Choosing the right job offer...

Not too long ago I had the difficult, but very fortunate task of choosing between two job offers. Even with only one job offer it can often be difficult to decide whether or not the job is right for you. Although it may seem tacky, writing the offers in a list with pros and cons can really help clarify what choice is right for you. Here are some items you should definitely consider when jotting down your list:

Salary – While this may seem like the biggest factor, it can be dangerous to give too much priority to this one element. Sometimes keeping the same salary or taking a small pay cut might be something you should consider if the position is going to help you get your dream job.
Benefits – A lower paying job with excellent benefits can actually be worth more than a higher paying job with limited benefits. Be sure to ask what kind of compensation package you will receive including vacation days, paid holidays, health and life insurance.
Retirements and 401k –Even if you’re barely in your 20s, you definitely need to be planning for your future. Will this company match your 401k contributions? A company 401k match can add up to a lot over time.

Advancement opportunities – Especially when you’re at the beginning of your career, you are likely looking for good opportunities to move up. Does the company typically promote people from within? Even if you don’t think you’ll be able to move up within the company, does this position give you the necessary experience and knowledge to make your next job somewhere else even better?

Quality of life – Outside of the job itself a new job can often put added stresses on your personal life. Increased work hours can make it more difficult to maintain relationships with your family and friends? Also, a long commute can not only be stressful with traffic during rush hour, but can also be costly with the high price of gas.
Job stability – Look at the company’s history, how long they have been in business, the profitability of their industry, the company’s growth and their customer base. All these things show how stable the company which typically translates into how stable your position will be too. Does this company seem like a company that is forward thinking and pushing new products and services for their customers? Is it possible that they are only hiring you to complete a current project and once complete, they will no longer need you? Have they had major lay-offs in the past?

Company culture – The job interview is a great time to take in as much information about the company without even asking any questions. Just by observing the current employees you can typically get a good sense as to how happy the employees are, the average age, etc. Do the people at the company seem like friendly people that you would be happy to work with?
Once you’ve finished your list, let your friends and family have a look and see what they think about it. Give it a day or two if you can before making a final decision. Once decided, tell all parties what you have decided. Be courteous, even if you turn down a position now, you may end up working with someone from that company in the future.