Welcome to episode 56 of the Nerd Journey Podcast [@NerdJourney]! We’re John White (@vJourneyman) and Nick Korte (@NetworkNerd_), two VMware Solution Engineers who are hoping to bring you the IT career advice that we wish we’d been given earlier in our careers. In today’s episode we discuss how to prepare for unanticipated career opportunities, part 4, Decision Time!
Original Recording Date: 10-03-2019
Topics – Preparing for Unexpected Career Opportunities, Part 4
1:53 – A Review of the Series to Date

* Go back and listen if you missed these episodes…

* Part 1 – Preparation
* Part 2 – Contact
* Part 3 – Agreeing to a Discussion

2:20 – Decision Time

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An offer letter is an official document describing terms of employment (with compensation package) for the potential employee to sign.

* Likely you do not want to make a company put this together unless you’re considering taking the offer.
* John mentions the decision point should likely come before you receive an offer letter.

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4:20 Review of questions to ask yourself during the process

* Is this opportunity interesting enough to keep pursuing?
* Am I interested in what the company is doing / the products it has, etc.?
* Have I become more interested as a result of going through the process?
* If at any point during the interview process you became disinterested, politely end the process.
* Did you rank your priorities (money, travel, flexible schedule, area, support for family life, etc.)?

* What is most important to you that would motivate you to make a change?
* What tradeoffs would you be willing to make?

* Review podcasts on reasons not to pursue an opportunity

* Episode 16 – Before Applying
* Episode 17 – During Interviews or After the Offer

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11:58 The company making you an offer has to sell you on making the change. It should be a better match to your priorities than you have today.

* Don’t forget to consider how the change will affect your family (spouse, children, etc.).

* Nick and John share anecdotes on being in close proximity to family.

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16:22 Should you leverage the offer for a raise at your current company, even if you are thinking about taking the job?

* Again, the answer is likely no.
* If this offer has exposed gaps at your current company, ask your employer to address them without posing the threat of leaving.
* A perception of one foot out the door could be created.

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18:19 What if you turn down the offer?

* Maintain professionalism no matter what.
* Maybe the company making the offer just cannot meet your needs.
* The art of saying no requires practice and can be difficult.

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20:29 What if you take the offer?