While we all have a dream job, the reality is no job is ever perfect. It’s important to keep this in mind when starting any new position. No matter how excited you may be on the first day or during the first week of work, eventually, you’re going to find that there are aspects of the job that you don’t look forward to.

Some of those drawbacks you won’t be able to see coming. But others you may. Having that knowledge in advance can make the downsides seem more manageable. It can also play a part in your decision to accept or decline the position.

When an employer makes you a job offer, you should consider asking yourself a few questions to determine if the role will be a fit for you during –at least—the next two years and if it has the potential to benefit your career moving forward.

Here are five questions worth answering before you make a decision on your next job offer.

Are You Satisfied With the Compensation Being Offered?

This, right here, should be the very first question you ask yourself. First and foremost, if you’re dissatisfied with the actual pay, you will quickly become disenchanted with the job. Even the smallest annoyances are likely to get under your skin more quickly because you’ll never feel that you’re adequately compensated for putting up with them.

It should also be said that employers aren’t often transparent about what specifically the insurance coverage is. In other words, you may or may not be made aware of how much you’ll be paying in monthly health insurance premiums and if a flexible spending or health spending account is available, but you won’t necessarily find out how much your copays and emergency room visits are until you enroll in the insurance program. The same can hold true for dental coverage and, if available, vision coverage.

You should also be content with the amount of paid time off that you’ll receive if that is part of your package. If it’s not sufficient, you could burn out pretty quickly. The good news is that employers are becoming more generous with paid time off as they combat the labor shortages that have resulted from the Pandemic and the Great Resignation.

That’s also to say that, perhaps now more than ever, you have the leverage to negotiate for a better compensation package. But if the employer returns to the table with a new offer that still doesn’t meet your needs and requirements, consider the other reasons why you would accept the offer.

Did You See Any Red Flags During the Interview Process?

Red flags can be obvious. If the interviewer asks you any questions that are inappropriate, such as if you’re planning to have a baby anytime soon, that should set off some serious warning bells.

But red flags can also be subtle. Did you ask any questions during the interview process that the hiring manager responded to, but didn’t really answer? That’s not a good sign.

In short, if there was some part of the interview process that caused you to raise an eyebrow, you may need to decide if that’s a deal breaker for you.

Is There Anything About the Physical Work Environment That Puts You Off?

This is a topic that isn’t addressed enough when discussing career advice. But if you’ll be working eight hours a day five days a week in a shared office environment, what that space looks like matters.

Obviously, if the space is messy and disorganized or too small for the number of people working in it, it’s likely a reflection of the organization. Any company that puts a premium on looking professional at work should place equal value on the appearance of their physical.

It’s also essential to consider how comfortable you are with the office design. If it’s an open floor plan where staff work at communal tables, it’s could get noisy during the day. If managers are also seated in that open floor plan, it might feel like you’ll be micromanaged every day.

Of course, while the world is still in the grip of the Covid-19 Pandemic, you may have the opportunity to work from home. But keep in mind that if and when the company returns to the office, you’re going to want to know what it looks like before human resources show you your new work area. 

What Aspects of the Actual Work Are You Most Interested in Doing?

If there’s no part of the actual work that excites you, your workdays will seem longer and you’ll come to dread your job quickly. So it’s important that you’re genuinely interested in the work. Ask yourself if the role is giving you the opportunity to build upon your previous experience or the chance to work on a type of project that you’ve always been interested in or possibly to work directly under the supervision of a company executive whose own career path you admire and would like to emulate.

How Will This Job Fit Into Your Career Path?

Given what you know about the position from the job description and the interview process, would you be comfortable selling it to potential future employers as a natural progression of your career?

Could you speak about the job as part of your career evolution as far as how it’s a logical next step from your previous role? Will it provide the experience needed in order for you to move forward on your career ladder? 

Do you think you will be able to achieve successful metrics in the role that you could talk about in future job interviews and even include on your resume? If so, you have a very worthwhile reason to take the job.

On the other hand, if you can’t justify how or why the job will help advance your career, you should ask yourself why you would accept it.

In the current economy, when labor shortages are plaguing employers and the Great Resignation continues to make news headlines, there’s a good chance that you’ll quickly find yourself with other employment options if you decide to decline a job offer, but remember the market can also change at any point.