Comparing Job Offers: Part Two
Welcome to the conclusion of my mini comparing job offers series. In the previous post, Comparing Job Offers: Part One, I compared the financial value of benefits offered by two different jobs. Now, having some numbers to work with, it is time to also consider the other job qualities that can make or break a job offer.
While the salary offered stands out for each job, we must recognize that money is not everything. There are several other qualities that must be considered when looking at the big picture of a new position. These qualities vary based on your personal preferences and everyone should compile a list of criteria to judge the positions by. Some qualities to consider are:
- Workplace culture: What is the office atmosphere and the general attitude of coworkers? Is it an office where the finish line is on everyone’s mind and you must constantly wonder if your coworkers are working for or against you? Is it an environment where everyone is friendly and interested in working together on projects?
- Office Location:Where is the office located? Will you be out in the middle of no where with nothing to fill the required 1 hour lunch break or are there endless temptations just next door waiting to lighten your wallet?
- Prestige: How will you feel telling your friends and peers about the company? Is it a company or organization that lends additional respect to the work you are doing? Also, how will it look on the resume when looking for a future position?
- Work day: What are the hours? Is full-time a 35-hour work week or a 60-hour work week? Do you have to be a slave to the clock? Is there flextime available?
- Time Off: Just like time in the office, consider how much time you’ll be able to spend out of the office. You can place a dollar value on this and determine the importance of time off in terms of job satisfaction.
- Commute: How long will it take to get to work? What are your transportation options? Car? Train?
- Duties: What are your tasks? How do they compare to your experience, desired level of responsibility, and future growth? How do they compare between offers? Also, how challenging is the position?
- Stress: What is the stress level expected for this position. This can include a combination of commute, schedule, time off, and duties.
- Growth and Advanement: Is there room for growth? Is individual advancement expected and encouraged? Will this position stall your career growth potential?
- Personal Values: How does the position fit in with your personal values? Will you be doing work that you feel is worthwhile? Will you be working to improve the bottom line for you and/or yourself?
As a reminder, I am comparing the following hypothtical positions in this series:
Job Offer One: Office Manager position at a for-profit, blue-collar industry company. This is a small, home-based business that has been in business for many years. This is a new position for the company and was established to respond to the companies continued growth in business. There are only two or three office personnel and the remaining staff work out of the office at customer sites. There is little to no room for growth or personal advancement in this position. ($38,000/year)
Job Offer Two: Program Assistant position at a non-profit, education field organization. This is an organization that has been in operation for almost 100 years and is nationally recognized in the field of education. This is a new position paid for by a new grant funded initiative. There are almost 50 staff members working on a variety of projects, programs, and initiatives. There is extensive room for growth and personal advancement in this position. ($33,000/year)
|
Qualities |
Job Offer One |
Job Offer Two |
| Culture | Blue-collar workplace. Small staff and casual environment. | Professional workplace with almost 50 staff members. Very close knit department and a lot of support and assistance from coworkers. Friendly and enthusiastic staff. |
| Prestige | None. Will look out of place on the resume if I wish to pursue future position in educational programming or research. | Well known organization in the higher education field. Will provide a strong position for growth within the field and look very good on the resume. |
| Duties | Basic duties at current skill level. Not very challenging. | A step up from previous position and higher degree of responsibility. Scope of work and the number of projects will provide new and exciting challeneges. |
| Location | Close to home but in a residential area with nothing around to fill the lunch hour if I wanted a break from the office. Would save money by not going out to lunch but may lead to feelings of being trapped when there is no where to go. | Very hip area with lots of shops and food options. Would probably put a dink in the wallet if I don’t keep a strict eye on spending. |
| Commute | Only a few miles away and about a 10 minute drive. Rush hour traffic irrelevant. | 60-80 minute commute. Would require catching the bus (~45min) and a train (22min). Ability to read and catch up on work while commuting. |
| Growth and Advancement | Limited if any. No where to grow to and education and further development not encouraged. | Strong growth potential recognized and encouraged. Additional education also encouraged. |
| Personal Values | I would be helping the company make a buck and nothing more. Not very aligned with my desire to improve the world. | Excellent alignment with personal values. Working in my field of interest to ends that I admire. |
Conclusion: This chart illustrates the degree of differences between the two job offers. For me, this is the comparison that truly makes a difference. Based on this comparison, I am far more interested in Job Offer Two, even with the longer commute and smaller salary. Thanks to taking the time to compare job qualities and the financial value of benefits, I am confident that my selection is a good one.
Resources:
Comparing two or more job offers looks mostly at the financial aspects but also lists the importance of considering job factors.
How to Weigh Pay vs. Prestige When Comparing Job Offers talks about the importance of prestige and how it can go farther than your paycheck sometimes.
Comparing all the factors when comparing to jobs has lists similar to the one above. It also describes rating the qualities on a numerical scale.