Jobs - Ask the Headhunter

POSTED: Sunday, Aug. 24, 2008

Base decision on company evaluation

Question: I have two job offers, both in the same dollar range. Believe me, in today’s economy, I know how lucky I am! I’m not sure which factors to weigh or what will be more important to my career. Usually there’s a difference between two opportunities, but these are very comparable. How do I choose?

Answer: I have a rule that may help you crystallize the real questions about the job offers you are considering. Select a job offer on the basis of the people, the product and the reputation. Even if you take the wrong job in a company that scores high on those three criteria, you will soon make your way into the right job, and good opportunities will follow.

I believe a company’s people, products and reputation are the best predictors of your long-term success. So do your homework in advance.

1. Are the products high-quality and respected in the market? Does the company create successful new products and features to deflect competition?

2. Are the people the kind you want to be around day in and day out? Ask to spend a day or two shadowing people who would be on your team, as well as workers in other departments that you’d interact with. Is employee turnover low? Look carefully at upper management. Has it been stable? Has management navigated the company through difficult times and challenges?

3. What’s the news on the company over the past five years? Any scandals? Any nasty legal or regulatory problems? Or is the company a pillar of integrity? Dig through the general and business press, as well as industry-specific publications.

(You could easily add a fourth category: Is the company sound financially? But information about this should fall out of your research on the other items.)

I know my rule sounds a little cut and dry. Obviously, you have to do a bit of work to properly compare the companies on those criteria. But I’ll bet if you look carefully, you will find differences between the companies you’re considering that will reveal the best choice.