Imagine you have five job offers on the table, and one of them is paying noticeably more than the rest. While I’m the first person to advocate that you should always be paid market rate, I’m also the first to warn that when one company is offering significantly more money than everyone else, there is often a reason for it.

And unfortunately, that reason is rarely a good one.

When More Money Is a Red Flag

In many cases, the companies offering the highest salaries are doing so because they’re struggling. That struggle might show up as high staff turnover, difficulty retaining people, poor culture, or limited opportunities for progression once you’re inside the organisation.

Higher pay can sometimes be used as a sticking plaster, to attract talent quickly rather than addressing deeper, structural issues within the business. While the offer may look appealing on paper, it’s important to understand why that salary is being put forward.

Think Beyond the Immediate Pay Rise

Of course, salary matters. No one is suggesting you should undercut yourself or accept less than you’re worth. But career decisions shouldn’t be made based solely on what you’ll earn next month.

Instead, ask yourself a more important question: which organisation is best for me over the next two to three years?
Consider development opportunities, the quality of leadership, company culture, client exposure, and long-term progression. These factors often have a far greater impact on your career, and future earning potential, than a short-term salary bump.

Do Your Due Diligence

Before accepting the highest offer, take the time to do proper due diligence. Speak to people in the business, ask about progression, understand why the role is vacant, and assess whether the organisation is somewhere you genuinely see yourself growing.

In many cases, the roles offering the most money are doing so out of necessity rather than strength. While that’s not always true, it’s common enough that it should give you pause.

The Smarter Approach

The best career moves are rarely driven by salary alone. A role that offers strong development, stability, and progression will almost always outperform a higher-paying role in a poor environment over the long term.

So yes, get paid properly. But don’t let salary be the only thing guiding your decision.

Key Takeaways

• Being paid market rate is important but context matters

• Significantly higher salaries can indicate deeper issues

• High churn and limited progression often drive inflated offers

• Focus on where you’ll be in two to three years, not two to three weeks

• Due diligence is essential before accepting any offer

If you’re weighing up multiple job offers and want an honest, market-informed view of which option is best for your career, get in touch. We’re happy to help you make the right long-term decision.