​Having two job offers on the table at once is an enviable position. However, it also means you have to make an important decision that could have a long-term impact on your future career.

Deciding between multiple job offers requires you to use your head as well as your heart – to choose the option that both helps you achieve your career goals and keeps you satisfied and engaged. Here’s our advice on how to choose between two job offers.

Reflect on Your Goals and Priorities

In practical terms, you have these job offers because you were either proactively seeking new opportunities or you’ve been headhunted. If you were actively looking for a new role, you had your reasons – either you weren’t feeling appreciated in your current role or perhaps you wanted to gain experience on new projects or with new people. Think back to your motivations and write down a few bullet points that led you to apply for those jobs in the first place. How do these motivations stack up against the offers in front of you? If you compare job offers against your list of career goals and priorities, you might see a clear winner.

On the other hand, if you have been headhunted, the roles you’re evaluating may include your existing job. If that’s the case, the same process can apply and you can look back at your performance appraisals to see what has been discussed in terms of your future development. Are you on track to achieve your career goals in your current role?

It may be as simple as seeing which role ticks more boxes than the other, or which one meets the objectives that are most important to you at this stage in your career. Try creating two columns with “must have” and “nice to have” to help prioritise these factors.

Assess the Offers Overall

Much of the time, salary is the number one priority when choosing a new job but it’s not the only important factor. Learning can be as important as earning and can help set up the next stages of your career. In a perfect world, you would find a job that offered both earning and learning opportunities, but in many cases, you may need to choose one over the other. If you are early in your career, you might sacrifice a higher salary for the chance to work with an experienced mentor or on projects you know will pay off in the long run. However, if you are in a more senior position, you may want to be remunerated in a way which reflects your experience and expertise.

Organisational culture is another of the key factors to consider when choosing a job. Given how many hours you spend at work, you might prioritise a company with a strong work/life balance culture or one with flexible working arrangements. Are there any perks that appeal to you, such as gym memberships, company cars or relocation packages? These will often be an indicator of how the company adds value to its employees. The hiring process can also be an effective way to assess how the company conducts itself, and you might already have a good idea of which organisation is a better fit for you.

Finally, is there opportunity for advancement in each of the roles being offered? You don’t want to be in the same position a year from now, changing jobs again because you want to grow and develop.

Consider the Fit of the Roles

Once you’ve analysed the macro components of the offers – the organisation, the culture – it’s time to take a really good look at the job itself. It can be easy to get overwhelmed and excited by the offer when it’s received but within a few months you’ll be settled and need to know that you’ll enjoy it day in, day out.

Revisit the original position description and run through the responsibilities and core competencies outlined. Is it what you see yourself doing in your next role? Is there enough in there to challenge you and push forward your skills and experience?

As part of the selection process, you’ve likely met your future manager and perhaps some of your colleagues. Do you see yourself working well with these people? Were there any red flags? You may need to rely on your instincts here and allow your gut feeling to inform your decision.

Summary

As part of this process, it’s okay to take a minute to reflect on the fact that you performed well during both recruitment processes. This is fantastic feedback and shouldn’t be overshadowed by the difficult decision that is now presented to you. You should take a moment to pat yourself on the back.

When it comes to making your choice, just remember that there was a reason that you applied for both roles in the first place so it’s really a win-win situation. Evaluating a job offer objectively allows you to take a step back and consider the pros and cons of each position before deciding which is best for you.

If you’re looking to make your next move, contact our team of Construction, Engineering, Infrastructure and Manufacturing recruitment specialists at RobLawMax.