A career counselor once told me, "Turn down offers, not opportunities." His point was not to be too choosy by only applying to and interviewing for jobs that are an exact match, high enough salary, in the right location or whatever. His advice was to apply broadly, and after receiving an interview/offer, then make the decision to accept or decline.
With an offer in hand, the candidate often has leverage to negotiate on responsibilities, pay and sometimes, even location before making a decision. However, if one never applies, there is zero chance to get an offer and do those negotiations.
Overall, I think "Turn down offers, not opportunities," is a great piece of advice, especially in today's economy. Of course, it doesn't mean to apply to jobs one would never accept. However, if the job description is close enough scope, salary and location, it's probably worth trying to get an offer and then deciding.
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This is not financial, career or job advice. Please consult a professional advisor.
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1 comment:
That's a great way to look at it.
That being said, sometimes a lateral move is a good thing. I suppose one could see that as an opportunity in itself, even though you're not 'climbing the ladder'.
It's especially true in some industries - mine is not very 'tall' vertically, and people tend to branch out into various media.
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