How do you know if the job offer you get is the one you should take? There are so many criteria for deciding and every situation is unique. The following are some ways for you to find out if the job is the right one for you.

First Know what you cant live without. This includes:

Your minimum salary requirement will this job give you at least a 10% raise? Is it more important to you to get:

o health plan for you and dependents? Short commute vs. long commute

o Flexible schedule, Retirement savings plan, Child care on premises

o Maternity leave/elder care leave, Vacations, holidays, sick pay

o Bonus and relocation package.

Second be clear about how important the job is for you. If you have been out of work for awhile, the job may look even better than it might have when you were still working. Knowing your own needs for the immediate future will help you determine if this is a go or no go for. Lastly - make a final decision based on all aspects of the job. Compare and evaluate the compensation, general benefits, basic requirements and distances for commuting or relocation. All these factors are important in your future success if you take the job.

Stefanie Spikell, owner of two companies, Expert Resumes and Clear Communications Business Consulting, is a noted business/careers coach, management consultant and resume writer. In her 20-year career, she has managed marketing communications departments for major engineering firms, taught at the college level, published hundreds of business-related reports and articles, and written thousands of winning resumes.