WHAT IS A GO/NO-GO LIST AND WHY DO I NEED ONE?
KNOW WHEN TO SAY NO TO A JOB OFFER
There is nothing like receiving a job offer or interview opportunity after a dry spell to cloud your vision. You used the right interview questions and you listened to the corporate sales pitch knowing it was just that. Yet you jump at the chance to take the wrong job seriously.
Do you know what the wrong job looks like? How do you spot the red flags when you are completely focused on the outcome? Create a Go/No-Go list before you even begin your job search.
The list includes the basics like minimum compensation you will accept and location. But it should also cover all variables relevant to a job. Imagine the job in six months. The thrill of the increased compensation is worn off, now what is important to you? Everything you feel is critical to your success and comfort belongs on the list including senior management track record.
Once you have created your list, you have to use it. If you are willing to accept an opportunity that doesn’t conform to your list, the item must be removed from the list or you must pass on the job.
But how do you spot the red flags? Most companies hope to dull your senses with glowing reports of their growth, ease of getting things done or prospects for your employment. You are considering where you will spend the next four or five years of your professional life and with whom. Evaluate the company as if you were planning to invest $50,000. If what you learn tells you it is a good investment, go forward. If not, take my favorite Monty Python advice, “Run Away.”
Themocracy