Despite the bad economy, I would not recommend that you jump at the first offer you receive. That does not mean that you should turn it down or try to string out the employer. This is no time to be cavalier about job offers. However, you should be thoughtful about whether or not this is the right company and opportunity for you. In this market jobs can be lost as quickly as they come. Employers are not in the position to keep people who do not fit the position or culture. You need to be as cautious when choosing a job as employers are in choosing you. Here are a couple of things I would think about:
1. Do your Homework – know what you plan to get out of the opportunity
Thoroughly research the company by looking at their website, doing and Internet search, asking friends and reading trade magazines. You want to understand how the company has been performing financially and competitively in the marketplace. You want to be certain that the company that you join is going to be around in 12-18 months. You also want to understand as much about the culture of the organization as you can to make sure that you are a good fit. Even if you find that the company is not on great footing, you still may consider working there if you believe that you will develop a new skill set that will make you more marketable in the future. However, you want to understand what you will get out of this opportunity before you jump in..
2. Work within your Parameters
Take the time to assess your financial situation and determine a realistic timeframe for how long you can afford to be out of work. Once you do this you will be able to figure out if you have the flexibility to take a course or find part-time work to develop your skill set that will make you more marketable. You might even discover that you have enough of a financial cushion to explore other opportunities you didn’t have time for working full-time.