WEIGHING YOUR CAREER OPTIONS:

DAN TRUPP & DALE DE STENO

A LEAN SIX SIGMA APPROACH TO SELECTING THE BEST JOB OFFER

/02

Engineers are in high demand across the globe. And thanks to today’s rapid innovation in many industries, that demand is set to grow even more, especially for those in the civil, petroleum, biomed, environmental, and nuclear disciplines.

In the U.S. alone, nearly 46,000 civil engineer jobs will be added before 2023—

a trend that’s likely to be similar in Europe, Asia, and other parts of the world.

The occupational outlook for engineers is so positive that according to the 2014 Kelly

Global Workforce Index™, 75 percent of engineers worldwide are confident they’d be

in a good position to secure similar or better jobs if they were to change employers.

Along with growing opportunities, there’s also an increasing need among engineers

for a solid method to evaluate job offers—one that doesn’t focus solely on monetary

compensation, but takes many more aspects into account to ensure a well-informed,

holistic career decision.

INTRODUCTION

KEY HIGHLIGHTS

In this ebook, you’ll

learn how to evaluate

and compare job

offers based upon:

• Financial Considerations

• Company Culture and

Work Environment

• Job Challenge and

Growth Opportunities

• Location

• Global Opportunities

• Counteroffers

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PART I: FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS

/04

There are two types of financial considerations to take into account when evaluating a new career opportunity: those related to compensation and those related to expenses.

Let’s take a closer look at each.

PART I: FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS

COMPENSATION

EXPENSES

82%

of engineers considered financial aspects a major factor when accepting one job over another.

In the U.S., the national average salary for an engineer is

The average starting salary for an engineer after graduating is

$91k$63k

COST OF LIVING

LOCAL AND STATE TAXES

TAX EXEMPTIONS

COMMUTING AND PARKING EXPENSES

SALARY

BONUSES

BENEFITS

401K

STOCK OPTIONS

RELOCATION PACKAGE

PERKS:• Education reimbursement

• Day care

• Gym memberships

• Commuting expenses

/05

Compensation

The 2014 Kelly Global Workforce Index shows that 82 percent of engineers considered

financial aspects a major factor when accepting one job over another.

Here are the main points to take into account when faced with a financial offer:

Salary: In the U.S., the national average salary for an engineer is $91,103. The average

starting salary for an engineer after graduating is $63,000. To evaluate the salary

offered, compare the annual sum to the going market rate for your experience in

your discipline. Also consider when you’ll be eligible for a raise and how much that

raise will be.

Bonuses: Many companies offer bonuses, for example a signing bonus or performance-

based bonuses. Calculate how they would add to your income.

Benefits: Carefully evaluate the benefits packages. Evaluate what types of health,

dental, life and disability coverage is offered and how it pertains to both yourself and

your dependents.

PART I: FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS

Sites that can help you benchmark average salaries include:

• Career One Stop www.careeronestop.org

• Salary.com www.salary.com

• PayScale www.payscale.com

• Glassdoor www.glassdoor.com/Salaries/index.

/06

401K: Assess the 401K plan, examining aspects such as which investment company

manages it, the fund options, how much the employer matches, and what the vesting

schedule is.

Stock options: Some employers offer stock options. Assess how much the

offered options are worth by multiplying the current stock price by the number

of shares offered. Bear in mind that the resulting sum can fluctuate based on rising

and falling stock prices. Find out what the vesting schedule is, as well as what

restrictions apply to exercising your options.

Perks: If the employer offers perks such as educational reimbursement, day care,

gym memberships, or compensation for commuting, determine how that would

increase your disposable income.

Relocation package: Many employers offer relocation packages to cover the costs of

moving yourself and your family to a new area. Consider aspects such as reimbursement

for professional movers services, realtor assistance in buying and/or selling a home,

and travel costs.

PART I: FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS

/07PART I: FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS

Expenses

The flip side of the coin pertains to expenses. Depending on where the job is located,

you could have higher or lower costs.

Cost of living: Use CNN Money’s cost of living calculator to assess the cost of living in

the new location in comparison to your current location.

Local and state taxes: Local and state taxes vary, so visit the appropriate state and

municipal websites to find out what the tax rates are in the new location.

Tax exemptions: In an attempt to attract more business, some cities offer tax

exemptions to employees of certain types of companies. Find out what tax exemptions

are offered and for how long they apply.

Commuting and parking expenses: Depending on location, commuting and parking

expenses can be anything from a negligible amount to a considerable monthly expense

that should be taken into account when calculating costs.

/8

PART II: COMPANY CULTURE AND WORK ENVIRONMENT

/9

Company culture and work environment go hand in hand, and it’s important to consider whether they’re a good fit for you.

Take the time to speak with current employees to gain a good

impression of the company’s culture and work environment.

Consider the following aspects:

Corporate values: Study the company’s mission statement and history to gain an

impression of its values, and evaluate whether they match your own. Commitment to social

and environmental responsibility, innovation, diversity, and employee advancement are

important aspects to take into account.

Company reputation: Assess the company’s reputation in the industry and in the

business world in general. You can also visit Glassdoor to find out what current and former

employees say about working for the organization. Ask yourself how working for this

employer will impact your brand and career.

PART II: COMPANY CULTURE AND WORK ENVIRONMENT

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Public or private company: Is the company public or private, and how will that affect

your job security, income, and the types of projects you’ll be working on?

Matrixed or vertical organizational structure: The 2014 Kelly Global Workforce Index

shows that almost a third of workers prefer a matrixed organizational structure to

a traditional vertical one. Ask about the company’s structure and gauge how it matches

your preferences.

Management/leadership: Find out who your direct report will be, as well as which

professionals form the leadership of the company. Can you work with them?

Culture of innovation: If a culture of innovation and creativity where the status quo is

challenged is important to you, find out if the company offers this by assessing the kind of

projects it takes on and what type of work procedures are utilized.

Opportunity to work with knowledgeable colleagues: Working with knowledgeable

colleagues can help you enhance your skills and advance your career. Inquire who

your peers will be, as well as what type of collaborations between departments and

organizations the company offers.

PART II: COMPANY CULTURE AND WORK ENVIRONMENT

Almost 1/3 of workers prefer a matrixed organization to a vertical organization.

Vertical: Employees seeking advancement within the organization have a clearly defined “career ladder,” with each layer of the organization representing another rung the employee attempts to reach.

Matrixed: fewer layers of management and greater reliance on the use of cross-functional teams and collaboration.

/11

Work-life balance: A good work-life balance can help you perform better in your

job. Determine how the employer supports work-life balance by asking about things

such as flex work and telecommuting options, onsite day care and gyms, vacation or

personal time off, overtime policies, and employee support.

Collaborative or highly individual work: Some companies encourage highly

individual work while others foster collaborative environments. Ask whether you’ll

be working predominantly solo or as part of a team, and assess whether that matches

your preferences.

Cutting edge technology and top notch equipment: The technology and equipment

a company uses says a lot about how cutting edge your work will be. Inquire about

the types of technology and equipment the employer uses, as well as how often new

developments are incorporated into the workflow.

Hours, attire and office space: Find out if the hours are reasonable, what kind of attire

is expected, and what your office space will be like.

PART II: COMPANY CULTURE AND WORK ENVIRONMENT

/12

PART III: JOB CHALLENGE AND GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES

How challenging a job is and what growth opportunities it offers can have a significant impact on how engaged you are.

Some companies are better suited to challenging work and career advancement

than others.

Let’s take a closer look at what to consider:

Responsibilities in relation to skill set: Evaluate your responsibilities and day-to-day

duties in relation to your skill sets and what you want to be doing. Do you understand

your responsibilities and are you capable of performing them well?

Challenging work: Will the role challenge you to expand your skills and capabilities in a

direction you want to go? Does it offer opportunities for you to contribute in a manner

that brings projects to the next level?

Impactful work: Find out whether the projects you’ll be working on will have an

impact within your company, industry, and even society as a whole. Will you have the

opportunity to work on projects that can affect the status quo in a good way?

PART III: JOB CHALLENGE AND GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES /13

BEFORE COMMITTING

TO A POSITION, IT’S

ADVISABLE TO LEARN

ABOUT THE CAREER

PATHS OFFERED WITHIN

THE COMPANY.

Two-thirds of engineers consider training and development opportunities when choosing between two jobs.

Training and development opportunities: Almost two-thirds of all engineers consider

training and development opportunities when choosing between two jobs. Inquire if

the company offers training programs, and if so, what kind. Does the employer support

continued education? Will you have access to a mentorship program and if so, what kind

of professional will be your mentor?

Opportunities for advancement: Before committing to a position, it’s advisable to

learn about the career paths offered within the company. Some employers also offer

career management support to help you advance in a direction that benefits yourself

and the company.

Tenure: Especially if you’re applying to an educational organization, ask if it offers tenure

to engineers. If it does, inquire how many tenured positions are available and what the

tenure-track program entails.

Recognition: Being recognized for your contributions is extremely important.

Investigate whether the company highlights individual contributions within the

company and whether it includes individual recognition when publicizing company

accomplishments. It’s also advisable to discuss company policy regarding contributing

to trade publications and other extra curricular activities that can enhance your

credibility as an expert in your field.

/14PART III: JOB CHALLENGE AND GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES

/15

PART IV: LOCATION

Location plays an important role when weighing your career options.

It can impact many things, including your health, future career options,

and housing situation.

Local businesses: The presence of companies that attract innovation to the area can

play a significant role in the kind of projects you’ll be working on. At the same time, the

more innovative companies there are in the area, the better your prospects in the event

you want to move on to another job after a few years.

Job market: If your partner or spouse is relocating with you, he or she will most likely

want to find a job in the new location. Check out the overall job market, since local

unemployment can be high or certain professions may not be in demand.

Schools: If you have children, research the quality and rankings of the public and private

schools in the area. Great Schools is a good resource to get a general impression of local

educational institutions. For more detailed information about rankings, you can contact

the state’s Department of Education.

PART IV: LOCATION /16

LOCATION CAN

IMPACT MANY

THINGS, INCLUDING

YOUR HOUSING

SITUATION, YOUR

FUTURE CAREER

OPTIONS, AND

YOUR FAMILY’S

EDUCATIONAL

AND EMPLOYMENT

OPTIONS.

Healthcare: Assess whether the area offers the level of healthcare you require. Are there

good family practitioners, dentists and hospitals? If you or one of your dependents need

special care, are those specialized services available?

Housing market: Find out what the housing market is like. Assess whether it’s a buyer’s

market, and compare the prices to those in your current location. Speak to a local realtor

to find out if you’re likely to recoup your investment if you buy a home now and sell

within a few years.

Crime rate: Especially if you have a family, it’s important to consider the crime rate in

the new location. Contact the local police department for detailed information on crime

statistics, or reference a crime-mapping website like Crime Reports.

Infrastructure and commute: Research the local infrastructure to gain an impression of

how long your daily commute will be, whether commuter rails are offered, and how close

the nearest airport is if your job will require extensive travel.

Travel: If business travel will be a large part of the job, find out how often, how far, and

for how long you’ll be traveling. Consider how it will impact your performance, as well

as your personal life.

/17PART IV: LOCATION

/18

PART V: GLOBAL OPPORTUNITIES

According to the 2014 Kelly Global Workforce Index, 36% of engineers considered global opportunities when choosing between two jobs.

With the current worldwide shortage of engineers and a quickly rising demand, there are likely to be increasingly more international opportunities available.

Yet however alluring the career benefits, international relocation should be properly

evaluated to ensure positive consequences for both your career and personal life.

Take the following points into account:

Regional business climate and opportunities: Study the specific area where the job

is located to determine whether the business climate is positive for your career. Is it a

region known for innovation and important work? Will you have access to resources or

opportunities you otherwise wouldn’t have? Will you be working with professionals who

can help move your career forward?

Geopolitical considerations: National and international politics can have a significant

impact on everything from the type of projects you’ll work on to how safe you and your

family feel. Investigate the destination country’s domestic and international political

situation, as well as its relationship to your country of origin, to gain an impression of the

political situation.

/19PART V: GLOBAL OPPORTUNITIES

36%

Personal preference: Whether living overseas is right for you or not has a lot to do with

personal preference and ability to adapt. Ask yourself whether you and your family can

be happy in another country by looking at aspects such as culture, religion, gender roles,

etiquette, education, income levels, and crime rates. Also study the geography and

climate, and evaluate if you will enjoy living in that environment.

If you want in-depth information about what life is like for expats in various countries

around the world, visit Expatica, an extensive resource with articles about everything

from healthcare and home buying to schools and social events. To hear personal

experiences, it’s advisable to join the forums and connect with people who are living,

or have lived, in the country you’re considering moving to.

/20PART V: GLOBAL OPPORTUNITIES

HOWEVER ALLURING

THE CAREER BENEFITS,

INTERNATIONAL

RELOCATION SHOULD

BE PROPERLY

EVALUATED TO

ENSURE POSITIVE

CONSEQUENCES FOR

BOTH YOUR CAREER

AND PERSONAL LIFE.

/21

PART VI: COUNTEROFFERS

Engineers looking to leave their jobs often receive counteroffers from their current employers trying to entice them to stay.

However, counteroffers are frequently made out of desperation, and oftentimes do not

end well in the long run. As soon as you receive a counteroffer from your current

employer, consider the following points:

Your reasons for leaving your employer: Remind yourself why you started looking for

employment elsewhere in the first place. Was it salary, lack of job satisfaction, problems

with management? Ask yourself how the counteroffer would change things in the event

you were to stay.

Reasons your employer is offering you more now: A counteroffer comes with career

advancement and increased compensation. However, if your employer isn’t prepared to

offer you those until you threaten to leave, evaluate what your chances are of getting the

career path you deserve with this company.

Your employer might doubt your future loyalty: Telling your employer you’re preparing

to leave isn’t conducive to mutual trust. If you stay, your employer might not put you on

high-profile projects or give you other responsibilities you want.

/22PART VI: COUNTEROFFERS

BEFORE ACCEPTING

A COUNTEROFFER,

BE SURE TO

CAREFULLY CONSIDER

THE POTENTIAL

RAMIFICATIONS.

LEVERAGING A COUNTEROFFER

Once you’ve received a counteroffer, it can be tempting to go to the prospective

employer and try to negotiate better terms based on the counteroffer. While it’s perfectly

acceptable to negotiate salary and other terms of employment during job negotiations,

using a counteroffer as leverage is not advisable. Your prospective employer might doubt

your commitment to the new position or even call your trustworthiness into question.

BOW OUT GRACEFULLY

Always be polite and respectful when turning down an offer. In the event you’re leaving

your current employer, communicate that you’ll do everything you can to make the

transition to your replacement a smooth one. Bear in mind that you might encounter

colleagues from your previous company again in your career—or need to call upon them

for references—so make sure to leave on a good note.

/23PART VI: COUNTEROFFERS

/24

PART VII: CHECKLIST

A QUICK REFERENCE TOOL TO HELP YOU MAKE THE MOST INFORMED DECISION POSSIBLE.

FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS

IMPORTANTNOT IMPORTANT

NEED CLARIFICATION

ACTION ITEM

Salary

Bonuses

Benefits

401K

Stock options

Perks

Relocation package

Cost of living

Local and state taxes

Tax exemptions

Commuting and parking expenses

Other

/25

FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS

COMPANY CULTURE & WORK ENVIRONMENT

CULTURE AND ENVIRONMENT IMPORTANTNOT IMPORTANT

NEED CLARIFICATION

ACTION ITEM

Corporate values

Company reputation

Public or private company

Matrixed or vertical organizational structure

Management/leadership

Culture of innovation

Opportunities to work with knowledgeable colleagues

Work-life balance

Collaborative or individual work

Cutting edge technology and top-notch equipment

Hours, attire, office space

Other

LOCATION IMPORTANTNOT IMPORTANT

NEED CLARIFICATION

ACTION ITEM

Local businesses

Job market

Schools

Healthcare

Housing market

Crime rate

Infrastructure and commute

Travel

Distance from friends and family

Other

GLOBAL OPPORTUNITIES IMPORTANTNOT IMPORTANT

NEED CLARIFICATION

ACTION ITEM

Regional business climate and opportunities

Geopolitical considerations

Ability to adapt

Other

LOCATION & GLOBAL OPPORTUNITIES

/26

JOB CHALLENGE & GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES

CHALLENGE AND GROWTH IMPORTANTNOT IMPORTANT

NEED CLARIFICATION

ACTION ITEM

Responsibilities

Challenging work

Impactful work

Training and development opportunities

Opportunities for advancement

Tenure

Recognition

Other

Although the outlook for engineering jobs is bright, it also means multiple opportunities can present themselves, and a decision to accept or reject can be expected rather quickly—especially in competitive industries that are booming.

But no matter how good an opportunity looks, you shouldn’t be left with the burden of

making an important career decision from the hip. So remember to put your professional

analytical skills to good use by making the most all-inclusive and informed decisions

when it comes to your job options.

Above all, be prepared to succeed by knowing what’s really on the line:

the advancement of your engineering career.

/27CONCLUSION

SOURCES:

http://salary.careerbuilder.com/engineer/

http://www.salary.com/tips-on-evaluating-a-job-offer/

http://guides.wsj.com/personal-finance/retirement/what-is-a-401k/

https://blog.wealthfront.com/stock-options-14-crucial-questions/

http://money.cnn.com/calculator/pf/cost-of-living/

https://www.crimereports.com

http://www.greatschools.org

http://blogs.hbr.org/2009/05/evaluate-how-you-fit-your-comp/

http://www.expatica.com

http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2012/03/26/why-you-shouldnt-take-a-counteroffer

http://www.forbes.com/pictures/efkk45ellkf/how-can-i-turn-down-the-counteroffer-without-burning-bridges/

http://www.glassdoor.com/about/index_input.htm

/28

/29/29

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Search for jobs on our Kelly Career Network®, join our

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EXITThis information may not be published, broadcast, sold, or otherwise distributed without prior written permission from the authorized party. All trademarks are property of their respective owners. An Equal Opportunity Employer. © 2014 Kelly Services, Inc.

ABOUT KELLY SERVICES®

Kelly Services, Inc. (NASDAQ: KELYA, KELYB) is a leader in providing workforce solutions. Kelly® offers a

comprehensive array of outsourcing and consulting services as well as world-class staffing on a temporary,

temporary-to-hire, and direct-hire basis. Serving clients around the globe, Kelly provided employment to

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ABOUT THE AUTHORS

DAN TRUPP is the Product Director for the Americas Engineering Product Center of Excellence

of Kelly Services, Inc. His primary responsibilities include leading strategic business development

of engineering workforce solutions throughout the West and Southwest regions of the United

States. He is an engineering subject matter expert for numerous industries including medical

device, aerospace, oil and gas, and semiconductor. Prior to joining Kelly, Dan held various

management positions with technical staffing firms in the United States. He attended Colorado

Technical University and is an active member of several associations including the Energy Professionals

Group, Colorado Governor’s Energy Board, and the Colorado Bioscience Association.

DALE DE STENO is a veteran technical recruiter for Kelly Engineering Resources®. His primary

responsibilities include new business development, account management and recruiting

process management. He recruits for positions in several industries including industrial product

manufacturing, custom equipment manufacturing, heavy off road equipment, and engine/

engine accessory design and development. Prior to his tenure in technical recruiting, Dale

worked in mechanical drafting and design, as well as inside technical sales, for several industrial

product manufacturing companies.