This is a difficult decision and you must evaluate the offer very carefully. Most companies will give you time to consider their offer, so time is on your hands. There is no need to rush into any hasty decisions that you might regret.

At this stage you have several issues to consider. Probably the best place to start is with the basics. Is it a good place to work? Is it the job you were after, and will it be fulfilling? Are there any opportunities for promotion and personal development? Does the salary match your expectations? Are there any perks to the job?

Especially when considering a number of job offers the following guide will inform you of the criteria by which you must judge the offers you have, at any stage of your career.

What is the company like, will you fit in?

It makes sense to find out as much information about the company as you can. You will have already researched the company to a certain degree when preparing for your interviews. Now you need to delve a little deeper and consider several important factors.

The criteria should incorporate the company’s financial situation, age, size, history, corporate philosophy and goals.

The best ways of doing this would be to either contact the company direct, and maybe speak with their public relations office, or go to the company’s website where a lot of the information will be available.

Ideally you should try and get a copy of the company’s annual report, any press releases, and company publications.

It would also be wise to search for any recent news or feature articles on the company.

The next sensible step would be to speak to any past, or most ideally present employees of the company, who can tell you more about what it is really like to work there.

Once you feel satisfied that you have thoroughly researched the company you should ask yourself the following questions:

• Does the company’s philosophy and business interests match my own?

It will be far easier to dedicate yourself to your position at the new company if you are enthusiastic about the organisation and where it is heading.

• Will I feel cocooned and overwhelmed by the size of the company?

There are benefits for working for a smaller company and there are benefits for working for a larger company. In the larger firms you will generally feel like a small piece in a large puzzle but you will also be given a far wider level of training and development programs, a more determined career path, better employee benefits and probably better technology due to size and spend.

However in a smaller company you are more likely to be given greater responsibility faster, you will have far more exposure and day-to-day dealings with senior management, and you will be able to see your results far quicker.

• But I have 2 offers, one from a large but relatively new firm and one from a large well-established corporate?

It is no secret that many new businesses have a high burn-rate and therefore fail. But getting involved in something new is always a challenge and certainly will provide you with the experience that you crave for. But remember that there are also younger companies that have already had success out there.

• What is the state of the industry I am choosing?

Think hard if you are entering a different industry. By now you really should have your finger on the pulse of the climate of that industry and if it is struggling then it might be time to rethink.

• What about the job itself?

The day-to-day nature of our jobs is crucial to whether we succeed or fail. If you think that you would struggle or be bored then stop and rethink.

However, the more you find out about the job before accepting or rejecting the offer, the more likely you are to make the right choice.

• Will I be required to relocate?

If the job requires you to move to another part of the country then there are so many things that you need to be considering at this stage.

What about the change in the cost of living, the cost and time of travel/public transport, the house prices, and the choice of schools and recreational facilities.

• Does the work match my interests and make good use of my current skills?

The duties and responsibilities of the job should be explained in enough detail to answer this question. Will you be bored? Are you basically overqualified for the position?

• Will this position make me more or less important than the job I held in my last company?

This is something that you will have to discuss with the company, they should gladly ask any queries relating to this.

• Will the hours be something that I am used to?

Most jobs involve regular hours—for example, 9am to 5.30/6pm, Monday to Friday. Some jobs will need to you to work weekends and will not offer as much holiday time as you may have been used to. Some jobs will require you to work nights in order to meet deadlines.

You will have to think carefully whether the change in hours is going to have a detrimental effect on your life orr even your family life.

• Who did the job before me? Why did they leave?

Maybe this is a redundant role and turnover has been exceptionally high, if so, why?

• What does the offer really hold for me?

Ideally the position should offer you the chance to improve your skills, better pay, chance to enter management opportunities. Think hard about these factors, because the chances are that if these are not offered you will soon become bored disheartened or find yourself looking for a new job.

Enquire about the training plan that the company has in place for you, if it doesn’t then when can you expect to have one. What are the skills that you will learn?

Some idea of your progression within the company should have been indicated to you at interview. Has this changed? Where do you stand? How long before you can see yourself on a higher rung on the career ladder?

How does this process work within the company?

• What about my salary, my pension, my healthcare, my car?

By the time you have the job offer on the table you should really know what salary you can expect. You should really do some research into what people in similar sized companies, in the same area and in similar positions are earning.

The best way to do this is too look at jobs that are advertised on Jobsite or in the employment pages of local and national newspapers.

Are you moving to a different area of the country? If this is the case then you should then bear in mind living and travel costs.

Bear in mind that you will get pay reviews. But how often? And how is that reviewed? Also bear in mind what perks you have and then bear in mind which costs come back to you and what are the tax issues involved?

Accepting the offer is something that you should not rush into, but there is one thing worth considering at this point. Why not ask to see them again? This will enable you to iron out any problems that you have at this stage and it also allows them to answer any questions that you have that need clearing up.

FINAL CHECKLISTS:

The starting salary

Review times for salary

Start date

Do you have any holiday outstanding at your previous position?

Benefits such as: private health insurance, pension contribution, season ticket loan, and company car.

Where do you fit in? Who do you report to? How much freedom will you be entitled to?

(ALL OF THESE SHOULD BE OPEN TO NEGOTIATION)