Congratulations! After an extensive application and interview process, you’ve not only been extended one job offer, but two. While this is certainly a good “problem” to have, deciding between multiple job offers can also prove to be a stressful experience. To help make this important decision a little less daunting, we’ve outlined 4 foolproof ways to choose:
Get the inside scoop
If you’ve been offered positions at two separate companies, your first step should be to uncover as much information about each organization as possible. After reviewing their websites for context, try to get more of an insider’s perspective by researching them on third party sites like Glassdoor. To get started, compare factors such as:
Just remember, it’s important to take every one-sided rant or rave review with a grain of salt. You never know which commenters might have a personal agenda, so use your best judgement when it comes to online research.
Assess the environment
Accepting a position is a big commitment, so it’s important to ensure you can see yourself being happy at the company you choose to work for in the long term. To do this, make an effort to uncover what a typical work week in your position will look like. Factors such as daily commute, specific responsibilities, and company culture will impact your day-to-day life, so map out the pros and cons of each role.
Evaluate your career goals
When considering accepting one offer over another, you have to evaluate your long term career goals. While it’s certainly easy to be intrigued by a high paying offer, using compensation to guide your final decision can be a major professional mistake. Instead, focus on the big picture and which position will enhance your skillset and marketability. The offer that pays less initially, but gives you more opportunities to learn new skills, gain additional responsibilities, and advance within the organization, will most likely provide you with higher salary potential in the future.
Listen to your intuition
Most professionals in the process of deciding between multiple offers will typically have a gut feeling about which offer is best. Since this ultimately boils down to what you believe is the right fit for you, listen to your intuition. Now, it’s your turn to choose what you want!