Should you take the new job? Run the numbers and the real-life test

Choose the situation closest to yours

Use this checklist before accepting or turning down a job offer. You do not have to share salary figures or personal information with this page.

Start with take-home reality, not just the new title

Compare guaranteed base pay, realistic bonuses, benefits, retirement contributions and likely taxes. Add the cost of commuting, extra childcare, travel, parking and any equipment. If the offer changes your health coverage or schedule, assign that an actual dollar or time cost where possible.

Write down the difference per month after these costs. An offer that sounds dramatic on an annual basis may be a much smaller practical improvement once everything is included.

Test the job you are walking into

Ask how success is measured during the first 90 days. Find out why the position is open and whether the manager has time to train you. If the role has commission or a variable bonus, ask what typical actual earnings look like and what conditions trigger payment.

A job that builds useful skills can be worth a temporary lateral move, but vague promises of advancement are not the same as a defined promotion path. Get the important terms in writing before you resign.

Know what could go wrong and how you would recover

Think through probation, layoffs, relocation requirements, benefit waiting periods and the savings you would need if the new opportunity ended early. If you are supporting other people, make the backup plan part of your calculation rather than a footnote.

Finally ask a different question: “If the salaries were identical, which role would I choose?” The answer often exposes what you value most: growth, security, flexibility, healthier management or time with family.

Before you make the move: your six-point check

Check what you've considered. Your answers stay on this page — no account or private details are collected here.

• I know guaranteed base pay and realistic variable compensation.
• I compared benefits, commute, schedule and practical expenses.
• I understand success expectations for the first 90 days.
• I asked why the role is open and what turnover is like.
• I identified a fallback plan if the new role falls through.
• I have the important employment terms in writing.

A checklist supports judgment; it does not determine your answer for you.