While it’s enviable to have two or more job offers to choose from, actually deciding which one to take can be downright stressful. Do you take Job A with the great benefits package? Or do you take Job B with a better salary and shorter commute? These are the sorts of questions you need to ask yourself when it comes to choosing the right job.
Of course, there’s doubt. What if you choose the wrong one? Fortunately, there are ways around that. For one thing, if you’ve got two or more companies coming to you with offers of employment, you’ve got a pretty serious skillset. To the employer, you know what you can do and where you want to go. Anyone with this mindset can make the choice that is right for them.
That said, even with the right mindset, it can still be tricky and stressful to choose between great offers. Luckily, we’ve boiled things down to the essentials. We’ll go over the three important questions you need to ask and key differentiators to look for when deciding which offer to take.
Break Out Your Notepad!
Comparing and contrasting your offers is one of the easiest things to do when it comes to choosing between offers because it takes out emotion. Time to turn it into a numbers game. Think of things like salary, the company’s financial stability, and areas for advancement.
Consider this: One job could offer a higher base salary, but maybe take longer for you to increase your wages. The other might start off lower, but the company is growing fast, so advancements would come sooner. Which situation sounds more appealing?
Benefits are another thing to consider. Which company offers paid time off? Is it just for vacations, or is there leave for medical reasons? Is there maternity or paternity leave? What kind of retirement package do they offer? Do they offer a match? Do they offer health, dental, or life insurance? A great question to ask if you’re looking to further your education: Do they have a tuition reimbursement program?
You should be able to locate the answers to these questions in the actual job listing. If you need more details, check in with your staffing manager and ask if they can reach out to the human resources department. The answers you get will help you make your decision. However, while this cold data is good to know, it can’t be the only reason you accept a job offer.
Some Important Questions
Is this really what I’m looking for?
You need to think long-term when it comes to accepting a job offer. Every decision you make in your career is going to impact the long-term goals you have set in your head. If one of these jobs will help you reach your goals sooner, go for it. If it’s going to lead you in a different direction that doesn’t line up, it’s time to pass. Everything you do career wise needs to be in service of your life goals. And if they change, it may be time to start looking for another job.
What’s the company culture like?
What is the point of working somewhere if you dread every minute of it? The pay might be great, but if the company culture is toxic, is it really worth it? Size can definitely play an important role in culture. Small businesses might feel more tight knit than a larger corporation. In fact, big companies could have multiple cultures in one, with each department having a different vibe.
The point is, if the company culture at one job is better than the other, it’s pretty clear which is going to lead to more overall happiness and productivity. Plus, if the core values of the company align with your own, there’s a good chance you’re making the right move.
What are my priorities?
Understanding your priorities is essential when it comes to job choice. While you already have an idea of what your work priorities are, you need to ask how those priorities fit into your life outside of work.
Does one offer allow you more time and freedom to do what you want to do in your personal life? Is one going to keep you away from your family and friends for longer? Knowing where you stand on these things is important because, at the end of the day, you are a whole lot more than your job.
Trust Your Gut
You can do as much research as you want. You can ask as many questions as you need to. You can get input from your most trusted mentors, friends, and family members. But, at the end of the day, you need to trust your gut.
If one job offer feels right, even if it’s not the best looking on paper, you should go for it. Don’t be afraid to take risks in life. Taking on a new job is one of the biggest risks we can take, but it is usually worth it in the end. As long as you have a good understanding of yourself, what matters to you, and what you’re looking for, then whatever choice you make is going to be the right one.
Our team at Masiello Employment Services is highly trained and can help make these decisions easier. By working with one of our talented Staffing Managers, you can have a tailor-fit job in front of you before you know it. That’s the magic of working with an employment agency.
So if you’re getting lost in the wide open sea of the job pool, reach out to us. We’ve been in business for over 40 years helping good people get connected with good work. Schedule a meeting today by calling 603-358-1000 or by visiting our offices in Keene, NH. We can’t wait to meet you!
