When it comes to analyzing the job offer there are some key things that you should be reviewing to determine whether or not the position is right. Of course if you have made it this far, chances are you like the company and they like you. But how much do they really like you? Is it worthwhile to leave (if you are currently employed) or accept vs. continuing the search for something more suitable?

Since you are not going to accept the offer on the spot (it’s perfectly fine to take 3-4 days to mull it over), here are some things to consider before you take the plunge:

• Compensation: You should have done research already regarding the market and the pay scale for similar or the same position so you understand what other employers are paying for the role. Salary is the most critical part of the offer so it is in your best interest to know what the value of the position is before you accept. Make sure you also know the company’s review policy. Is there a formal review policy? When can you expect to receive a review? What are the parameters of the review? Is there a 360° review process? If so, how does it work? Does the company reward based on performance or are they going to 3% you to death once you get there? You want to make sure that if you ‘bring it’ that you will be compensated in alignment with your efforts and what you do for the new employer.

• Bonus: Does the company have a bonus program? You should find this out before accepting the offer. What is the qualification process? When are bonuses paid? How are they calculated? This should be something that you discuss as part of the offer process. Oftentimes bonuses are contingent upon meeting certain performance criteria. Make sure you understand how bonuses are calculated. Any offer of employment you receive should provide you with the structure, including what you need to do to be considered for a bonus. If you are getting a sign-on bonus to join, find out when you can expect the payment once you have joined the company. Sometimes sign-on bonuses are paid within the first or second payroll period. In some instances you might have to wait 3-6 months for the bonus to be issued. What of you get a sign-on bonus and decide the job isn't right for you - do you need to pay it back?

• Health Benefits: One of the things to consider before accepting any role is the type of benefits offered. While you might be getting an increase in salary, if you have to pay through the nose for the benefits, you could actually lose money by accepting a new offer. Make sure you know the types of coverage you can choose from. Oftentimes companies will have several plans. It is important that you review the medical and dental plans primarily to understand plan allowances, deductibles, and cost of participation. When do the benefits begin? Some employers have benefits that don’t begin until you have been there 30 days. If that were the case, you would need COBRA to continue your benefits until the new plan starts. COBRA can be very expensive, and you might want to negotiate to have your new potential employer pick up the tab for the month or period of time until the new plan takes effect.

• Other benefits may include short- and long-term disability, vision care, life insurance, access to a credit union, and a car allowance. Some companies offer stock options so be sure to find out if you qualify for them and how the program works. 401(k)s, pensions or IRAs are other benefits offered by many companies. Find out when you can start participating and if the company offers a matching program. Matching is the process by which a company will contribute money to the plan depending upon how much you contribute. Other benefits include tuition reimbursement and training. If continuing your education is important to your personal and professional goals, don’t accept the offer without discussing the tuition or training program.

• Vacation: Vacation time is worth its weight in gold – not to mention that there is a dollar figure associated with vacation. You wouldn’t want to go from having four weeks’ vacation to only two. For me vacation would be a deal breaker. This is definitely something that can be negotiated. Generally companies have a vacation policy. Sometimes you are granted two weeks when you start and accrue additional time over your tenure. Review this point with your hiring manager before accepting the position. You should also be aware of any sick and personal days that you are entitled to over the course of your employment.

• Title: Title can be a very important aspect of your role. You don’t want to accept a title that is not commensurate with your experience of the level of work you will be performing in the new position. If you accept a position only to find out that your title undervalues the role, you will have difficulty when you launch your next search campaign. Your title should match the position and skillset.

Another thing to consider is the start date; two weeks’ notice is generally given to a current employer before moving on to a new role. Your start date should be specificed in your letter of employment. Your existing employer might request a longer notice period and in some cases it may be contractually required. If this is the case (of course you don’t want to leave on a sour note), negotiate an extra week or even two to start a new position. You might want to take a week off in between your existing and prospective role.

The points referenced above are important to consider. Your due diligence is very important during this time to ensure that you make a wise decision that will serve both you and your potential employer well.