Career OS™ Offer Pre-Mortem
Before you say yes.
Before you say no.
Pressure-test the decision, not your confidence.
A balanced view of what could go wrong, what could go right, and what you can verify before committing.
Free · Local-first · No account · No machine verdict
Stage 01 / 07
Frame decision
Make space for independent reflection before testing each concern.
Start with a real offer and a realistic alternative.
Compare the options in the Career Decision Matrix ↗Your answers stay yours.
Local-first: private answers stay in this page’s memory. Nothing you type is sent to a database, analytics or email. Browser saving is off by default. Exported files and printed reports contain your private answers; share them only by choice. Closing this page loses unsaved work. Shared devices may expose saved answers.
Offer Pre-Mortem questions
What is an offer pre-mortem?
It is a structured reflection before a career decision. Imagine that your choice has gone wrong nine months later, write possible explanations independently, and then test them against evidence. It does not predict an outcome.
How does this relate to Gary Klein’s method?
Gary Klein described the project pre-mortem in 2007. Career OS™ adapts prospective hindsight to a career offer by examining both accepting and declining, then considering upside and safeguards. The mirrored decline exercise is a Career OS™ adaptation, not Klein’s original method. No endorsement is implied.
Does the tool tell me whether to accept?
No. It surfaces issues, evidence gaps, consequences, control and reversibility. There is no weighted risk score, confidence percentage, AI judgement or recommendation to accept or decline. The decision remains yours.
Is it free and where are my answers stored?
It is free and requires no email or account. Answers stay in this page’s memory unless you opt into saving on this browser or export a file. They are not sent to a server, email service or analytics. Browser saving is off by default; shared devices may expose saved answers.
Can I work with a coach or use the Decision Matrix?
Yes. Guided, Express and With coach are working modes, not different methods. All seven stages remain available in each mode. Bring your Decision Matrix summary and share an exported or printed report only with people you choose.
Further reading & method credit
Gary Klein’s original project pre-mortem (2007) uses prospective hindsight: assume a project has failed, then explain what may have caused it. Career OS™ applies this lens to a career offer and adds a mirrored decline exercise, balanced upside and decision safeguards. This is an adaptation, not Klein’s original balanced method or an endorsement.
- Gary Klein — The pre-mortem
- Gary Klein (2007) — Performing a Project Premortem, Harvard Business Review
- Mitchell, Russo & Pennington (1989) — Back to the Future: Temporal Perspective in the Explanation of Events
Reflective decision support only. Possible explanations are not predictions or established facts. No career-outcome guarantee, validated risk score or professional legal or financial advice is provided.