How to decide between two job offers

It might sound like the dream but having two job offers on the table can make for a hard decision. Our experts share some cruccial things to consider.

Think long-term

“Regardless of whether you are looking to move jobs, you should always be clear about the direction you want to take your career towards. Understanding this will allow you to make career moves that will bring you closer to your goals, making it easier to decide between offers,” says Alvin Sapinoso, manager of the HR team at Robert Walters Philippines. “There are many factors at play when choosing between offers, such as compensation, benefits, opportunities for growth, work/life balance, and more. It’s easy to get overwhelmed by all these if you don’t have a clear direction in mind. ”

Be careful of ‘push’ factors

Before you accept either role, it’s important to understand why you even want to leave your current company. “Reasons can include financial considerations, cultural differences or personal circumstances and it’s important that you understand your own motivations for leaving before taking on a new role so you know what to look out for in your next role,” Alvin shares. “You don’t want to end up jumping out of the frying pan and into the fire by choosing the wrong role,” Hywel Davies, associate director at Robert Walters Indonesia adds.

 Assess the work/life balance

“The work/life balance of any job means different things to different people, so consider what impact each role will have on your own needs and requirements,” suggests Hywel. If candidates have young families or other responsibilities, then the ability to work from home or work flexibly may be a more pressing concern, he says. “Also consider each role’s location and commute as this could significantly impact on your day-to-day life, although some companies may offer perks like childcare or gym membership that could offset these issues.”

Consider the culture fit

“A company’s culture is critically important when deciding which offer to accept because you need to be sure you’ll enjoy going into work every day,” says Hywel. What constitutes a good culture fit largely depends on the individual, he explains, so candidates should take clues and insight wherever they can to assess if the workplace is right for them, such as asking friends or ex-employees who know the business, and checking social media channels such as Glassdoor and Instagram. “Think about the types of roles you’ve enjoyed in the past, and which of the roles on offer comes closest to replicating that environment.”

Reflect on the interview

Keep in mind that interviews are not only for the organisation to evaluate you as a candidate, but also for you to understand more about the company, Alvin shares. “Companies who value people will show it throughout the entire hiring process,” he explains. “Assess the level of engagement shown by the hiring manager and HR during the recruitment process. Were people warm and inviting? Did they provide an inviting and comfortable experience? Do they look like they love what they are doing? These will give you a glimpse into the company culture and whether they care about their people.”

Don’t get blinded by salary

While salary is a key consideration for most candidates, Alvin encourages those with multiple offers to think about the other factors. “While a higher salary sounds attractive, in the long-run, it’s the non-monetary factors that will really make an impact on how happy you will be at work. These could be factors such as location, commute time, work/life balance and opportunities for growth and development,” says Alvin. “Make a well-rounded decision after considering what is best suited for you.”

Trust your gut

“If you’ve asked the right questions in the interview and researched both the companies and the specific roles on offer, you should be well-placed to make a sensible, informed decision on which job you should take,” concludes Hywel. However, he notes that taking on a new role is never without its risks regardless of how much thought has gone into the move. “Being risk-averse isn’t a bad quality when looking to change jobs, but at some point, you may just have to trust your gut and take that leap of faith!”

For more career advice, check out our career advice.