你决定接受这份工作，无论如何你都需要讨论这些事情。"如果你在表达自己和自己的需求时感到不自在，那么这里可能就不是最好的工作场所。

Talk to your potential boss about how they see success in the team and what they expect from the people working under them. Ask how they support their employees in growing their skills and moving up in the company.
与你的潜在老板谈谈他们如何看待团队的成功，以及他们对下属员工的期望。询问他们如何支持员工增长技能和在公司晋升。

Knowing what they look for in an ideal employee is also helpful. “They might say they like employees who work independently and take ownership, or they might say they like people who understand the chain of command,” she says. “It tells you a lot about their management style and how they operate.”
了解他们对理想员工的要求也很有帮助。"她说："他们可能会说，他们喜欢独立工作、有主人翁精神的员工，也可能会说，他们喜欢了解指挥系统的人。"这可以让你了解他们的管理风格和运作方式。

4. What’s my potential for growth at the organization?
4.我在组织中的发展潜力如何？

Whether the job will “help you get to where you want to go next” is another important consideration, says Jay. She advises first thinking about your long-term career goals, including where you see yourself in five to 10 years. Then, figure out whether this role can provide the necessary skills, education, or mentorship to support your growth.
杰伊说，另一个重要的考虑因素是这份工作能否 "帮助您实现下一个目标"。她建议首先考虑您的长期职业目标，包括您对自己在五到十年内的定位。然后，弄清楚这个职位能否提供必要的技能、教育或指导，以支持您的成长。

Ask the hiring manager about concrete examples of employees who have progressed in their careers. Inquire about a professional development budget and the extent of opportunities for employees to take courses, attend conferences, or gain certifications. “You’re looking for signs that the company is committed to your growth and development,” she says.
向招聘经理询问员工职业发展的具体事例。询问职业发展预算，以及员工学习课程、参加会议或获得认证的机会有多少。"她说："你要寻找的是公司致力于你的成长和发展的迹象。

Keep in mind that growth opportunities can sometimes be sugarcoated when the company is trying to woo you, so it’s essential to do your own homework and LinkedIn sleuthing. Look at the career paths of current employees to get a sense of internal promotions, average tenure, and turnover rates. If most people have stayed with the company for less than two years, that should give you pause, says Graham.
请记住，当公司试图向你兜售时，有时会对发展机会进行糖衣炮弹，因此，做足功课并在 LinkedIn 上进行调查很有必要。查看在职员工的职业发展轨迹，了解内部晋升、平均任期和离职率。格雷厄姆说，如果大多数人在公司工作的时间都不到两年，那你就应该打消这个念头。

5. What relationships am I going to build?
5.我要建立什么关系？

“With remote and hybrid work becoming more common, it’s harder to build connections with colleagues and finding sponsors can be more challenging,” says Graham. That’s why it’s critical to understand both what your day-to-day interactions will be like, as well as how you’ll build a network at the company.
"Graham说："随着远程和混合工作变得越来越普遍，与同事建立联系变得更加困难，寻找赞助人也更具挑战性。这就是为什么了解你的日常互动情况以及如何在公司建立人际关系网络至关重要的原因。

Reach out to potential direct reports, peers, and colleagues in other departments. Ask how they forge relationships and find mentors, and find out whether the company’s setup supports those efforts. Take note of the people you interact with: Are they smart, supportive, and collaborative, or do they seem standoffish, uncooperative, and overly competitive?
接触潜在的直接下属、同行和其他部门的同事。询问他们如何建立关系和寻找导师，并了解公司的设置是否支持这些努力。注意与您互动的人：他们是聪明、乐于助人、善于合作，还是显得冷漠、不合作、竞争性过强？

Remember: “Your coworkers are going to make or break your experience,” says Graham.
记住："你的同事将决定你的经历是成功还是失败，"格雷厄姆说。

6. Beyond salary, what else can I negotiate that would benefit me in this role?
6.除了薪水，我还能谈成什么对我担任这个职位有利的条件？

While some may feel uneasy about negotiating and fear it could damage their rapport with their prospective boss, the process can not only strengthen the relationship, but also be illuminating, says Graham. Watch how your potential boss responds: Are they rational and open-minded, or dismissive and inflexible? This could reveal how they’ll handle future situations when you need support.
格雷厄姆说，有些人可能会对谈判感到不安，担心这会破坏他们与潜在老板之间的融洽关系，但这一过程不仅可以加强双方的关系，还能起到启发作用。观察潜在老板的反应：他们是理性开明，还是不屑一顾、缺乏灵活性？这可以揭示他们将来在你需要支持时会如何处理情况。

As for what to ask, Graham recommends getting creative. It could be a cell phone allowance, tuition benefits, or membership dues to a professional association. Choose one or two items that would be most advantageous and highlight how they’ll also benefit both you and the company. “There’s always something to be negotiated,” she says.
至于提出什么要求，Graham 建议发挥创意。可以是手机补贴、学费福利或专业协会会员会费。选择一到两个最有利的项目，并强调这些项目对你和公司都有好处。"她说："总有一些东西是可以商量的。

7. What’s my exit strategy?
7.我的退出策略是什么？

It might seem overly negative to think about leaving a job before you’ve even accepted it, but Graham urges practicality. “This is a business relationship, and the company certainly has an exit strategy for you if you underperform” or if business is bad.
在还没有接受工作之前就考虑离职，似乎过于消极，但格雷厄姆建议从实际出发。"这是一种业务关系，如果你表现不佳 "或业务不景气，公司肯定会为你制定离职策略。

Research the job market for your industry and consider your options. Assess the company’s financial health and stability by looking at publicly available information on its financial performance, credit rating, and market standing. This will give you an idea of its long-term prospects.
研究您所在行业的就业市场，并考虑您的选择。通过查看有关公司财务业绩、信用评级和市场地位的公开信息，评估公司的财务健康状况和稳定性。这将使您对其长期前景有所了解。

Bear in mind that you also might decide to leave the job sooner than anticipated for any number of reasons. “Hopefully you’re going to be okay being there for the next 2–5 years,” says Jay. “But it’s wise to have a backup plan.”
请记住，出于各种原因，您也可能决定提前离职。"杰伊说："希望你在未来的 2-5 年内都不会有问题。"但制定一个后备计划是明智之举"。

. . .

It’s impossible to predict exactly how a job will turn out, but asking the right questions of yourself and others can give you a clearer picture of what to expect. Your goal, plain and simple, is to make an informed decision and help prevent future regrets, says Graham. After all, “Life is too short to get into a situation where you think: ‘Wow, I wish I’d known that before.’”
要准确预测工作结果是不可能的，但向自己和他人提出正确的问题，可以让你更清楚地了解自己的期望。格雷厄姆说，你的目标很简单，就是做出明智的决定，避免将来后悔。毕竟，"人生苦短，不能让自己陷入'哇，早知道这样就好了'的境地"。