Comparing Two or More Executive-Level Job Offers

Comparing Two or More Executive-Level Job Offers

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When comparing job offers at the senior and executive levels, job-seekers really need to compare all aspects -- including salary, benefits and perks, and cost of living -- of each job offer.

Congratulations! Let's say that after much preparation and hard work that you have received three job offers. Now you have to decide which is the best offer. Is the best offer always the one paying the highest salary? Well, when you also look at each company's benefits package, you might find a very different story, as illustrated in the table below. Why are benefits important? At the executive and top management level, benefits can be equal (or even higher) than your base salary -- in effect at least doubling your overall compensation.

This example is purely a financial analysis of the three job offers, and does not take into consideration many other important factors that job-seekers should also evaluate before deciding on a job offer. These other factors are discussed after the table.

	Worldwide Widget, Inc. New York, NY	West Coast Widgets, Inc. Los Angeles, CA:	The Widget Company Chicago, IL:
Base Salary:	$210,000	$195,000	$185,000
Sign-on Bonus:	$40,000	$35,000	$45,000
Cost of Living Adjustment:	-$31,500	-$20,000	+ $11,000
Stock Options:	$50,000	$10,000	$0
Medical, Dental, Optical:	$6,000	$8,000	$5,000
Life, Disability Insurance:	$3,000	$5,000	$4,000
Company Car/Driver:	$50,000	$80,000	$50,000
401(K) or Pension Plan:	$20,000	$20,000	$25,000
Severance Package:	$100,000	$120,000	$185,000
Paid Vacation:	$30,000	$24,000	$26,000
Total Compensation Package:	$477,500	$477,000	$536,000

As discussed in our Salary and Job Offer Negotiation Tutorial, there are many other factors that job-seekers may want to consider when deciding whether to accept an offer, including:

Reputation of the company
Corporate culture
The work itself (in terms of interest, challenge, etc.)
Quality of community (life, schools, etc.)
Relocation expenses
Dependent care
Professional memberships
Health club/country club memberships
Tuition reimbursement
Profit sharing
Employee Assistance Program

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