Question: I’ve applied for a few positions and I’m currently weighing job offers from two organisations. I’m not sure how to pick one over the other – how can I determine which is the better offer?
Answer: For what it’s worth, seek comfort in knowing that this is a good problem. But it’s a problem nonetheless and your job satisfaction is at stake, so you should exercise painstaking and careful consideration when weighing both options. Both job offers may be fundamentally similar or they could diverge wildly, so it ultimately depends on which factors you deem important in a job.
Salary
Your monthly paycheck should not be the only consideration, but it’s certainly the one that receives the most attention. After all, you are in the job market to earn your keep. You do not want to mull over the fact that you are getting paid less than what you feel you are worth. With that said, remember not to pay too much attention to the monetary prospects and too little to what the company has to offer. Money does not guarantee job satisfaction, and there are other important factors to look out for.
Understand the Company
No matter how exciting the job prospects may have seemed at both interviews, make sure that the recruiters aren’t merely painting a pretty picture for you. Delve deeper into the background of each company – explore both companies’ websites and talk to people who have been in the industry in order to find out more information.
In addition, take a tour around the office building or even workspace if possible. Inspect the office itself to get a feel of what your future workplace will look and feel like. You might even want to take note of what the neighbourhood of the building is like, you’ll probably spend a lot of time there during your lunch breaks after all.
Your Personal / Professional Development
Whatever your career goals are, your new job should provide you with the necessary room to grow and develop. Some employees might find rotation within departments a catch, while others are drawn to the prospect of a promising climb up the corporate ladder.
Furthermore, some companies would require you to already excel at a certain thing, while a growing company might need you to continually develop new skills and build on old ones in order to meet their evolving needs. Before you commit yourself to a company, ask all the questions you need to ask – what your responsibilities will be, how you are expected to contribute to the company, and what the avenues for growth are. You can then make a better decision on which company better caters to the direction you want your career to take.
Believe in the Company
It is important to believe in a company’s products and its initiatives. A belief in the company’s vision and ethos will ensure that you will not be dragging your feet to work every day. This positive attitude will also be reflected in your work and eventually your success.
Furthermore, have foresight and examine your confidence in the company’s growth for the next few years. Stagnancy might not be the worst thing to happen in a company, as long as the company doesn’t hit the skids and flop dramatically. However, it might make a big difference in your decision if you knew how solid of an industry player the company would be in the coming years.
Heed the Hours
Are you expecting regular nine-to-five work hours, or are you willing to work overtime to meet deadlines and production goals? There are some companies who promote telecommuting, where employees are allowed to work away from the office. For employees with children or elderly parents, flexibility in their schedules is an important and cherished factor. Those who place having a work-life balance high on their list of priorities would also do well to pay heed to the expected working hours at the company.
It is also crucial for you to consider the time taken to travel to and from work as well, which brings us to the next point.
Location, Location, Location
This is a severely underrated consideration. If you live far away from your workplace, driving through the morning jam might mean sacrificing your “newspaper time” in the morning. On the other hand, riding on mass transit might mean pushing your way through a sea of sweaty commuters twice a day – and for long periods at that. Your morning encounters often set your mood for the rest of the day, and an enviable work location hits this pedal with a good start.
The bottom line in choosing one job offer over the other is that there really is not one defining factor that will help simplify your decision. Everyone has a different combination of personal circumstances and expectations, so take time to review the pros and cons of both companies and make an objective list accordingly.
It is important to note that the moment you get a job offer, the invisible clock starts ticking. Your hiring organisations will not wait forever for you and lose other qualified candidates as they wait. Tortuous negotiations may even derail your hiring process. It might help to listen to what your gut tells you – your instincts are usually right, even if you can’t come up with concrete, rational explanations for them.