How to Tell If a New Role Is Actually Better
This article is part of the Your Next-Move Profile guide.
New opportunities generate excitement. A new environment, a better salary number, an employer who seems more professional or more organised than your current one. This excitement is real — but it can cloud judgement at exactly the moment clear thinking matters most.
Questions to ask before accepting
Is the salary genuinely better, or does the package change change the picture? A higher base with no vehicle allowance, a worse pension and no bonus may be lower total compensation.
Have you spoken to people who work there? Glassdoor reviews, LinkedIn connections, industry contacts — find out what the employer is actually like, not just what they present in an interview.
Is the progression pathway real? Ask for specific examples. "Great opportunities for the right person" is not a progression pathway.
What does the on-call situation actually look like? Not what is in the contract — what is the lived experience of people in that role?
What is the real patch or travel expectation? Ask for a typical week’s travel schedule, not the theoretical maximum.
Why did the last person in this role leave? This is the most useful question you can ask. The answer — or the evasion — tells you a great deal.
The test
A new role is actually better when it scores higher than your current role on the dimensions you prioritised — and when the promises made in the interview are verified by evidence, not just stated in good faith.