Beyond the Salary: How to Actually Evaluate a Job Offer
You got the offer. Before you accept, here's how to evaluate what you're really getting—beyond the number that hits your bank account.
YoureHired Team
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You have an offer. The salary looks good. Your first instinct is to accept.
Slow down.
The number on the offer letter is just one piece of a much larger picture. Some jobs that pay well make you miserable. Some jobs that pay less provide growth and happiness worth more than the salary gap.
The Total Compensation Picture
Health Insurance
This can swing your effective compensation by thousands of dollars.
Retirement Benefits
A 6% match on $100,000 is an extra $6,000 per year. That's real money.
Equity/Stock Options
For startups and public companies, equity can be significant.
Bonuses
A "15% target bonus" might be 0% in a bad year and 25% in a good one.
The Hidden Costs
Commute
A $10K raise loses its shine with 2 extra hours in traffic daily.
Location Cost of Living
$150K in San Francisco might leave you with less than $110K in Austin.
Work Hours
Some companies pay well because they expect 60-hour weeks.
The Career Value
Learning Opportunities
Will you develop new skills?
Resume Value
Does this company name carry weight?
Growth Path
Do people actually get promoted internally?
The Decision Framework
Must-Haves: Non-negotiable requirements Nice-to-Haves: What you'd negotiate for Dealbreakers: What makes you walk away
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