How to Decide Between Two Job Offers in 6 Easy Steps

Imagine dining at a buffet restaurant: in front of you are countless dishes, from appetisers to desserts. How do you pick? Even if you have several hours allotted to dine in, you only have one stomach that gets full fast. Novices would go for whatever they set their eyes on, disappointing themselves for eating too many heavy carbs. Experts, however, would draft a plan – making a mental list of everything on offer, prioritising high-cost items, and pacing their meal with smaller servings. The same goes when you’re learning how to decide between two job offers.

Being spoiled for choice is a situation many people would love to be in, especially if you’re a jobseeker hoping, praying, and wishing to land that dream job. Who wouldn’t want to be in that fortunate position of having to choose between two job offers? Very lucky you! If you’re currently in this kind of situation, you’re likely in need of help (which is why you’re here!). Don’t fret, and remember that you can have your cake and eat it too. But first, prepare a checklist of all important criteria for choosing a job.

When to Choose Between Two Job Offers

Congratulations! You are officially in demand. But, really, having this conundrum isn’t common to many people. Usually, it’s the other way around – a candidate waits for weeks or months until a company sends an offer. Despite gaining the upper hand in the situation, your outlook should be less arrogant but more humble and grateful. Again, this doesn’t happen to everyone! 

So you’ve gone through the rigorous application process and aced your interviews. Now, you have two job offers received just a few days (sometimes hours!) apart. Should you prolong it and wait for a third one? Do you power trip and play chase, hoping one would revise their package for a better one? 

Sure, you might deserve a yes for all those questions, considering the hard work you poured in while seeking a job. But you don’t want to sound like a nagging, hard-to-please, spoiled brat. Celebrate for a day, if you wish, and then get to the decision board right away. Avoid employing any delaying tactics. Once caught, you might just end up losing both offers. Instead, prepare a proper timeline, communicate deadlines to both companies, and put in the effort to discern. You don’t want to rush the decision, but you also want to stay prompt. 

The benefits of having several job offers

Bring out the champagne and the party poppers – you’re in for a treat! If it isn’t obvious yet, you’re in a one-in-a-million position. Many people will be envious of you. So, go ahead and bask in the joys of your situation before racking your brains to make the final choice. As a reminder, here are some benefits you can currently enjoy: 

• You’re assured of work very soon. 
• Your job search ends now. 
• You did well during the interviews.
• Your skills are at par with market demands.
• You get to choose. 

That’s it? The list might be short, but that last item is a major flex in itself. But now comes the hard part. 

How to Decide Between Two Jobs

Nope, don’t leave it to chance; a coin toss might give you a bigger headache. This situation requires laser-sharp focus, undivided attention, and intense brain workouts. Remember: your future is on the line! Now, follow these steps when choosing between two job offers. 

Step 1: Collect all necessary information. 

You can’t get to a decision empty-handed. You want context – a solid basis for your choice. Go back to the buffet example: before picking a dish to eat, you’d like to know the ingredients used in each first. Once you obtain that information, you can go for those that offer your money’s worth. In this case, look at the job offer sheets and compare all items. Know everything you’re getting and lay them on the table. Use this list as a guide:  

Important criteria for choosing a job

1. Position
2. Job description
3. Salary
4. Start date
5. Working hours
6. Overtime rules
7. Work setup (work-from-home, face-to-face, or hybrid) 
8. Office address
9. Holidays
10. Annual and other leaves
11. Sickness benefits
12. Health insurance
13. Allowances
14. Transportation benefits
15. Clothing allowance
16. Probationary terms 
17. Signing bonus
18. Annual bonus
19. Retirement benefits
20. Expense reimbursements

Step 2: Prepare a comparison chart. 

Maybe it’s time to open Excel and create tables. Or, if you want to go old-school, bring out a pen and paper and start Venn diagramming. Visualising your information can help in digesting everything and coming up with conclusions. Another option is to prepare a pros-and-cons list; separate the items that appeal to you and those that fuel your hesitation. Lastly, you can customise a point system and assign a higher score for more important elements. Do working hours matter to you? Give it a five! 

Take your time when doing this. Sit on it or give yourself a couple of days to finalise where a factor falls. In the end, think of your charts and lists as a scale of justice: on which side is it heavier? 

Step 3: Weigh the salary.

Keep it real: money is a major factor when it comes to accepting a job. Why would you choose one that pays less than your previous role or has more deductions than the other offer?

If the salary grades are far from each other, the choice might come easier. But if the difference costs less than a meal, you might have more thinking to do. First, you might want to consider negotiating the remuneration. At this point, you can slightly hint that you are looking at other offers that promise better pay. If they revise the offer based on what you can bring to the company, then that’s another plus to factor in. 

Now, is it all about the money? If you haven’t realised the answer to that, you might be setting yourself up for the wrong job offer. Will you still take the higher salary if it means doing work against your happiness? 

Step 4: Assess work environments

If you’re moving away from a toxic work environment in your previous post, the last thing you want is to join a company with the same culture. During your job application process, did you take the effort to learn about the organisation you’re trying to enter? During your interview, did you ask about the day-to-day operations of the company? Or did you reach out to any present employee to ask about their work-life balance? Now that you have an offer, take this chance to find the answers to these questions. 

Research about the people also. You don’t want to stick out like a sore thumb when you’re finally part of the team. Learn about the management styles of the heads. Ask if people are satisfied and how the company is helping to achieve that. Weigh all these when making your decision. 

Step 5: Consider the future. 

Don’t just consider your present but also factor in your long-term goals. The job may match your current aspirations, but will it help you achieve the future you want? Between the two offers, choose what will bring you closer to your dreams. 

But don’t just limit your perspective to picking the job that will lead to your dream house, car, and wardrobe. Think beyond the material benefits. Check for the personal growth possible in the jobs you’re weighing. Are they challenging enough to lead to your holistic success?  

Step 6: Listen to your gut.

Don’t just give in to the pressures from outside sources. Look within and listen to your gut. Which choice excites you more? Which office do you envision yourself entering? Recall your interviews: Which made you feel more satisfied? Where is your conscience directing you? More often than not, your intuition is a reliable compass when making crucial, life-altering decisions. 

After following these six steps, you should be ready (and happy!) with your decision. The next step is to accept the winning job offer, and gear up for your first day. Concurrently, communicate with the other company and turn down their offer politely. Thank them for the opportunity and emphasise that you wish to keep them in your network. Happy with your choice? Go treat yourself to a buffet meal!

Still waiting for the right-fit job offer? #SEEKBetter jobs with an updated JobStreet profile. Continue exploring careers that tie in with your long-term objectives. If you need more tips to help you in your application process, visit the Career Tools page. And get the latest news by checking the website or via the app, which you can download on Google Play or App Store.