When you finally receive that much-anticipated job offer that you’ve been waiting weeks for, it can be tempting to accept the offer right off the bat. However, when you receive a job offer, you must carefully evaluate the offer to ensure you’re not rushing into anything. After all, this is your career we’re talking about!
Here is everything you need to evaluate before accepting, negotiating, or even declining a job offer.
Money
Finances are arguably the most important factor to consider when contemplating a job offer. Obviously, there are other important aspects to evaluate with a job offer, but ultimately, you need to ensure the offer provides fair compensation.
Is the salary offered what you were expecting? If it’s a little less, is it enough to pay all your bills? If the answer is no, then you probably shouldn’t accept the offer right away. But if you really want the position, try and negotiate for a higher salary before you accept.
Need some negotiating tips? Check out our guide to negotiating a higher salary.
Benefits and Perks
Have you been briefed on the benefits? Reviewing the benefits and perks offered is essential when evaluating a job offer. Many people are willing to take a pay cut if the benefits offered are outstanding.
Ask for details about health insurance, life insurance, vacation/sick time/PTO, retirement plans, disability and any other benefit programs. Inquire about how much the benefits will cost out of your paycheck. If you still need more information, don’t hesitate to ask for the plan descriptions so you can compare the benefit packages.
And usually, when the benefits are good, it means the company does a good job of taking care of their employees!
Location of the job offer
Location doesn’t just refer to the city or state the job is located in, but also the proximity of the office to your home. If this job is a relocation for you, there are many things to consider before accepting a job offer, such as cost of living, recreational activities, distance from family, and so much more.
If this potential job is nearby, how’s the commute? Unless you don’t mind waiting in your car for hours, you may not want to accept a new job that has a crazy commute or terrible traffic.
Are you relocating to a new city? If so, you need to ask what the relocation package looks like. Some companies offer full or partial relocation packages to help you move to your new city. If the employer doesn’t offer any relocation benefits, you may want to think twice before pulling the trigger and accepting the offer.
Even if this is your dream job, you may be hesitant to accept the job offer if the location isn’t for you. You may love your job but ultimately resent your decision if you end up dreading where you live.
Travel and hours
Before you accept the job, ask about the hours you’ll be expected to work. Are you working 40 or 50 hours a week? Are you salary or hourly? Do you have the weekends off? Will you be on call 24/7? These are important questions to ask to get a better idea of what a normal ‘day at the office’ will look like.
If you are expected to work 20 hours a week overtime unpaid because you’re on salary, this may not be the opportunity for you. Work-life balance is really important and it’s essential that you double-check with the hiring manager that you will have a life away from the office!
When contemplating a job offer, everyone has a different set of personal circumstances. The same position may be a dream for one candidate and the worst nightmare for another candidate. Just ensure you take your time to thoroughly evaluate an offer before accepting (or rejecting) a job offer.
