In this guide
Templates, checklists and worksheets
Compare job offers with a weighted worksheet
Compare two or more offers on the whole package, weight what matters most to you, and see a worked example before you decide.
Compare the whole package
Two salaries that look different can be close once commuting, pension contributions, holiday and working pattern are counted. A higher salary with a long commute and no flexibility can be worth less to you than a slightly lower one you can do from home three days a week.
Ask for anything you do not have in writing before you compare, such as the pension contribution or the bonus rules. A comparison built on guesses is not worth much.
The worksheet
Element | Weight (1-5) | Offer A | Score A (1-5) | Offer B | Score B (1-5) Base pay | [weight] | [amount] | [score] | [amount] | [score] Bonus or commission (and how it is decided) | [weight] | [details] | [score] | [details] | [score] Pension or retirement contribution | [weight] | [details] | [score] | [details] | [score] Holiday | [weight] | [days] | [score] | [days] | [score] Hours and flexibility | [weight] | [details] | [score] | [details] | [score] Commute or remote pattern | [weight] | [details] | [score] | [details] | [score] Development and progression | [weight] | [details] | [score] | [details] | [score] Manager and team | [weight] | [impression] | [score] | [impression] | [score] Stability and risk | [weight] | [details] | [score] | [details] | [score] Weighted total = sum of (weight x score) | | | [total A] | | [total B]
A worked example
Illustrative example
Two offers for an analyst
- Base pay (weight 4): Offer A £36,000 scores 4; Offer B £33,000 scores 3.
- Commute (weight 5): A is 75 minutes each way, scores 2; B is hybrid with two office days, scores 5.
- Development (weight 4): A has a funded qualification, scores 5; B has informal training, scores 3.
- Stability (weight 3): A is an established firm, scores 4; B is a newly funded start-up, scores 2.
- Weighted totals for these four rows: A = 16 + 10 + 20 + 12 = 58; B = 12 + 25 + 12 + 6 = 55.
The offers are close. That tells the person the decision rests on what matters most to them now, commute or the funded qualification, rather than on salary.
Questions to settle before you decide
Ask each employer if you do not already know
- How is the bonus decided, and what did it pay last year?
- What is the employer's pension or retirement contribution?
- Is the working pattern written into the contract or a team arrangement?
- How long is the probation period, and what is reviewed?
- Who would I report to, and could I speak to someone in the team?
Common questions
What if my instinct disagrees with the total?
Look at which weights you would change to make the totals match your instinct. That usually reveals what you actually care about most.
Can I use the worksheet to compare an offer with staying in my current job?
Yes. Treat your current role as one of the offers and score it the same way, including what is likely to change if you stay.
Drafted with AI assistance and checked against Luceria’s editorial standards. Examples are illustrative, not real people’s results. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.