How to choose between two job offers

After months of searching, weeks of prepping, days of worrying and hours of selling yourself at interviews, you receive the call you’ve been waiting for … you got the job.

You finish the call on a high and return to your emails. But five minutes later, you’re stunned to receive a call from another charity with another offer.

You end this call feeling stressed. You feel passionately about both causes, both roles excite you, and you got a good vibe from the people at both organisations.

Which offer do you accept? And how can you be sure you're making the right decision?

First off, congratulations. The fact you’ve received more than one job offer shows your skills, experience, and personality impressed a lot of people!

Here’s what to do next.

Ask for both offers in writing

You’ve got two verbal offers, which is great. But until you have them in writing, nothing is confirmed. So, the next step is to request a written offer so you can review everything in detail before making a decision.

It’s perfectly reasonable to ask for a couple of days to do this.

Compare the offers

Once you have both offers in writing, compare the packages. Create a score sheet to quantify the elements of each offer, and write down the pros and cons, weighing up the salaries, company perks, benefits, location, commute, cultural fit, working environment, and your career prospects.

Figure out what really matters

Is a good salary more important to you than career progression? Does flexible working take precedence over a generous pension scheme? Everyone’s priorities are different. Work out what matters most to you and see which package ticks more boxes.

Reflect on the hiring process

One way to determine how much you’ll like working with each employer is to think about your experience of the hiring process. Was one charity more timely, responsive and approachable than the other? How did you connect with the interviewers? Which gave you the best feeling?

Reflect on your conversation with each interviewer and think about whether the organisations core values align with yours. 

Reviewing the interview process is a good way to determine if the work environment and culture is a good fit.

Research the charities

You probably did some research when preparing for the interviews, but now’s a good time to dive deeper. Check out platforms like Glassdoor to better understand salary expectations and employee impressions. Browse current employees’ LinkedIn profiles to see if they’re actively sharing content from their employer, as this signals they enjoy working there. 

Consider where you can negotiate

Let’s say, (after weighing up the options), your heart is set on the first offer, but the package is worse than the second. What would need to change to entice you to accept the first offer? More annual leave? A more flexible work schedule?

Seeing the positive elements of the competing offer can help you identify your priorities and help with your negotiation.

Ask for another call

Hiring managers understand that choosing a job is high stakes. This is how you’ll spend a good chunk of time each day.

If you’ve accumulated a list of questions you forgot to ask during the interview, ask for another call. They’ll appreciate you taking the initiative and you’ll gain further clarity before making a decision. 

Trust your gut

An important thing to remember when debating job offers is you can always make a change if necessary. You won’t be stuck in the role for the rest of your career, so don’t burden yourself by putting too much weight on the decision.

If, after a few days you’re still feeling uncertain, it means you’d be happy with either position, so choose whichever one you feel most excited about.

Turn down the losing charity with grace

Once you’ve made your decision, be sure to politely reject the other job offer before opening the champers. Thank the employer for their interest, explain why you’re declining their offer, and express an interest in staying in touch.

Follow it up by sending the person a connection request on LinkedIn.

The bottom line

If you find yourself in the enviable position of having two job offers on the table and want some impartial advice, give us a call on 020 3750 3111 or email us at info@bamboofundraising.co.uk