Irish workers have never been more employable. Our unemployment levels are at the lowest level since 2008, meaning the job market is now in favour of job seekers over employers. This all sounds great, but when faced with deciding between two job offers it can be stressful.
Will you make the right decision? What will happen if you make a choice and end up hating the job? Will you get on with your new colleagues? Should you pick the higher salary job over location and a good office culture? Ultimately the job that matches your career goals, needs and wants will be the best for you, but if you’re having trouble assessing that take into consideration the following 4 factors:
1. Look beyond the perks
More and more companies are introducing perks to attract and keep top talent. For example, unlimited holidays or traditional benefits such as health insurance and training. Perks are great, but when choosing between two jobs it’s important to look beyond the extras.
Think about what made you apply for the jobs initially. While one company might offer free dry cleaning, you might find that you’re more excited about the other job and the work it involves. Benefits won’t make you prefer the actual work you are hired to do. When deciding think beyond the perks and see which work you think you'd enjoy most.
2. Identify if there is room to grow
The working world is evolving faster than ever before putting an emphasis on continuous learning and upskilling. When picking between job offers establish which job offers the best opportunity to learn new skills and advance your career.
As much as a good salary is important, taking a slightly lower paid job with a lot of room to grow could benefit you more in the long term. Think about how bored you might be if you’re still doing the same exact work a few years from now. If you’re unsure about the opportunities for learning in either of your potential new jobs, don’t be afraid to ask especially if all your options haven’t presented you with clear learning opportunities.
3. What's the work-life balance like?
Again, the job offer doesn’t just come down to the salary. You will need to look at what stage of your career you’re at and see how the company culture will fit with your lifestyle. A lucrative offer may come with an expectation to work long nights and early morning – will you be happy doing this?
Some questions to consider when assessing the workplace culture include: What’s the holiday policy? What are the normal working hours? Does the job require responding to emails at any time of the day or night? Thinking back to what the environment in the workplace was like during your interview can also be really helpful.
If in doubt and you’re working with a recruiter, they should have a good insight into the workplace culture so make sure to ask them any questions.
4. What did you think of the people you met?
Did you like the people you met? This may sound silly as it’s hard to really get to know your potential colleagues during a job interview, but you can generally tell if your personalities complement each other. Getting along with your new colleagues will mean your happier and more productive at work, and it’ll also mean you’re more likely to succeed. Did you get on better with one set of interviewers better than the other? Maybe that’s the new job for you.
Having multiple job offers is a great situation to have but that doesn’t make making tough career decisions any easier. When you’re weighing up your options, focus on your career goals and current needs and wants – don’t be afraid to go with your gut. You have the power, so choose the job that feels the most right to you.