A job offer is a decision about the work you will do, the terms you will accept and the opportunities you may give up. The headline salary matters, but it does not describe the whole arrangement. Use this checklist to organise your questions before you respond.

Ask for the full written offer and sufficient time to review it. This guide helps you identify questions; it does not replace advice about a specific contract or employment law.

Confirm the role you are accepting

Check the job title, reporting line, location, start date and main responsibilities. Compare them with the vacancy and interview discussions. Has the role become broader? Will you supervise people, travel regularly or support several markets?

Ask what the first few months should achieve and how performance will be assessed. If an important promise was made verbally, request written confirmation. A clear answer now is more useful than an assumption you discover after joining.

Compare guaranteed pay separately

Record base pay, currency and payment frequency. List guaranteed allowances separately from discretionary bonuses, incentives and benefits that depend on eligibility. Ask how variable pay is calculated and whether any conditions apply.

When comparing offers, use the same period and pay basis. Avoid comparing one monthly base figure with another employer’s annual package including uncertain bonuses. Your expected salary research can help explain questions about the difference.

Understand the practical working arrangement

  • What are the normal hours and expectations outside those hours?
  • Where will you work, and how is any hybrid arrangement documented?
  • How much travel is expected, and how are expenses handled?
  • Which leave and benefits apply, and when do they start?
  • What equipment or support is supplied?

Consider the effect on your daily routine. A longer commute or regular evening work may change how you value a package, even when the salary is higher.

Read conditions and restrictions carefully

Identify probation arrangements, notice periods, conditions before the offer becomes final and any repayment or restrictive clauses. Ask the employer to explain wording you do not understand. If a term could materially affect your finances or future work, seek qualified local advice before agreeing.

For a role in another country, verify work-authorisation arrangements with the employer and relevant official sources. Do not assume an offer alone gives permission to start work.

Make the comparison visible

Write your top three priorities before choosing: perhaps the work itself, a manageable schedule and a clear development path. For each offer, record confirmed facts, unresolved questions and trade-offs. Avoid inventing precise scores when the information is uncertain.

NUS’s guidance on evaluating job offers is a useful additional resource. Use questions from your own priorities rather than treating a checklist as a universal ranking.

How should I ask for clarification?

Try: “Thank you for the offer. Before I confirm, could you clarify [specific term] and include the agreed arrangement in writing? I can respond by [realistic date].” Keep the message specific and courteous. Accept only when you understand the terms and are ready to make the commitment.