Well, firstly which one offers the greatest ratio of pay to hours you expect to actually work?Next, which one has given you the warmest welcome? Do the partners and managers seem to care - an I mean really care - about you? Have they asked you things such as how you're feeling about joining the company and have they talked to you about how they would help you settle in? Take a look at the junior staff as you pass through the office - do they have a smile on their face, a smile that is real and can be seen through their eyes? Or is it a forced "I'd better pretend I'm happy in case my boss sees me" type smile? Do the senior staff take pride in educating the younger ones and do they respect their contracted hours (by showing real appreciation when somebody does extra work, rather than expecting it of them)? Do the partners treat their secretaries better than the junior consultants on their team (if they do, then run a mile... everybody should be treated equally well, and young consultants shouldn't be treated as cannon fodder to burn out and throw away). Do the younger consultants seem to have friends around them that they can turn to for help if they need it? And what is the staff turnover like, does the company keep its staff for many years or do people just use it as a stepping stone? Good companies make sure their staff are happy, not just with the work itself or the salary but with how it helps them ensure a healthy and happy home life too... make sure you choose one that will make you happy.
