After countless job applications and interviews, your efforts have paid off. You find yourself in the fortunate position of being able to choose between more than one job offer; congratulations! While you may have a strong preference already, here are some helpful tips to ensure you’ve made the right decision and avoid any regrets.
Be clear on what is important to you
We all have similar needs. However, depending on prior experience and your stage of life, priorities will differ from one person to the next. When considering a job offer there is a multitude of things to weigh up. To name a few: career progression opportunities, job security, whether the work will be interesting and enjoyable, work-life balance, the future manager, team culture, commute times, and last but not least, salary. Write down everything important to you when it comes to work. Give each item a score out of ten for importance. Then give each job offer a score out of ten in each area. It’s surprising how much clarity this simple exercise can bring.
Do you need more information?
What were your initial thoughts and concerns when you first considered each job? Have these been addressed through the process? If the organisation has extended an offer to you, they’ll want to do what it takes to get you on board, so don’t be afraid to ask for more information. If they are not obliging, that could be a sign in favour of the other offer. Taking a considered approach also reflects well on you.
Compare the managers
You may have heard of the saying, “people leave managers, not companies”. You might even be able to relate to this, and that’s why you’re on market. If this is the case, you really want to hone in on your future manager’s style. Consider the interactions with each manager during the interviews. Are they someone you can see yourself working with and getting along with? Does their management style suit the way you like to work?
If required, ask your recruiter to set up a call to find out more about your future manager. Some things you might want to learn more about include:
- How would their direct reports describe them?
- How would they or their team describe their management style?
- What are some of the qualities of the great leaders they’ve worked with?
- What do they think makes a great team?
- What key expectations do they have when it comes to staff performance?
- What is their style in stressful situations?
Focus on what’s important when comparing companies
Company perks and benefits are great, but they won’t matter if you are stuck in an organisation where you can’t thrive. Job satisfaction and security are heavily influenced by how well you perform in your role. So it’s important to pick an environment that enables you to be most successful. Focusing on the company culture helps you understand the alignment to your working style and values. Again, it will be helpful to reflect on the interview experience and consider the hiring process. Company review sites such as Glassdoor can also provide insights into the culture. If possible, speak to current and past employers of the company. As part of your research, make note of each company’s reputation in the market, success, and growth potential as well. This will give you further indication of job security and potential for career growth.
Look closely at all aspects of the role
- Pay How much each position pays may be pretty obvious. But if you considered it more closely, will the higher paying job be more demanding of your time? Do you love working or will you resent the long hours?
- Work-life balance Thinking about work-life balance in terms of cost/benefit can help you weigh up your options. For example, the benefit of a job with a 20-minute commute is more time available to get fit or sleep in, while a long commute can cost mealtimes with the family. This may be less of a concern if there was flexibility with start and finish times, or the option to work from home. The key is to consider how the role impacts your life and other life roles, and how important the cost or benefit is to you.
- The work itself How enjoyable is the work? Are there opportunities to learn and grow? Will the available projects support career progression inside (or outside) the organisation? How could external market conditions impact the prospect of ongoing work?
Making the decision
Ensure you have the signed offer in writing before declining your other options. Once you’ve made your decision, don’t look back. It’s been reported that to remain happy with your decision, you need to embrace it wholly. That means you should stop thinking of the job you have declined. Otherwise, you’ll end up focusing on the negative rather than positive of the job you’ve selected while imagining what you’ve missed out on. You’ve taken the time to choose well, so back yourself and your decision. All the best in your new role!
