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What things should factor into me making a final decision when I have been offered two jobs at the same time?

Elaine Varelas advises on all the factors to consider when deciding between two job offers.

Q:  I recently received two job offers, the same role essentially, but with different companies.  What are the top questions I should be asking of them to help me make my final decision?
 
A: Congratulations! This is an example of the ideal job search because it has resulted in multiple job offers. The role and the activity you say are essentially the same, but now is the time to assess the managers, the company and its culture, and the entire compensation package that has been offered for each role.  Most people accept a job for money, or for the manager that they will be working for.  The challenge is compensation can be hard to measure as it includes more than salary, and managers change.  Even if a manager has committed to you that they will be there for an extended period of time, things might change. It is something that you should pay attention to.
 
Hopefully you have done your research on the cultures of the two organizations. Do they have positive Glassdoor reviews? Do employees talk about having worked there for a long period of time? Do they talk about internal development and promotability that occurs at the organization? Are people offered training and advancement opportunities? Look at the work environment. Does the organization seem like a positive, collaborative place to work and are your new colleagues positive about the work environment, the opportunities, and the organization as a whole?
 
How do employees describe the senior leadership? Do they find that senior leadership listens, is communicative, and are people of integrity?  Do either one of the organizations have a mission that you are more strongly aligned with?  Perhaps one is a non-profit that you feel a personal dedication to and another organization is one that creates great products, but not one that you feel a personal kinship with. Also look at how each role would impact your work/life balance, if it matters to you. That kind of research will take you some time to do and is something that should occur all along the process, not just after you get an offer.
 
Comparing job offers may feel more straightforward. What is the compensation? What does the benefits package include and what does that add to your compensation?  Is there a bonus structure? Is there a retirement contribution made by the company? How much vacation time will you get? How many holidays? Does the company offer educational benefits? If the company is public, how is the stock price doing? If the organization is private, how long has the leadership been there and are there future plans to go public?  Is there an expectation that you will need to work in person hybrid, or fully remote?
 
Be sure to look at frequency of turnover in the organization. What is the average turnover at the organization? Finding a disgruntled employee is always a great idea. If you think what they are disgruntled about is meaningless, then they have not found something better to complain about. You will always find at least one disgruntled employee, no matter how good a company is. Has the organization won best places to work awards?
 
It’s important to take the time to do your research and ask the hiring managers more questions so you can make an educated decision. Remember and recognize that being happy in your job is most often not just about salary.  And be gentle with the firm you turn down.  You may want to open that door in the future.
  Boston.com

By Elaine Varelas