I received a job offer that pays more than my current position, but the job will be more stressful. How do I decide if I should stay or go?

While it's exciting to have the opportunity to make a change that's new and different, it's still a dilemma you need an effective strategy to resolve. Critical to this process is knowing that when it comes to employment, people will often leave a job for more money, but they will usually stay in one for a supportive or stimulating environment.

With that in mind, first make a list of at least 10 things that would define your ideal work environment. For example, describe your perfect boss and fellow workers. Include objective conditions such as the setup of the workspace (e.g., private offices, open floor plans, etc.), average commute time, vacation, insurance coverage, and other benefits.

Next, check off those items that are present in your current job. In addition, query your prospective employer to see how many of those elements would be present in this new job. (Keep in mind you may only be able to evaluate objective conditions since interpersonal ones would require time working there to judge.) After that, compare your findings with the amount of money you're making now and the sum being offered for the job you are considering. By balancing your ideal workplace against your current and potential ones, you'll soon know whether to stay the course – or make an advantageous move. E