5 Reasons You Don’t Need To Settle for Just An Ok IT Job

Whether you’re actively hunting down job opportunities or a recruiter contacts you out of the blue, getting offered a job that you aren’t crazy about can present you with an interesting dilemma.

On the one hand, people can spend months try to land a job offer, so you should consider yourself lucky to have one fall in your lap. On the other hand, you need to think about short-term and long-term goals with each career situation, and a middling job opportunity may not address either.

Financial issues, fear of an employment gap and the good feelings that come with being wanted can all make a job that’s just okay seem pretty attractive. Also, if you’re unemployed, a mediocre job offer can be “the devil you know,” as opposed to continued unemployment being the devil you don’t know.

However, it’s rarely a good idea to take a job you don’t have a good feeling about.

Here are a few reasons why.

1) It looks like a dead end

A career path can be a winding road. While taking detours and trying a shortcut or two is to be expected, you’ll want to avoid dead ends. Don’t settle for a job you don’t want if it could actually hurt your career, not just put it on pause.

2) It seems soul-crushing

If you do take a job you aren’t crazy about, you’ll want to continue to keep an eye out for the next step on your career path and doing that can be difficult with a grueling, soul-crushing job.

Therefore, don’t take an okay IT job if you think it is going to mentally and physically drain you.

3) It goes against your personal values

Nobody expects to work for a company that is perfectly in sync with their values. However, you need to stay away from jobs that make you feel like you are compromising who you are as a person. For instance, if you are a passionate environmentalist, don’t take a job working for a big oil company.

4) The pay is inadequate

Most people know taking a job just for the paycheck is a bad idea, but it’s also a bad idea to take a job that doesn’t pay the bills. You have to address your basic needs and if a full-time job isn’t making ends meet, or you’d be just barely scraping by – it’s not worth taking the job.

If a low pay rate has you on the fence about a job, don’t be afraid to ask for a little more, especially if you are not being offered what you are worth.

5) It will negatively affect your family

If you have to drag your family kicking and screaming out of town for a so-so job opportunity in another area, the job probably isn’t worth it. Your family deserves happiness just as much as you do and their discontent over a move is going to make your life miserable, especially if the job is just okay.

Are you looking for a better IT job?

At SMCI, we work to connect skilled professionals with job opportunities they can get excited about. If you are currently considering a so-so job offer, please contact us today to see if we can find you something better.  Also, check out these available jobs!