You always hear that money isn’t everything, that it isn’t the key to a happy life. Well, the same might be true for your job, too. Most job seekers looking for employment go straight to the salary and commission section of employment advertisements. When in an interview, “what’s it pay?” is usually their first or only question, too. Although earning a good pay cheque is certainly important, it shouldn’t be the only factor at play when searching for a sales position or when evaluating an offer from a potential employer.

What’s more important? Loving your job, feeling satisfied in your work, moving up the corporate ladder, and actually looking forward to going to work every day. If you don’t consider other factors besides salary, you might find yourself stuck in a sales position that you hate and find yourself looking at job ads in a few months’ time once again.

Survey Says…

Millennials in particular understand the importance of quality of life. A Fidelity survey found that these younger members of society would actually take a salary cut as big as $7,600 if it meant they’d be happier in their employment. A whopping six out of ten Millennials who responded to the survey said that quality of life trumped financial benefits, and only 39% either negotiated or attempted to negotiate the job offer.

Consider Your Daily Responsibilities

When evaluating an offer, put aside your concerns for the salary for a moment and look at the daily grind first. What tasks will you be in charge of? What will you be doing every single day? Do you think you’d enjoy handling these activities day in, day out, for the long term? Will you get bored or frustrated?

In addition, what types of employees will you be working with? Research the company culture before taking the offer. Many sales professionals know that they spend more time in the office than at home, so it’s important to factor in who you’ll be working with and if you’ll be happy being in the same space as your colleagues for years to come.

Consider Your Career Trajectory

Many out-of-work sales professionals are so focused on being hired for the open position that they don’t consider the future at all. Get hired first, then worry about it, is their mindset.  

But as a motivated, goal-oriented sales professional, you should definitely consider where you’ll likely be headed within the organization. Getting paid less now for the possibility of a big promotion that’s in line with your goals later might be worth more. The last thing you want is to be stuck in an entry-level sales position, even with a decent salary, where you can’t advance in your career, move up the corporate ladder, and achieve your long-term goals.

Factor in Management and Development

Management style is a huge factor in happiness at work. If you like being a free bird, a lone wolf who makes his own decisions, then going to work for a company that strictly micromanages its employees will probably make you miserable. And since you consider sales to be a career more than just a job, it’s important to consider what structure will be in place to guide your personal and professional growth, so you can constantly improve instead of being held back by your new position.

Evaluate Total Compensation

The dollar amount of your salary isn’t everything when it comes to your compensation package, so you shouldn’t get tunnel vision. A great retirement plan, top-of-the-line health insurance, and commission and bonuses should also be considered because they can really increase the value of your offer and your overall satisfaction at work.