How to decide between two job offers

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So you’ve got two (or more!) great job offers. Congratulations! This is what you’ve been working for. Now, the hard part, how do you decide between them? Beyond looking at the obvious, compensation, location, industry, how do you decide between two comparable options? It isn’t always straightforward. Here are some things we encourage you to consider:

#1- Is it in line with your long term professional goals?

What are your long term professional goals and do you see a clear path to achieving them in this role? Think about the opportunity you’ve been offered, the company it is in, and the work you’ll be doing. Will this help you achieve your long term professional goals? Often, big professional goals are a two step process. For example, maybe you’re a software developer who’s hoping to move into a product role in the future. Will this role allow you to interact with the product team? Take some time to think about what needs to happen for you to achieve your long term career goals before you decide on a role.

#2- Does it work for your stage of life?

When we look for a new role, we sometimes imagine an aspirational version of ourselves working that job. It is easy to get excited about doing something new but it can cloud our judgement when deciding to take a new opportunity. Consider the work, time, and location requirements of this role and ask yourself if it is a good fit for your current moment in life. Be realistic about what makes sense for you.

For example, maybe you are deciding between two comparable jobs but one is at a company with big time demands where you need to be on call all the time. If you’re in a place in your life where this is feasible for you, then it might be a great opportunity to do something new and exciting. But if you have other obligations at home or in life that might require your after work hours attention, like a new baby, an aging relative, or even just a new passion you’d like to spend time on, this might not be the best choice for you right now. Remember that seasons of life change and what you might be able to do ten years from now isn’t necessarily what you should be doing right now, and vice versa. You aren’t shutting the door on that job or company for yourself, you’re just passing on it for now.

#3- Consider people and culture 

Sit down and make a list of all the people you met at each company. What was your impression of them? Did they seem happy? Connected? Were they the kinds of people you enjoy working with? This isn’t a value judgement on the quality of the company or its personnel, different companies just have different work cultures and you want to make sure you join one that resonates with you. Some people find intense work cultures invigorating and exciting but others find them exhausting. Some people love working at quiet companies where everyone works on their own and leaves at five, but others find that boring. Think about the people you met in the process and your impression of the work culture and ask yourself if it is the kind of place you'd like to work.

#4- Look for tenure

Aside from making sure you’re joining a company with a culture that you enjoy, take a look at tenure. Go to the company LinkedIn page and look up people who work at that company (especially people in the role you’ve been offered and on the team you’d be working for) and see how long they’ve been there. You should also look up the people who you met in the process. These people were critical in selling the role and the company to you, have they been there for years or for months? Of course, there will always be outliers, but in general, it is a good sign when most people have stayed at a company for at least a few years. Tenure is a sign of a healthy company and a positive working environment. 

#5- Keep growth in mind

When deciding on any job offers, you want to be thinking about growth. First, take a look at the growth of the company as a whole. Have they been growing? If you have LinkedIn premium, you can toggle to the “insights” tab of a company page to see overall headcount growth of the organization. You can also google the company and look at recent news. Are there articles about layoffs or new leadership hires? You want to be at a company that is expanding. 

Secondly, consider the growth opportunities for you individually at this company. In this role, are there opportunities for you to learn new skills? To interact with other business units? To take on a leadership role? This will of course come down to the kind of growth you’re hoping to achieve for yourself. Before you decide between two jobs, think about yourself in that job one year from now. Will you be happy to continue doing the same thing or will you be looking for something else?

In conclusion, there are plenty of things to consider when deciding between two opportunities. However you slice and dice it though, taking a new job is still an act of faith. So follow your gut and be willing to try new things. Have other questions about deciding on a job offer? Email them to us!

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