Deciding Between Two Job Offers

1. Draw a table.

2. From the following list, choose the six work needs that are most important to you:

• Good pay and compensation: Consider regular appraisals, incentives and bonuses.
• Location: Proximity to family, friends and support networks. If you're moving to another city, does the money cover increased living expenses? Be sure to compare apples to apples here.
• Career tactics: Is this firm where you anticipate you will settle and forge your career or a stop gap to the perfect position.
• Benefits: Consider both tangible benefits, like healthcare and in-house daycare, and intangible ones, like an enjoyable place to work.
• Hours: How important is flexi time or being home for dinner?
• Time off: Is it important to be able to work part-time and take summers off?
• Commute: How long will it take, and how much will it cost? Can you get there without a car?
• Interesting tasks or subject matter: Can you use your skills in your new position? Will you be involved in a field that interests you? Advancement possibilities: Are there good opportunities to move up and increase your earnings?
• Organisational culture: Is the company staid and focused on traditional ways, or is it open and progressive? Which is better for you?
• Coworkers: Are they the kind of people with whom you want to spend your days? 
• Company reputation: Is the organisation well-respected and known for quality work and good management? 
• Personal values: Does the firm contribute to the community and provide useful services? 
• Family-friendly environment: Is it easy to keep in touch with your children during the day? Can you attend important school events?

3. Place your top six work needs in priority order on the chart's vertical axis.

4. Along the top of the horizontal axis, note the two jobs you are considering; below each one place a plus sign, minus sign and a question mark.

5. Starting with your most important work need, fill in the plus block for each job with a number from 1 to 5 (5 being the highest). Then add up the numbers to see which job has the highest score.

6. If there are any negatives, place a check mark in the appropriate blocks and describe them briefly.

7. Note any questions you might have.

8. Now, place a red asterisk beside the absolutely most important element in your decision.

9. At this point, you should be able to logically and unemotionally determine what your smartest move would be.

10. Don't forget to pay attention to what your gut tells you (Don't expect to be able to fully describe this to yourself, never mind others.)

11. Then put everything together to make your decision.

12. If appropriate, discuss your results with anyone else involved in your plans.