Dig for the Details on a Job Search to Avoid Surprises

Typical preparations for a job interview include practicing responses to potential questions, preparing any necessary personal materials and reading up about the company.

With your clothes pressed, resume proofread and your three personal adjectives chosen, you may forget about some essential elements of the job and of the company you are about to meet. Elements that should have a direct influence on your decision to accept a job offer.

One major problem with the job applicant/hiring company relationship is the lack of upfront information.

In your job search, you are very aware of the amount of income you want to earn and what you and your family require in health benefits. Unfortunately, you probably will not find out the actual income you will make until they offer the position to you, and you will probably hear nothing specific about medical benefits until your trial period is over. Three months after you started the job.

Frankly, there should be no surprises after you are already on the job. It would better serve a company, and a job applicant, to provide accurate wage and benefit information earlier in the process. I understand that limits the bargaining position for a company, but it also saves a great deal of precious time and energy for individuals who have specific wage and benefits requirements in mind.

There would not be wasted materials processing or wasted time with unnecessary interviews and meetings. That dream job at the top of the job listings with no wage information can quickly become a dead end after the first two interviews, where you will be informed; in fact, your new dream job pays less than your last.

The blame for this problem lies primarily on the shoulders of companies that provide as little job listing information as possible. The company is trying to sell itself and sell the job. While wages and benefits are at the top, or amongst the top, priorities for job searchers, it is not always the shiniest selling point for the company.

So, they lure you in with talk about opportunities, teamwork and all the other side dishes that a) distract from the actual job you were hired to do and b)neglects to mention that you will be underpaid and unable to pay for your kid's braces because your co-pay will be more than your monthly income.

It is up to you, the job applicant, to prod for this information early, because it will not be given until absolutely necessary. A company will always be hesitant to provide a specific wage number, but a ballpark figure would be nice. A smaller, more specific, little league ballpark type of figure would be even better.

Before you commit to anything, make sure you have all of the information and are able to weigh all of the options offered. It will make for a more qualified decision and in the end will benefit you and the company.

Don't be afraid to ask, "What's in this for me?"