In the previous edition we discussed how to approach the negotiation aspect of a job offer. Prior to any negotiation the need to assess the job offer you have received is worth just as much time and energy. For many of us, a job is our career. It is where we spend most of our time and, if we are lucky, it is our passion. So, it makes sense to objectively evaluate any job offers that we receive, even if our initial reaction is to accept.

To really consider any propositions that you receive you should give yourself enough time to do your due diligence. Politely request a couple of days to decide whether it is really the job for you. At the same time, remember to be realistic - the offer may not be perfect, you may have to compromise on certain elements of the job. Remember, your ultimate goal is to progress and improve on your current position.

A good starting point is to evaluate your job offer against the criteria below:

Research

Your prospective employer has worked hard to assess your suitability for the job. But have you thought about whether it is really suitable for you? Take some time to investigate whether the company is the right fit. Talk to someone who already works there. If you cannot do that social media is an excellent source of information. Try to gather as much information as you can about the organization's people, reputation, values, working environment, and culture. Look at the company's most recent annual report where you can find out about projects, its directors, and financial accounts.

Salary

Many people see salary as the key factor, so, you need to evaluate how much your skills and experience are really worth. Look to other advertised vacancies to give you a good idea of the average salary bands for your level of experience, specialism, location, and size of your potential employer. It is also worth considering when salary reviews are scheduled? Or, if the bonus structures are realistic? It might be worth asking the employer how often targets are met.

Benefits

Benefits can make up a substantial portion of your overall package so it is worth assessing this part of your contract carefully, as their value is often less obvious. The salary that you have been offered might be higher than your current one but, if your employer's pension contributions are lower, you could be worse off in the long term. Alternatively, a generous benefits package and pension plan can make up for a lower salary. Find out what benefits you will be eligible for (and when), and assess their value to you.

Time

The amount of time that your new job will take up (beyond core hours) can be difficult to judge. It might be worth talking to someone who has a similar role in the company to try to understand what workload you may be expected to take on or how much overtime you may have to work.

The commute time is also an important consideration. How much of the day will your new journey take up? Remember that a lengthy commute might be bearable when you are younger, yet it can become a burden later in your career when seeking a healthy work/life balance.

Study the role

Read the job description and person specification again. It is important to be certain of exactly what will be expected of you, and that those expectations are realistic. If you feel that you oversold your abilities in the interview, you could wind up disappointing your boss or team, missing targets, feeling stressed and under scrutiny. Equally, if you have undersold them, you could become bored, frustrated and resentful.

Career path

Getting a new job might be your priority right now, but you still need to think carefully about how it will impact your long-term career prospects. Ask yourself whether it will challenge you, expose you to new experiences, and enable you to grow. If you job-hop due to making the wrong decisions, you could find that your CV becomes spoiled with a number of short-lived jobs. This could make you look unreliable to future potential employers.

Your decision

Once you have thoroughly and objectively evaluated your job offer, it is time to make your decision. You will be in a much better position to decide whether you should take the job, try to negotiate a better deal, or move on and reject the offer completely.