Choosing the Right Job Offer: Tips for Making a Decision

Getting a job offer is an exciting prospect, but what do you when you have multiple job offers on your hands? Here’s how to make the best choice.
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Ivy
Ivy Simon
Editorial Writer
Choosing the Right Job Offer: Tips for Making a Decision

Having multiple job offers on the table can be both a dream and a nightmare at the same time, especially if they’re all equally good! If you’re lucky enough to be in that position, then choosing the right company to work for can be a tough decision. 

How do you go about making the best choice for yourself in this situation? Read on for some helpful tips. Remember: there’s more to think about than just the size of your paycheck!  

Examine all the documents

First off, before you start comparing the offers, make sure that you have all the documents you need about the job being offered, such as the offer letter, onboarding kit, employee rulebook, etc. 

Read through the paperwork carefully and double check important information such as salary, benefits, and terms of your employment. Does the employer cover the cost of employee healthcare? Does it offer any other benefits such as company insurance coverage or a gym membership? Consider the daily expenses you’ll incur on the job as well: can you claim mileage or subsidised parking for your commute to the office? What are the company’s policies on work expense claims? 

Pay attention to other fringe benefits as well. This could include things like hybrid working arrangements, hot-desking in international offices, and flexible working hours.

Do side-by-side comparisons

Once you have gathered all the details of the offers, you can put them side by side and compare them point-for-point. Create a columned list or spreadsheet, and list down what each job brings, so you have an easier time making the comparison. 

Some examples of the things that you can list down are as follows, though you can also add any other points of comparison that you consider important:

  • Salary
  • Working hours
  • The nature of the work you’ll be doing day-to-day
  • Professional growth opportunities
  • Number of personal leave and sick days
  • Workplace location(s)
  • Benefits 
  • Your feelings on intangible points like job security, workplace culture, the hiring managers, etc. 

Think hard about your priorities

As you review your list and compare the offers, reflect on your own values and goals. Which of the points on your list are the most important to you right now? 

For example, if you have many financial commitments (e.g. student loans, familial commitments, etc.), you might decide to prioritise the job(s) that pay more. However, if you value flexibility, you might want to go for a company gives you the flexibility of working remotely or more personal freedom on the job, even if the pay is a little lower than what you expect. 

Remember that every perk has its trade-off as well. A company offering high pay may expect a lot of you, and may require you to work long hours or in stressful environments. Likewise, a fully remote position with a foreign company may require you to work according to a different time zone, effectively killing your social life in the process. Do your best to look beyond what’s on the surface as you evaluate your options, and factor in any possible sacrifices the role may require of you.    

Evaluate the potential for your growth

Consider as well how the roles on offer align with your long-term career goals. Which role will allow you to pick up more key skills or make you more knowledgeable in your chosen field? Which one will give you more opportunities to experiment with new innovations or best practices so that you stay employable in future roles?

It’s important to consider not just the immediate gains you’ll get from the role, but also how it will affect your career trajectory in the future. It is very rare for a jobseeker to stay with a company “for life” these days, so think about what you want to get out of this job over the next 2-3 years. How will your time with this job influence the options available to you when you decide to move on to your next role?   
 
Don’t forget that it is also important to assess the growth potential of a company, as well as the industry it operates in. Be wary, however, of roles with companies specifically looking to capitalise on any explosive or trending industry fad – those may not always have long-term stability, as fads can change at any time.   

Trust your instincts

If all is said and done and you still can’t decide on which job offer is objectively best for you, then it’s actually okay to just trust your instincts and go with the one that you feel most comfortable about! 

Reflect on the feelings you experienced during the interview and assessment process. How did you feel talking with the recruiters, hiring managers, or other company staff? What sort of vibe did you get from their workplace? Which encounter made you feel more at ease, or made you smile more often? If other factors aren’t a concern, it’s alright to just go with the opportunity that you feel most at peace with. 

There are ultimately no “right” or “wrong” decisions when it comes to choosing a job offer. Even if you make what seems like the “best” choice at the time, the opportunity may still not work out for you in the end. But that is simply part and parcel of the journey through your career. You can always just search for another job afterwards!  

What’s most important is that you learn to trust your judgement, take ownership of your choices, and be confident in what you can do and what you have to offer. Beyond simply choosing between job offers, cultivating that attitude in the face of decisions is key to advancing in your career.