Years ago, back before I became a consultant, a job search led me to an interview with a technical company. The company was large enough to offer a variety of challenges with room for advancement, but wasn’t so big that one would get lost in a sea of employees. The company’s line of business was one that I was already familiar with, which meant that I’d be able to hit the ground running and add value almost immediately.
After a phone screen and a face-to-face interview, I got the call every job seeker wants: “We want you to work here.” A written offer followed shortly, which described a position that would have been a significant upgrade both in responsibilities and compensation. However, after a couple of days of contemplation and research, I respectfully turned down the offer.
Why on Earth would a job seeker turn down a job offer for more money? For me, it was this: I was selectively picking the right team for me.
Picking The Right Team
During the interview process with this company, a couple of things gave me pause. First, although I had requested to visit with some of the other members of the team, the only person I was able to meet with was the team leader. I was also concerned about the communication during the interview process: I was asked exactly one question (which was a very simple technical question), and there was no discussion about company culture or organizational fit. During the one-hour interview, the team leader spent at least 50 minutes talking about the technical architecture, and I didn’t get much time to ask questions at the end because another candidate was waiting to be interviewed at the top of the hour.
Everyone I dealt with at this company was cordial and professional, and my research did not find any serious deficiency in the company. Still, I just couldn’t shake the sense that I’d be out of place at this company. I was already in a good job without an immediate need to make a move, so I stayed where I was. In retrospect, I am confident I could have made the new job work for a time, but it was the right move for me to stay with the great team I already had.
When looking for a change, whether it’s a new job, a business venture, a volunteer group, or a new neighborhood, the people around you will have a huge impact on your happiness – probably more so than salary, benefits, profit, or other factors. Consider carefully, and pick the right team for you.
The synergy of team dynamics often make the difference in whether you enjoy your work or not. Finding the right fit is likely unique to each person and you wont know that from a 1 hr interview. For senior level positions a wise interview panel will recognize this.