A job comes with the base salary and depending on the company, some amazing perks and benefits that go a long way. What you do can say a lot about you. It’s not a stretch to state that some people’s careers define them. Whether you love your job or not, though, you want to be sure that it delivers perks aside from a weekly paycheck.

If you have two job offers on the table, and they both pay similar money, you need to look at what perks or benefits come with each one. It could be that one offers much better incentives than the other, and that might be what drives your decision.

Let’s go over five of the best job perks and benefits you should look for when you’re job hunting.

Excellent Healthcare

During your career search, you should value great healthcare above nearly everything else. Living in America, where there’s privatized healthcare, you either need to get it through your job, or else you need to pay for it yourself in the marketplace.

Healthcare is expensive, and that’s why paying for it on your own is so onerous. There are constant debates about when and if America should implement universal, or at the very least, government-subsidized healthcare. It doesn’t seem likely the country is going to get that anytime soon, though.

In light of that fact, you might choose a position with a company based on their healthcare plan. If you see several comprehensive plan options that can cover both you and your other family members, you should be eager to get on board with that company.

A Stock Option Plan

Not all companies have stock, but some of them do. If you sign on with one of these business entities, they might give you a certain amount of stock options depending on how prominent of a position you have with them.

If you have a more valuable position with the company and do a lot for it, you’ll probably have more stock options. Often, the longer you’re with a business entity, the more of these options vest. You can either cash them in at some point or hold onto them, anticipating that their value will increase.

That means more money for you if you play your cards right. It’s also the kind of thing that can keep you with a company longer. Stock options are a way to promote employee retention.

Plenty of Flexible Vacation Time

You also want to try to find a company that gives you plenty of flexible, paid vacation time every year. Maybe the first year they won’t give you that much, but they should start giving you more if you’ve been with them any longer than that.

You might work hard for a company, but if you never take a vacation, you’re going to burn yourself out. Even if you don’t go to Tahiti or somewhere equally exotic when you take some time for yourself, you might simply stay home, spend time with your family, and recharge your batteries.

A 401K Program

Like stock options, a 401K program ultimately means more money for you. A 401K plan is a retirement account that you get through your job. The business entity for which you work lets you put money into it every pay period.

You’ll have that money when you retire, and it will help you live during your golden years. It’s the perfect social security accompaniment. Also, your work might match the funds you put into the account up to a point, which is basically more free money for you.

Commuter Transportation Benefits

Your company might give you a bus or train pass if you commute to their brick-and-mortar location. They also might give you a gas stipend, or some of them might even give you a company vehicle to use.
Alternatively, they might allow you to work remotely. If they do have a brick-and-mortar location, or more than one, but they know that you can do most or all of your work from home, there’s no reason why you can’t do that. Since the pandemic began, more companies are allowing their workers to do this, and there’s no reason to think that this trend will not continue once we’ve eradicated Covid-19.
You might also look for maternity and paternity paid time off. You may want to move up in your industry, in which case, you’ll want a company that encourages you to get additional certifications through on-the-job training. The more perks you have, the more likely you’ll want to stay with that company.