“Height…” my friend declares, with a mischievous smile.
I glance nervously at the measly 35 cm ‘Wild Cat’ in my hand.
“260 cm!” he shouts in triumph, and shows the Polar Bear card. He wins.
This was Top Trumps - a game I used to play as a kid. The goal was simple:
Choose a category of your card’s animal (height, weight, intelligence, killer rating etc) that’d beat the other person’s. Winner takes both.
Very fun, extremely annoying, and also, forced you to weigh up the strengths and weaknesses unique to each card.
I recall this now because we all play a similar ‘game’ when evaluating new jobs or roles in our careers.
It's the age-old question, how do I compare two jobs? Which one's better?
When we look at a job, there are a ton of different categories we should be evaluating.
But we’re taught to fixate on one category only:
Money.
Sure, sometimes better salary = better career.
But not always.
So, today, I’d like to break down some other factors we should be using to evaluate a job/position when we’re playing Top Trumps with our career.
🧎🏻 People > money.
A wise man once noted, “the most important thing in life is almost always other humans.”
Because not only can people be the biggest source of our happiness, but often our unhappiness too. Working in a tight-knit team is an amazing feeling. But nothing’s worse than a boss you can’t stand.
=> Working with people you genuinely enjoy being around can have a more meaningful impact than a salary bump.
🗽 Autonomy > money
Autonomy - the freedom to do the job the way you see fit - is a huge indicator of career satisfaction.
Sure, a role with a new company might pay less, but if it gives you the reins to do things as you’d like, it might be worthwhile.
A concrete example:
- Company A: You're a cog in the machine. When you suggest a new tool to automate tasks, you're met with, "No, this is how we've always done it." Your ideas feel stifled.
- Company B: You're encouraged to innovate and you’re trusted. Propose the same tool, and they're all ears, eager to see if it can improve efficiency. Here, your ideas matter.
A role like Company B can give you more ‘control’ over your career, even if it might pay a few percent less in the short-term.
Having a high paying job is great, but if you’re constantly stressed, and snapping at family when you get home… is it making your life better?
Maybe not.
🚉 Killing the Commute > higher pay
On average, we spend 1 hour commuting every day. That means every month, you’re working an extra 20 hours - 2 ½ days - without pay. That’s a lot of unpaid time, especially when you add fuel, car maintenance, or rail card costs.
So although partial WFH, or working closer to home, might mean a lower salary, factoring in your commute, you might come out better off.
📍 Location, location, location > higher pay
Some of us like the mountains, some of us like the beach, and some us live for the big city buzz.
Either way, it’s something I’d think about when looking for or comparing jobs: do I actually want to live there?
💡 Earning vs learning
Sometimes, you earn and learn at the same time.
But often, it’s a trade off. Will your new position level up your skills, making you more valuable in the future?
If a role is giving you the responsibility you won’t get elsewhere, or equipping you with high-value skills that’ll serve your career, it is likely worth a lot more than its salary.
䷭ Career optionality - the hidden multiplier
Some jobs pay well but lead nowhere. Others might pay less but serve as master keys that unlock multiple doors.
Think of your career as a video game. Certain moves increase your range of future options. These are force multipliers:
- Working at a company that spawns successful founders
- Learning transferable skills valued across industries
- Building a network in a growing sector
- Getting experience in a field with talent shortages
A friend took basically a 90% pay cut to join an elite tech accelerator program where he got paid a small bit to found a company (that he ended up shutting down a year later). "Crazy!" people said. Now, though, his experience at the accelerator and his startup are considered so valuable that he currently earns over 2x his original salary. The network and skills he built became his career accelerant.
When weighing options, ask: "Which choice gives me more paths forward?" Sometimes the best move isn't the one with the highest immediate return, but the one that expands your future playing field.
🌱 The day-to-day reality check
Here's a brutal truth: your job isn't your quarterly review, your promotion, or your bonus. It's Tuesday at 10:47am when you're knee-deep in the actual work.
We get seduced by titles, compensation packages, and promises of advancement. But we forget to ask: "What will I actually be doing for 8+ hours daily?"
Try this: For any job you're considering, break down what a typical day looks like hour by hour. Then ruthlessly evaluate:
- How much of that time is spent doing work you find engaging?
- How much is spent in activities that drain you?
- What percentage aligns with your strengths versus where you struggle?
I've seen too many people leave perfectly good situations for a 20% raise, only to discover they now spend most of their day doing tasks they hate.
The shiny new title of "Director" loses its luster when you realize you've traded solving interesting problems for endless corporate politics and budget meetings.
👁️ Keep your eye on the prize
Ultimately, it comes down to a simple question:
What’s your goal?
Earn six-figures ASAP? Start a family? Work-life balance?
You can have anything you want, but not everything. Knowing what you want to do with your life is key when it comes to evaluating a move.
It’s okay if money is your main focus — there’s nothing wrong with following the pay, and, the later you are in your career, it's smart to prioritize financial security and stability.
Alternatively, while a job should pay you in more than just money, do not let non-financial factors blind you from the value of your time. It's easy to convince yourself that "purpose" or "culture" justifies lower pay. Don't fall for that trap. Your skills have real market value. Make sure you're getting what you're worth, even as you consider all these other factors.
I hope that gives you a way to think about how to evaluate a job the next time you need to. You can also use the factors above to evaluate your current job too — if it’s lacking in a certain element, know that it can be improved.
