If you’re unsure if you should accept a job offer, take our “6 P’s” assessment to help you make the decision.

How to Evaluate If a Job Offer Is Right for You

By Dan Hahn, M.S., and edited by Jelena Grove and JD Duran

Need help making your next career move?  Schedule a consult

Let's Chat
Woman on path evaluating which direction to go into, How to evaluate a job offer

Getting a job offer is exciting – even if it’s for a job you’re not particularly excited about. So what if you’re not entirely sure that that job is right for you, right now? In this article, we’ll share an assessment that can help you decide your next career move in the face of uncertainty. 

Once you’ve secured a job offer and negotiated your compensation, you’ll know your potential employer much better: what kind of work environment they have, what perks they offer, their health insurance options, compensation packages, retirement plans, and stock options. If the negotiations were successful, you may be very clear that this is the right job for you, and excited to start your first day. Great!

But if you’re not entirely sold on the job offer, you may need to spend some time evaluating what’s most important to you for your career path. Take some quiet time for introspection or a conversation with a trusted friend. Your task is to discern if your fears and doubts are normal. As they say, “Wet babies are the only ones who totally love a change.”  

Home  →  Helpful Articles  →  Negotiation →  How to Evaluate If a Job Offer Is Right for You

Here are a couple more articles you might find helpful on negotiating a job offer:

If you need more support, schedule a call, and we’ll be glad to help!

Let's get you paid what you deserve!

On this page:

a human figure deciding which direction to go

How to Decide on a Job Offer You’re Unsure About 

Revisit your career “wish list” and recall your top five criteria. For example:

  1. Easy on my ailing knees
  2. Accessible by public transportation
  3. Has a positive company culture
  4. In higher education
  5. Part-time so I can continue to do artwork 

After much searching, your prospective employer might offer you a job that meets all of your criteria but one: it was full-time. It’s time to do some soul-searching and problem solving; would you be able to keep your life as an artist alive with this job? Would you have time to engage with the creative endeavors you enjoy, and keep some semblance of work-life balance? At the end of the day, the need for income may demand a compromise: with a mixture of happiness and sadness, you may say “yes” to the position and postpone some of your creative needs. 

Take the 6 “P’s” Assessment

If you still have some reservations after reviewing your professional development goals and unique criteria in your job search, take the assessment below to rate the “six P’s” that correlate to job satisfaction. Here’s how it works:

Rate each criterion as follows:

1 – Not entirely true of this position
2 – Generally true
3 – Clearly true

Once you’ve assigned a number to each criterion, add up your answers and put your total in the “total score” line.

___ Purpose. The purpose of the organization matches your values. 

___ Pay. The pay and benefits are very good. (Think base salary, benefits packages, vacation time, and other incentives. Are they enough to cover your cost of living, healthcare, daycare, and other expenses?) 

___ Place. The commute time and quality of the location make it a good place. (Is it easy to get to, is it comfortable, does it have places nearby to grab lunch or run errands?)

___ People. You think you’ll like your new employer and the people who will be your co-workers at your next job. (Reflect on the interview process and see if you can get a sense of things like management style, communication style, company culture, etc.) 

___ Positioning. You will gain the experience, skills, and/or meet the people to position yourself to take the next step in your career to reach your ideal. (Do the job title and job description line up with your career development goals?) 

___ Pleasure. You expect to experience pleasure in your daily activities. (A higher salary is great, but will you experience personal fulfillment and joy in your new job?) 

___ Total score

Interpreting Your Results 

In general, scores that fall into these three buckets signify the following:

11 or less: most likely not a great fit
12—13: think about accepting, but be realistic about the compromises you’ll need to make
14—16: jackpot! So, when’s your start date? 

Be warned, a score of 11 or less raises some serious questions about the potential for long-term job satisfaction. Of course, if your priority is an immediate stream of income rather than a fulfilling, long-term career, be prepared to make some sacrifices as you acclimate to the new work.  

The following six questions may increase (or decrease) your score for People and/or Pleasure: 

  1. How do people in the organization communicate under stress?
  2. How does the organization celebrate successes?
  3. How much leeway do I have in working remotely?
  4. What does it mean on a daily basis that you refer to this culture as “family-friendly”?
  5. Can we go over once more how much time I’ll be out in the field vs. at the office?

Without the structure of a formal interview setting, you’re more likely to get the inside scoop on the up-sides and down-sides of the position. You owe it to yourself—and to your employer—to sign the contract with full anticipation of what awaits you and what, if any, compromises you’ll need to make to make it work.

Final Thoughts on How to Evaluate Your New Job Offer

Regardless of your score, if you’re seeking long-term job satisfaction, you might want to ask your potential employer or recruiter for a frank discussion or meet in confidence with other current employees to address any nagging concerns with the company offer. During these meetings, you can learn more about the environment by asking direct questions that you could not ask during the interview (like salary ranges, the possibility of profit-sharing, or tuition reimbursement)—at least not without undermining your chances of getting an offer.

Key takeaways

  • Make sure you go into any job negotiation with a clear list of your job criteria 
  • If you’re unsure about a job offer, take the “6 P’s” assessment to help you decide whether this job is right for you 
  • If you score 12 or less in your “6 P’s,” you may want to address your concerns directly with your prospective employer or other current employees
  • Having fears and doubts about starting a new job is normal, you just need to figure out which fears are the dealbreakers and which ones you can compromise on 
  • Private, non-interview meetings may offer more clarity in your workplace concerns/questions than formal interviews–and don’t undermine your chance of getting an offer 

Related articles you might be interested in:

Looking for a more in-depth analysis of your job offer? We're experts at what we do. Let us help.

Schedule a consult