Job Search Criteria Matrix

What are you actually looking for?

A job offer can look exciting on paper and still be wrong for you. The filter that prevents that is clarity about what matters, before the offers start coming in.

This exercise walks you through three moves: identify the criteria that matter to you, rank them by priority, and define what "good" looks like on each. By the end you'll have a personal scorecard you can hold every opportunity up against.

Takes about 10–15 minutes. The goal isn't to be comprehensive — it's to be honest. What you leave off the list is as revealing as what you include.

A little about you

First name*

Last name*

Email*

Phone (optional)

Instagram (optional)

What kind of role or transition are you exploring? (optional)

Step 1 of 3 — Select

What matters to you?

Check every criterion that matters — even a little. We'll rank them in the next step. Don't worry about being exhaustive; add anything missing at the bottom.

You've selected 0 criteria

Add your own

Step 2 of 3 — Prioritize

Rank each one.

For each criterion you chose, mark its priority and describe what "good" looks like. Be specific — "competitive salary" is too vague. "Base of at least $180K" is useful.

Priority guide: Dealbreaker = no amount of anything else compensates. High = strongly required, flexible only in rare trades. Medium = important, some flexibility. Low = nice to have.

Decent / Good / Ideal: Define three tiers for each criterion. Decent is your floor — barely acceptable. Good is a real fit. Ideal is what you'd pick if you could choose anything. Leave any cell blank if you'd rather fill it in later in your own doc.

Your Job Search Scorecard

Here's your scorecard.

Use this to evaluate every opportunity that crosses your desk.

Send this to your next session

Email Coach Kyle, download an editable copy, or print as PDF.

To open in Google Docs: download the editable doc, upload to Drive, right-click → Open with → Google Docs.