Point System for Considering Multiple Job Offers

This worksheet is intended to help a person set priorities for accepting a position, and then to evaluate two or more job offers. Such a decision cannot be made into an absolute science. With this in mind, use the worksheet as a way to organize your evaluation, and to assist your assessment. It is a way to put some order into this decision but we would never encourage that any exercise such as this be your sole means for making such a major decision.

Step 1: Look at the list of factors (Professional & Personal) in the Job Offer Scoring Section which might be used in making a decision about what job to accept. At the bottom under "Other Factors" add any which you expect to use that are not already listed.

Step 2: Make one copy of the Job Offer Scoring Sheet for EACH OFFER you have received. You will develop a job rating score for each offer.

Step 3: Assess each factor (Professional & Personal) a priority weightaccording to the scale below:

O= Absolutely no importance to me
I= Minimal importance to me
2= Somewhat important to me
3= Important to me
4= Highly important to me
5= Of critical importance to me

Step 4: Evaluate each job offer on every factor (Professional & Personal) you weighted. If you are not sure how to evaluate a particular factor for one of your offers, you need to estimate it. Use the following scale:

O= Poor
1= Weak
2= Average
3= Good
4= Excellent
5= Superior

Step 5: Multiply Step 4 by Step 3 for each factor (Professional & Personal) (weight x evaluation) for each job offer. This will give you each offer's factor scores, one by one.

Step 6: Add the combined figures in Step 5 to determine the total point score for that offer.

Step 7: See Step 4 . Identify any "knockout" factors which are so critical to you that a low score would eliminate an offer from consideration. Check any such "knockout" factors.

Step 8: When you have completed the exercise, go back and recheck your weightings for each factor and scores for each offer. Adjust and recalculate where this seems necessary. The highest score would appear to best meet your criteria, so if the result disappoints you, look for the reason.

Remember, this is a big decision so try to approach it in a rational way!

Job Offer Scoring Criteria

Employer_____________________________

Professional Factors

Nature of the job

Advancement potential/career path

Type of company (industry)

Feelings toward company culture

Reputation of company

Stability of company

Size of company

Growth of company

Feel company really "wants" me

Training program

Immediate supervisor

Frequent relocations

PERSONAL FACTORS

Proximity of family and/or friends

Size of the community

Salary (vs. cost of living)

Vacation/sick leave policies

Benefits (health insurance, schooling, etc.)

Recreational/cultural activities in area

Spouse's preferences

OTHER FACTORS

Add any factors which have relevance to you but are not listed above. Rate them as you have the previous factors.

TOTAL FACTOR SCORE