Charles, 32, a biologist, has two great job offers. One is with an older, established public corporation, and the second with a fast growing four-year old private firm. Charles does not know which one to accept.



What type of company would you prefer? What criteria should Charles use when making this decision?



Most important, evaluate the job in terms of its compatibility with your personal qualities and desired career goals and lifestyle. Consider your passion, needs, interests and skills.



Know everything about each company and position. Use the Internet, library and your network. Talk to professionals in the industry and organization.



Request meetings with prospective peers and superiors. Ask them about their jobs and company challenges. Find out problems that need immediate attention. Ask how the position has been performed previously, and what happened to the last person on the job. Know what's expected of you, and how quickly you'll be expected to work up to speed. Note evasive or defensive responses.



Factors Charles considered when evaluating options



- Finances. Both companies are offering a similar salary. The older company is financially sound. Raises are provided annually, and benefits such as paid vacation time, sick days, medical plans and retirement are great. The newer company is just starting to make a profit. Raises are generally made annually. Benefits are fair, but expected to improve within the next few years, and generous stock options will be given.



- Professional development. When promotions become available in the older company, they are based on both merit and seniority. The company has many in-house and external training programs which include reimbursement for off-site training, coaching and career pathing. With the newer company's anticipated rapid growth, talented employees can expect to be promoted relatively quickly. Professional development is offered on an individual and as needed basis.

- Organizational culture and management style. The older company has specific, written procedures to follow with clear lines of authority and responsibility. However, management allows each unit to develop its own culture without too much intervention from the central office. The younger company encourages creative expression, challenge, intelligent risk-taking and high employee expectations. Hierarchy and lines of authority are informal.



- Nature of the work. The job is valued at both companies. The responsibilities, level of accountability and scope of authority are clearly defined in the older company. The younger company allows more scope and flexibility for employees to define the forgoing enabling professionals to adapt job duties to maximize their strengths, preferences and goals.

- Work environment. The older company's physical setting and overall appearance is elegant and traditional. Conventional office attire is required. The younger company has a more informal environment and dress code. Both appear to have good staff morale, and are committed to diversity.



- Work-life balance. The position at the older company requires little night or weekend work, and offers many support services. The younger company offers more flexible work schedules and telecommuting options, but motivated professionals generally work many hours. Both have similar commute distances, and are in urban communities that offer varied cultural, social and athletic activities.



- Compatibility of personal qualities and desired lifestyle
Charles has strong needs for autonomy, growth, achievement and way of life. He wants a balanced life and enjoys the finer things. He is passionate about creative problem solving, and likes improvising, managing, planning, researching and analyzing. His career goal is to make a contribution to his field.



Charles likes the stability and amenities of the older company, but knows he could become frustrated by fewer promotions and bureaucracy. He likes the idea of being involved in defining potential projects that the younger company offers, and believes he would move up the ranks quickly.



Charles thinks he would be supported by prospective superiors in both companies. However, he feels the atmosphere of the older company might be a bit stultifying. He likes the energetic, creative co-workers in the smaller company, and feels he would be more productive in the innovative culture. However, such an intense environment may conflict with his desire for balance.



The older company's immediate and continuous good standard of living appeals to Charles since he plans on getting married and would like to start a family. The offer of a faster paced career would meet many needs, and the possibility of becoming wealthy early with stock options is appealing. Discussion with his fiancée, revealed that she would support Charles in any decision.



- Decision making style. Charles listed all important criteria on the left side of a page, and the two options at the top. He assigned a plus one, a minus one, and a zero 0 to each criterion important to him. After he added the points, he took a few days off to let his intuition kick in. Charles had good feelings about the newer company so decided to accept the offer.



If you are in a similar position, consider all the factors offered by the company as well as your personal qualities and situation. Only you and your partner know what's best for you!.