mediumHrMidSeniorStaffLead
You have two offers and one pays noticeably more. How do you decide between them?
6 min readUpdated 2026-08-15
Answer
Short answer
Normalise both packages into comparable annual cash first, discounting equity and bonus by how certain they are, then decide on the work, the manager, the growth trajectory and the stability — because those dominate within two years, while the pay gap is real and is allowed to win.
Was this answer helpful?
Likely follow-ups
- The equity is quoted at the last funding round's price. What is that number worth to you?
- Your current employer counter-offers to match. Do you stay?
- How long would you ask for, and what would you say if we refused to extend the deadline?
- Suppose both packages normalise to the same number. What decides it then?
Related questions
- Most of this package is equity in a private company. How do you decide what it is worth to you?hardAlso on equity and offer-evaluation6 min
- The recruiter says the offer expires tomorrow. What do you do?hardAlso on offer-evaluation and decision-making5 min
- If your current employer matched this offer, would you stay?mediumAlso on decision-making5 min
- We are offering you the mid-level role rather than the senior one you interviewed for. How do you respond?hardAlso on compensation5 min
Masterclass guides
- Getting Past the ATS: Application Screening and the Resume-to-Answer Bridge64 min
- Career Gaps, Layoffs and Short Tenures: How These Answers Are Scored82 min
- Salary Negotiation and Offers: The Complete Guide88 min
- Surviving a Multi-Stage Interview Process: The Complete Guide66 min
- Take-Home Assignments and Live Case Studies: The Complete Guide86 min
- The Recruiter Screen: The Complete Guide74 min
- Visa Sponsorship and Right to Work: Handling the Conversation73 min