How to choose between two job offers

You spend more than 70% of your life at work, so it has to be somewhere you’ll feel comfortable. Take these steps to assess your potential happiness at work:

• Do your homework and find out everything you can about both companies.
• Speak to your recruitment consultant, as they will have some insight into the company culture.
• Consider the company’s reputation with both staff and customers. If you can, talk to current or past employees for an insider’s perspective on the work conditions and environment. Unlike salary, company culture can’t be negotiated.
• Don’t take a job that you know you don’t want, just because it’s offered to you or because the salary is higher. We’ve all applied for jobs we don’t actually want to do, but if you find it on the table alongside a job you’d actually like, it’s a no-brainer – do what makes you happy.
• Trust your instincts. They rarely lead us astray.

Commute

The time we spend at home is often eaten up by lengthy commutes. Think about these factors:

• If the job is far away, assess whether you’ll be able to make it work or not. If your 8-hour day is going to turn into 10 or even 12, consider giving more weight to a job that’s closer to home.

• If it’s your dream job, consider your living situation and your ability to incorporate the travel time into your schedule – or whether you’d be prepared to move. If you can make it work, then do.

• If you drive, make sure there’s somewhere to park. If you catch public transport, how far is the walk and how often does the train come? Weigh up the options as well: a longer train ride might be worth it if you can get some work done, and a shorter drive might be more expensive and more stressful.

Opportunities for progression

It’s important to be deliberate when moving jobs and consider how the role will affect your professional growth. Ask the prospective employer:

• What are my long-term prospects?
• Will the business support my career with training and upskilling?
• Will I need any external training to move up in the business?
• Are there flexible working arrangements?

Work-life balance

While happiness and commute time are important, there are other factors to consider in work-life balance as well. Ask:

• What are the expectations around answering emails after hours?
• What’s the office culture like?
• Will I be expected to do overtime?
• Are there other locations I may need to travel to for work?
• Are there options to work from home?

Remember that job offers are a two-way street, so don’t be afraid to do the following:

• Take your time to respond to the job offer. If the employer wants you enough, they will be patient and give you a few days to decide.
• Negotiate. If something is holding you back, let the employer know, and they offer a compromise in order to get you on board.
• Talk about your salary. It’s no big secret that we work to be paid. Once an offer is on the table, don’t be scared to ask them to negotiate salary if the offer is below expectations. 

If you’re in the market for a new job, contact a Michael Page specialist today