Guide
Job Offer Red Flags to Check Before Signing
Restriction, repayment, bonus, and benefits terms to clarify before accepting a job offer.
Repayment and clawback terms
A sign-on bonus, relocation payment, training reimbursement, or immigration expense can become a real liability if the offer requires repayment after departure. Ask whether repayment is prorated and waived after company termination without cause.
Restrictive covenants
Non-compete, non-solicit, confidentiality, and IP assignment language can affect what you can do next. Ask for the full agreement before signing and get professional advice when the scope is broad.
Discretionary compensation
A target bonus is less valuable when payout is completely discretionary. Ask for target percentage, eligibility date, performance criteria, and recent payout history.
Moving to the US for this offer?
Relocation support and repayment terms are only part of the decision. Separate purchasing power, currency exchange and your relocation budget with a worked consumption example and a checklist of costs to confirm.