How do you analyse a job offer?

Consider the likelihood of having gone through a job interview and are confident that you will make it. And you do. But there are doubts that start creeping in your mind. Is the job appropriate for you in the sense that will it make you feel satisfied? Are various promising aspects offered during the interview or as enumerated in the job letter true? Should you be accepting the job offer or refusing it?

Under the above circumstances, you should evaluate the job offer and draw your conclusions, based on which, you could accept or reject the same. But, you need to do this with due prudence so that your mind is free of reservations to avert making a poor career choice. The pros and cons related to the following surely warrant serious evaluation are:

Positive & negative sides of the job: You need to ask yourself some pertinent questions to start with. If the answers are all "No", then you have to keep your job search going. But if the answers are "Yes", it is your good luck to have found a job that you have n aspiring for. However, if there is mix of "Yes" and "No", then probably you need to weigh things seriously and take any step out with due caution. You need to be convinced that the job on offer is in consonance with the criteria that you envisaged in the beginning. It is also essential that you are convinced that it will facilitate attainment of your prospective objectives. In addition, you should weigh the perks being offered vis-à-vis your previous jobs.

All aspects of financial issues involved: Nobody takes up a job just for the heck of it. Remuneration is an important concern; and though it may not be high on your priority, the fact is that it cannot be disregarded. You need to analyse all financial considerations for their true effect. And to do that, you need to carry out a holistic evaluation. If pecuniary factors are high on your agenda, you should remember that a couple of hundred additional rupees do not have the capability to transform an awful job into a superior one. You should make your mind up on whether the job is in tune with your personality and wants. All aspects related to salary and allowances to include perks and bonuses should be seriously considered.

Minimum remuneration that you expect: The next stage is to settle on the minimum that you expect. What is the lowest remuneration that you will agree to? To illustrate the point, suppose if you actually need a monthly all-inclusive package of Rs 50000-00, then settling for even Rs 45000-00 will not be in order. You need to establish a bottom line, which, in this case should not, in any case be less than Rs 50100-00 - nothing less, nothing more. Setting the minimum that is okay with you renders your conciliation procedure easy. The bottom line should never be divulged. On the contrary, you should wait for an employer to make the offer; in case it is exceeded, you can rejoice for striking a good deal. If the offer happens to be less, you have the option of saying 'Thank you' or sit across and make your expectations known.

Allowances and perks: Quite often, companies do not want their salary structures to be disturbed. The way out is to seek 'additionals' to boost your overall package. Some ways to do so is by demanding joining bonus: performance linked and time-bound increments; benefits related to leave and house rent reimbursement allowance; and allowances for conveyance, telephone and newspapers & magazines.

Having evaluated the offer and your aspirations are met, you should not delay its acceptance. An early acceptance will send signals of your interest and professional approach. However, if you have genuine doubts, there should not be any reluctance to seek clarifications. Pondering over unnecessarily will do no good. But in case you do not find the offer favourable and decide to reject it, there will never be a second chance. There will be many in the queue who will grab it. So you should take a decision with due diligence.