A job offer is more than an hourly rate

Start with the conditions you actually know

A high hourly rate is only one part of a job offer. The amount left for you also depends on paid hours, housing, travel and any charges collected before you start. Write down who gave you each condition and when. Keep the written offer or message so you can compare it with the documents you receive later.

Do not fill a missing answer with a favourable guess. ‘Housing provided’ does not tell you whether it is free, how many people share a room or whether the charge continues on days without work. Mark an unknown amount as unknown and ask for a written answer.

• Who is your contracting employer, and who is the coordinator?
• Is the rate gross or net, in which currency, and for what type of agreement?
• How many hours are offered, and which breaks are paid?
• What are the housing charge, deposit, room occupancy and travel arrangements?
• Are recruitment, document, invitation or transport charges mentioned? Who receives them, and for what?
• When is pay due, and how are advances and deductions recorded?

Compare the same period and the same money basis

Use one period, such as a month, for both offers. Separate a one-time deposit from a recurring housing charge. A refundable deposit is still money you need at the start, but it is different from a permanent cost. Do not subtract it again every month.

A gross rate cannot be compared directly with a net rate. WorkLens does not infer your taxes or automatically convert gross to net. If you have only a gross amount, keep that label and ask how the payment will be calculated for your situation. An estimate based on expected hours is not a promise of available work.

Count the time the job takes from your day

Keep paid work, unpaid breaks and commuting separate. Ten paid hours with a two-hour return journey occupy a different day from eight paid hours next door. Travel time does not automatically become paid work in the calculation. Ask what applies to the actual arrangement.

Also check how you will get home after the last shift, what happens if overtime changes the bus departure and who to contact if accommodation or transport is unavailable. Specific answers are more useful than a general promise that everything is organised.

Keep questions separate from conclusions

An unclear fee is a reason to ask for its basis, recipient, receipt and cancellation terms. The presence of a field in a calculator does not mean the charge is lawful, necessary or safe to pay. If the explanation is unclear or the documents disagree, seek an independent check before committing money.

Save the version you discussed. If a condition changes, make a new comparison rather than overwriting the old one. A calculator can help organise the discussion; it cannot authenticate the company or confirm that a job exists.