How to choose between multiple job offers

Great news! With more than one job offer on the table, you’re officially an “in-demand” candidate.

While it’s an enviable position to be in, it does introduce a difficult choice.

Do you choose the highest paying role, the company with the loftiest name, or the job that offers the most prestigious title?

If you’re wondering how to choose between two (or multiple) job offers in Australia, read on to learn not only WHAT factors you should consider, but also HOW to make the best decision for your career.

Begin with the key considerations for your career

What matters most to you in a job?

You’ll have a hard time making a decision between two job offers if you don’t first take some time to reflect on your own values and goals.

This means your first task is to weigh up each of the following elements to get a clear picture of what will make you feel satisfied in a job.

Work-life balance

Do you love flexible work hours and locations, a short commute, and control over any overtime work?

Job title

Do you enjoy the prestige that comes with a certain position title or a particular industry and the sense that your career is “on track”?

Salary

Does a high remuneration mean a lot to you as a marker of your career success or by allowing you a certain standard of lifestyle?

Career growth

Do you lean towards roles with clear job security and companies with opportunities for career progression?

Additional benefits

Do you enjoy the extra perks offered by some companies, such as fun workplaces and free lunches?

Core values

Do you love working for companies that share your eco-conscious goals, open communication style, or proactive approach to designing creative solutions?

What are the total packages on offer?

While it’s tempting to simply go with the highest offer, don’t be blinded by salary alone.

Instead, consider all the elements of each compensation package and take note of which inspire you the most.

Aside from the salary, look at:

• Paid time off (e.g. annual leave, parental leave)
• Additional employee benefits
• Non-monetary perks (e.g. greater responsibility, increased exposure)
• Paid training allowances
• Opportunities for bonuses and internal career growth

PRO TIP: There may be room to negotiate on one or more of these factors. It never hurts to ask!

Which company culture will be a better fit?

Since you’re likely to be going to work each day, you’ll naturally want it to be a fulfilling experience.

So, which work environment and company culture will help you achieve a satisfying career?

The reality is, it depends entirely on the individual and comes back to the first point – what matters most to you in a job?

Here’s how to assess company culture:

STEP 1: Research each company – both through company-owned (their website and social media) and public channels (employer reviews sites, Google)

STEP 2: Ask friends, current, or past employees who may know the organisation

STEP 3: Consider how you felt in your interviews and which left you with a good feeling

STEP 4: Speak with your recruiter, who may have a pre-existing connection with your potential employer

PRO TIP: Remember that company culture is deep-rooted – it’s not something you can change or negotiate. Even more reason to make sure the match is right from the start.

What’s the comparative potential for future growth?

It’s now time to think about long-term career ambitions. Because each career decision you make will ultimately impact your chances of realising your goals.

Ideally, you want to ensure the job you choose now is taking you one step closer to your career end goal.

Remember, this should be a deliberate choice.

Don’t simply assume every job will open up the future opportunities you’re looking for.

Here are three questions to ask yourself:

1. Which job will give me the most opportunities to tackle new challenges and learn?
2. Which job will connect me with the people and expose me to the departments that will help me develop and grow?
3. Which company has an organisational structure that will support my career goals?

And here are three questions to ask each potential employer:

1. Do they offer any training and development opportunities?
2. What is the company’s promotion policy?
3. Does the company have a projected growth strategy?

Related: Need some help with your career planning? Read our tips on setting and achieving your career goals.

How to differentiate between two companies

Perhaps you’ve got one offer from a multinational corporation and another from a well-known SMB?

How do you compare apples with oranges?

Compare each company’s performance

Would you prefer a job in a stable company that has a proven track record? Maybe you’re keen to work in a start-up and be part of a team that may potentially make headlines around the country?

No one wants to risk working for a company that’s struggling and possibly on the way out, or one that doesn’t have a clear growth strategy.

Luckily, there are plenty of ways to establish a company's current and projected performance.

Best ways to research a company’s performance:

• Head to their website to read company news, ESG factors, strategy details, investors information, financial results, and operational reviews
• Search Google for media reports about the company’s past, present, and future performance, and any awards or public recognition

Compare each company’s reputation

Obviously, you can’t rely solely on how the company promotes its brand.

To fairly assess their reputation, you’ll need to use external and independent sources.

But, a company’s reputation isn’t only about its accolades or glowing employee reviews. The mentoring, training programs, and professional development opportunities they’re known for should also factor into your decision.

Here’s how to research a company’s reputation:

• Look for evidence of awards and recognition on their company website
• Compare their ratings on different company review sites, such as Glassdoor
• Search Google for any independent media reports or other news stories
• Read their company website for the opportunities they offer to support the future growth of their employees

Compare each company’s culture

Of course, no single company can be everything to everyone.

So, while potential employers will evaluate whether you'd be a good fit for their workplaces, you, too, need to decide how you feel about the company culture of each potential employer.

Ultimately, you should choose an organisation you can see yourself with for the long term. Because, after a few months in a new job, the money and perks won’t matter if you don’t feel connected to the company, people, or work you’re doing.

How you can research a company’s culture:

• Look on their company website – especially their careers and about pages
• Use company review sites, such as Glassdoor, to assess ratings and read employee reviews
• Check out the company’s social media accounts and LinkedIn profile
• If possible, ask past or current employees for their valuable insight

Related: Discover how to find a company with the right cultural fit.

It’s time to make your decision

You might feel under pressure to make your decision right away. But it’s important to take some time to weigh up each offer and carefully assess which will serve you and your career the best.

It’s not unreasonable to ask for a few days or a week to consider your options.

Here’s how to break it down:

Creating a list of the pros and cons

By now, you’ve likely gathered a lot of information. But it seems such a jumble of notes – how will they help you to make your final decision?

This is where a side-by-side comparison of important aspects of each job is invaluable.

Seeing each job broken down into its smaller parts can help you take a more objective approach when making your career decision. Just remember, this comparison needs to take into account your original weighted list of what matters most to you in a job.

So, it’s time to be honest about what’s a plus and what’s a drawback.

For each job, write down the details you know about, such as:

• Start date
• Salary
• Paid time off
• Employer benefits
• Schedule
• Flexibility
• Commute time and options
• Location
• Growth opportunities
• Career prospects
• Company values
• Company culture
• Job security
• Terms of employment
• Overall impressions

Sample template (with examples):

Job Offer #1		Job Offer#2
PROS	CONS	PROS	CONS
Salary of $110K			Salary of $95K
	No paid personal leave	4 weeks paid annual leave, plus 1 week of paid personal leave
Fantastic team culture, very welcoming and supportive
	Commute is an 80 minute drive in peak hour, no train or bus options	Commute is a 10 minute train ride and a 5 minute walk from train station
Can work from home up to 50% of hours			Office only, no option to work from home
	Start date in 3 months	Start date in 4 weeks
			Lateral career move only

PRO TIP: Don’t ignore your gut! If the details on paper favour one company but you still feel drawn to the other, then listen to that feeling.

Communicating your decision

You’re done! You’ve now considered every angle and weighed up each element.

Once you have made your decision and accepted your chosen job, be gracious when turning down the others.

The more professional you are when explaining to a potential employer that you’re declining their offer, the better impression you’ll leave.

And you never know who’s connected or if you may cross paths again in the future.

What should you do about counteroffers?

It may be tempting to take advantage of a counteroffer. However, it's rarely a good idea.

If you accept the counteroffer and stay with your current employer, they might assume you used another offer as leverage for a pay increase and flag you as a flight risk. Even worse, word could spread that you wasted the precious time and resources of other companies just for the sake of using them as leverage.

The reality is, a higher salary isn’t everything – the issues that led to you seeking out a new job will still be there.

The bottom line

Now you know how to choose between two (or more) job offers, you can confidently make the best decision for your career.