checklist: things to consider when evaluating and accepting a job offer.

So, you were offered a job—congratulations! All your time and effort in your job search has paid off! You’re probably feeling a combination of relief, excitement, and validation. 

You may be tempted to say ‘yes’ immediately and accept the job before diving into the job offer details.

But before you rush to accept the job offer, it’s important to take a breath and spend a little time evaluating what’s on the table. 

Consider the whole picture before accepting the job offer. The last thing you want to do is make a hasty decision you will regret later on. 

No two job offers are the same. You must ensure this is your job before making a career move. 

Your job is a huge part of your life, so you want to make sure you choose a career path that fits you. 

Taking the right job can save your career time and effort. We’ve created a job offer checklist to help you assess whether the opportunity fits your career trajectory.

1. do you understand the job?

• Do you fully understand what the job entails? 
• Has your potential employer provided you with enough information to understand what’s expected of you? 
• Do you know exactly how you'll spend your time daily? 
• Do the responsibilities appeal to you? 
• Do you understand the work environment?

Ask yourself if this job excites you, if you think you'll excel at it, and whether it will advance you on your career path. If you said yes to everything above, then consider accepting the position. 

 2. do you feel you’re capable of doing the job?

• Is it a good fit based on what you know about the job offer? 
• Do you have the skills, experience and knowledge to be successful in this role? 
• Or do you feel like you’ll be able to learn what you need to know on the job? 
• Do you think the job will be challenging, or may you feel overwhelmed and out of your depth?

Feeling capable of being able to do the job is something that everyone should consider when accepting a job offer.

3. is the salary fair given the market?

Before accepting the position, make sure you are getting paid what you’re worth and happy with the compensation. 

• Does the offer include a compensation package that aligns with what you expected? 
• Will you be able to maintain a comfortable lifestyle? 
• Based on your research, are the salary and other benefits comparable with what others in your profession and location make?

If you’re unsure, evaluate the job offer by checking our salary guide to verify if the compensation is competitive.

4. are you happy with the benefits package, vacation time, and other perks?

Evaluate the job offer, does the offer include an attractive benefits package? 

Consider health and dental insurance, vacation time, and other perks such as work flexibility. Are there additional perks you expected in the offer? 

If there’s a benefit you feel strongly about—such as the ability to work from home or work environment—consider negotiating for it. 

Most employers expect candidates to propose counteroffers before accepting an offer.

5. do you like your new boss or new team?

• Did you meet your direct manager? 
• Will your work habits mesh with their leadership style? 
• Can you see yourself working in that space? 
• Do the other employees seem happy or overwhelmed? 
• Do you have any reservations about working with them? 
• Are you concerned about how you will fit in with them and the company culture?

Work-life is important when assessing if a company's work environment will mesh with you personally. It’s something important to consider before accepting a job offer.

6. are you satisfied with your job title?

When considering a job offer, it's crucial to evaluate a company's offering beyond just the salary carefully. 

• Does the proposed job title reflect where you are in your career and what your job will entail? 
• Will you be happy to have this job title for the foreseeable future? 
• Is there room to grow into more senior titles if you plan to progress your career within this company?

Considering whether you’d like to grow your career at a company before accepting the job offer is important. Think about the job title and whether that reflects you before signing on the dotted line.

7. are you happy with your potential career trajectory in this role?

Considering your career trajectory when evaluating a job offer is important, as mentioned above.

It can be easy to overlook growth opportunities when you’re focused on a new role. Ensuring the company offering sets you on a career path you’re happy with is important. 

Whether you see yourself in this role for years to come or view it as a stepping stone to your next job, it should help you achieve your long-term career goals. 

Think about the next job offer after this job. Will what you learn in this role help propel you to the next one, or will it be another dead end?

Looking to improve your career? Here's where you can start.

8. did you receive the job offer in writing?

Did you receive a formal written job offer, or did the company make a verbal offer? Before accepting a job offer, always ensure you have a chance to read over the offer in writing. 

If your potential employer refuses to provide a written job offer, that’s a red flag, and you should be wary of accepting the job. 

An important factor when you receive the written offer is to verify all the details are as you expected. 

Sometimes the person you negotiate with verbally may not be responsible for drafting the offer letter, so it’s important to double-check the written offer before accepting an offer.

9. did you read the job offer and look for red flags?

Only some job offers will be perfect out of the box. There are things to consider when accepting a job offer, such as red flags. 

Are there potential red flags that have you second-guessing whether this job is right for you? 

For example, are there unreasonable overtime expectations, unusual termination policies, odd work environment clauses, and other company policies that make you question whether you want this job or make you uncomfortable?

10. do you feel excited about accepting the job offer?

Before accepting the job offer, does the idea of accepting this job make me happy? You should always feel good about accepting a job offer. 

Maybe you’re happy about a pay increase. Perhaps you’re looking forward to the work you’ll be doing. 

Whatever the case, your overall feelings should be positive. Are you interested but holding out hope for another offer? 

Your gut feeling will give you a good indication of whether this job is right for you.

If you’re unsure, consider what’s holding you back and whether it’s actually a deal breaker when evaluating a job offer.

Once you’ve worked through our job offer checklist, you'll need to consider accepting the job offer. 

Do you want the job, or is it not quite right? Some jobs are too good not to take, whereas others require serious consideration. 

When evaluating a job offer, compare your current role, the new opportunity and make a well-informed decision about your next career move. 

Also, don’t forget that you have the ability to propose a counteroffer before accepting an offer.

Most employers leave wiggle room in their hiring budget and expect new hires to negotiate their salary and other benefits.

Consider negotiating a job offer if you’re mostly on board, but something about the job offer isn’t quite right. 

Job offers are rarely an all-or-nothing proposition. You can attempt to negotiate salary, benefits, vacation days and other perks. 

Even if the hiring manager rejects your counteroffer, the original offer will likely remain on the table. 

If they liked you enough to extend a job offer, it’s in their best interest to work with you. Hirable candidates are challenging to find.