Whether or not a job will help your career progress is ultimately a much more important question than what your starting salary will be. In some organizations, you may be given a lot of responsibility right away but then find your progress blocked. Make sure you know whether you have opportunities for advancement. Find out if you will be able to grow your career with this employer or if you will end up in a dead-end job.

Ask about performance reviews and how often they are conducted. Then find out if excellent performance reviews lead to promotions.

After a lengthy job search, you may be tempted to take a job that doesn't fit well with your career goals. If your goals have truly changed based on your re-evaluating your career, then that might be okay. However, if your goals remain the same, consider the impact that going off course could have on your career.