Question 1

What is CTC vs take-home salary in India?

Accepted Answer

CTC (Cost to Company) is the total annual amount the employer spends on you, including fixed pay, variable pay, employer PF contribution, and benefits. Take-home is what you actually receive monthly after tax deductions and employee PF contribution. Take-home is roughly 55-65% of CTC depending on your tax bracket.

Question 2

How should I evaluate a job offer?

Accepted Answer

Look beyond base salary: consider variable pay certainty, ESOP vesting schedule, health insurance sum insured, joining bonus clawback clause, WFH flexibility, and growth trajectory. JobUtils breaks all of this down automatically.

Question 3

How do I negotiate a job offer in India?

Accepted Answer

Research the market rate first (use our job feed salary data). Lead with enthusiasm, not desperation. Quote a specific number 10-15% above your target. If they cannot move on base, negotiate joining bonus, accelerated review, or additional leave.

Question 4

What is a reasonable salary hike when switching jobs?

Accepted Answer

The industry norm in India is 20-40% hike for a lateral move. Senior roles can command more. If you have competing offers, leverage them — politely.

Question 5

Is ESOP/RSU valuable?

Accepted Answer

ESOP and RSU value depends on the company's valuation trajectory. For startups, factor in liquidity risk and vesting cliff. For listed companies, RSUs are more predictable. Always check the vesting schedule and cliff period.

Question 6

What is a joining bonus clawback?

Accepted Answer

A clawback clause requires you to repay the joining bonus if you leave within a specified period (typically 12-24 months). Always read this clause before accepting.

Question 7

Should I compare offers from multiple companies?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Multiple offers give you real negotiation leverage. Be honest with recruiters — say you are evaluating other opportunities. Never lie about competing offers.

Question 8

What happens after I accept?

Accepted Answer

Resign from your current employer, serve your notice period (or negotiate a buyout), and use our Transition section for notice period calculation, resignation letter, and FnF checklist.

Question 9

How is the market rate estimate calculated?

Accepted Answer

We use salary data from job postings in our feed (Adzuna, JSearch) for the same role and seniority level in your location. This is a benchmark — not a guarantee.

Question 10

Is my offer letter data stored?

Accepted Answer

No. Offer letter text is processed in your browser session. Analysis results are cached locally in your browser per job, never sent to external servers beyond the AI analysis call.

Offer Evaluator

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