Find the Opportunity
Offer decisions
Put every term in one worksheet: cash compensation, benefits, equity, schedule, location, role scope, start date, and decision deadline. Mark what is written, what is assumed, and what still needs an answer before you accept.
Revisit your career decision criteriaPractical guidance
Record the title, manager, reporting location, employment type, start date, base compensation, bonus language, and offer deadline exactly as written. Separate a guaranteed term from a target, estimate, or verbal statement. Ask for clarification when the offer and conversation differ; do not silently resolve an ambiguity in the employer’s favor or your own.
List health-plan premiums, deductibles, retirement match rules, paid time off, leave, and any waiting periods. Estimate only the costs that matter to your household and label every estimate. A larger salary can still produce a weaker practical offer when recurring costs, commute, or unpaid time change.
For equity, ask what the grant represents, the vesting schedule, exercise terms if applicable, and what happens when employment ends. For bonuses or commission, ask what is guaranteed, what is a target, and how performance is measured. Do not count uncertain value as cash compensation. This checklist is not legal or financial advice; use a qualified professional for terms you cannot evaluate safely.
Compare the actual responsibilities, decision authority, travel, on-call expectations, remote or hybrid schedule, and location requirements with what you need. Write down the three conditions that would make the role sustainable and the two unknowns that could change your decision.
Acknowledge the offer promptly, confirm the decision deadline, and request one focused conversation for unresolved items. Prioritize the terms that materially change the decision. If you need more time, ask with a specific date rather than going silent.
The RungMap difference
RungMap helps you keep role evidence and career criteria organized so the offer can be compared with the opportunity you pursued. The final decision remains yours.
One-page review
Use the same labels for compensation, benefits, equity, schedule, scope, and deadlines so assumptions stay separate from terms the employer actually confirmed. Print this page or save it as a PDF for a private review copy.
The term appears in the written offer or official plan material.
You calculated a likely value or cost and recorded the assumption.
The term is missing, conditional, verbal, or unclear and needs a question.
Do not turn an estimate into a promise. Update the worksheet when the employer answers in writing.
Answers for your next move
Ask for the time you genuinely need and name a specific response date. The employer may have its own deadline, so acknowledge the offer promptly and make the request before that deadline.
You can ask about any term that materially changes the decision, including start date, schedule, location, title, bonus terms, or paid time off. Focus on a short prioritized list rather than reopening every line.
Treat equity as uncertain until you understand the instrument, number of shares or units, vesting, exercise terms, company capitalization where available, and departure rules. Consider qualified legal or financial advice for material equity.
Ready when you are
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