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How to Choose Between Two Jobs You Want

Having two job offers is a desirable position to be in, but it’s not that unusual, particularly when the unemployment rate is low.

If you’re job searching for the first time, unemployed or currently employed, determining the best offer can be a problem. It’s difficult to figure out which opportunity is the proper fit, particularly with all the factors that go into each job offer. From compensation to workplace culture to career advancement opportunities, there’s a great deal to think about.

So, to assist you in making a decision, here are a few things to think about if you’re fortunate enough to be in this predicament.

Consider what’s important to you

Your decision-making process should start with the end in mind: What are you trying to get out of this situation?

Many people go for the bigger paycheck, only to find themselves in a job that doesn’t meet their career needs. Whether it’s location, work-life balance or a good health insurance plan, think about your priorities and how each job would meet them. These priorities should be based on where you are in life and in your career. For instance, someone starting out on their career path might prioritize the chance to climb the company ladder over retirement benefits.

Get more information

When you’re having a hard time deciding between job offers, it can help to think of questions for each hiring manager that can make your decision easier. These questions should be related their specific job offer and your priorities. So, if vacation time is one of your priorities, you could ask for more details on how you go about getting days off or if the amount of work will even allow for you to take vacation days when you want to use them.

In addition to getting these questions answered, talking with each manager can help shed even more light on each job.

Compare apples to apples

Once you know what you want and have all the information you need, write out an apples-to-apples comparison that stacks the specifics of each job against each other. The comparison might include any or all of the following factors: salary/pay rate, shift, commuting issues, advancement potential, rapport with potential boss, vacation/personal time off, company reputation, red flags and any other perks, which should be put into quantifiable hard numbers if possible.

Go with your instincts

If, after all that consideration, questioning and analysis, you still can’t figure out which job you want to go with, decide which job gives you a positive feeling. Or, avoid whichever job gives you the opposite feeling.

At the end of the day, you could also take the opportunity you think will cause you the least amount of regret down the road. It’s important to walk away from this situation without any regrets.

At Career Concepts, we have a lot of experience helping skilled professionals make difficult career decisions. Please contact us today to find out how we can help your career.

Blog published date

Aug 09, 2017
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