You wouldn't just accept any car that someone wanted to offer. You would evaluate it against your needs and preferences.

Several alumni have contacted me recently struggling with a decision about whether to take a job offer. On one hand, they are scared about the media portrayal of the job market and feel like they should just accept anything that is offered. But, you don't want fear to cause you to make a decision you may regret later.

While considering an offer, consider what is important to you. Which process you use isn't necessarily important. You can use quiet time to think about the question, write out your thoughts in a journal or make lists.

Within the items that are important to you, consider which are most important.

Next, assess the offer against these priorities. I've worked with alumni who have used complicated excel spreadsheets and weighted formulas to come up with scores for an offer. I've also worked with alumni who never made one written note, but just needed to discuss their concerns with an objective adviser. Think about how you have made big decisions before and follow a similar process.

If you need more information about evaluating offers or suggestions for what to consider, visit the "Evaluating and Negotiating the Job Offer" page of the UIAA Virtual Career Center. (You do need to be registered and logged in to see the page content.)