If you’re in the position to choose between two job offers, well done! Deciding which one to pick requires more effort than looking at the salary package though. Today I’m sharing with you the same process I work through with our clients who are fortunate enough to be in that position.
Using the Decision Matrix to Choose Between Two Job Offers
When we work through this process with our clients, we usually work through it with some specific decision making tools to figure out what really matters. One of my favourites is the Decision Matrix.
The Decision Matrix is a tool used to help you prioritise what is really important to you and to make a decision free from emotions. To set one up, grab a large piece of paper and list your two job offers at the top. Next write what’s important to you in a job down the side and use these as the criteria for making your decision. A line in the middle between the two offers lets you compare them factually.
To determine your criteria, take some time to reflect on your likes and dislikes of your current job. As you do so, think about what you will be doing in each of the job offers. Are there any similarities, or things you want to keep or avoid? This will help you figure out which things are important and which are not.
Your list should contain five to ten of your top priorities. For example, the list may include salary, hours, flexible working, location, commuting time, company values, company reputation, rapport with manager/team, benefits or professional development opportunities and career progression.
Give each of these items on the list a weight, using a scale of one to ten, with one being the least important and ten the most important. Then using this list, go through each of the criteria and decide how many possible points each alternate job offer should get out of the total weighting given to it.
The Decision Matrix can also help you identify areas for negotiation. If you love one of the companies who has offered you a job, but their offer just isn’t as good, ask if they could change their offer to make it more appealing for you. Think about what might need to change with the offer for you to accept. Could you negotiate on additional leave or flexible working options? On the other hand, if something doesn’t feel right, it probably isn’t. Red flags are warning signs you shouldn’t be ignoring.
Once you’ve made your decision, remember to take the time to politely turn down the other offer. You never know, you may want to explore opportunities at this organisation in the future, so you be sure to thank them for their interest and keep the door open.
For further advice and support on applying for or accepting job offers, please get in touch with me today.