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Put both offers on the same basis. Compare fixed pay first, then bonus conditions, the actual work and the unknowns that could change your decision.
Compare the written offers
This guide is for graduates choosing between offers. Start with each offer letter, contract and written clarification. Record monthly basic pay, fixed allowances, bonus conditions, working hours, location, probation, notice and the response deadline. Mark anything missing as unknown rather than assuming the two employers mean the same thing.
Decide your priorities before looking for a winner. Predictable income, supervised learning, a particular kind of work and a workable commute can each matter. Choose the two or three that would actually change your decision. A universal score can hide a term you cannot accept behind benefits you barely value.
Separate fixed pay from possibilities
Here is the calculation behind the opening visual. These invented offers contain no additional fixed allowances. Each calculation assumes twelve full months on the stated salary; it is not a first-year payslip estimate for someone joining partway through a year.
MOM says bonuses and AWS are not automatically compulsory; the contract or collective agreement matters. Ask whether the quoted amount is guaranteed, discretionary or conditional, and whether a new joiner qualifies. Keep uncertain amounts in a separate scenario.
Scroll the table sideways to compare all columns.
| Pay component | Offer A | Offer B |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly fixed pay | S$3,600 | S$3,350 |
| Twelve-month fixed pay | S$3,600 × 12 = S$43,200 | S$3,350 × 12 = S$40,200 |
| Possible annual bonus | S$2,000 | S$5,000 |
| If the full bonus is paid | S$43,200 + S$2,000 = S$45,200 | S$40,200 + S$5,000 = S$45,200 |
| If no bonus is paid | S$43,200 | S$40,200 |
If predictable monthly income is your priority, A has an advantage in this example. That does not settle which job fits your work or learning goals.
Ask what the week would contain
A graduate programme title does not tell you who will teach you or what you will own. Ask each manager about a typical first assignment, who reviews it and how often you can ask for feedback. Request an example of how the advertised training connects to day-to-day work.
Check the working arrangement with the same care. A shorter commute may matter less if a role requires frequent late finishes that you cannot manage. Record the normal schedule and ask how peak periods work. Do not count remote work, rotations or promotion as confirmed benefits unless the employer has actually confirmed the arrangement.
Keep difficult terms visible: a training bond, repayment clause, restrictive condition or unclear notice requirement deserves attention before acceptance. Ask the employer to explain it in writing; seek appropriate advice if its effect remains unclear.
Ask the question that could change the choice
Choose the most consequential missing terms rather than sending a long generic questionnaire. In this continuation, B's working hours and new-joiner bonus rules remain unconfirmed. The message asks for those facts and preserves the response deadline.
Subject: Questions about the [role] offer Hello [name], Thank you for the offer. Before I make my decision, could you confirm the normal working hours and how often work outside those hours is expected? Could you also confirm whether the quoted bonus is guaranteed or discretionary, and the eligibility and pro-rating rules for a new joiner? I would appreciate the relevant written terms. I understand the offer response is due on [date]. Please let me know if that deadline changes. Thank you, [Your name]
- 1Request terms, not reassurance
A statement that a bonus is usually good does not answer whether this employee will qualify.
- 2Keep the deadline explicit
Asking questions does not itself extend an offer. Request an extension separately if you need one.
Write one reasoned decision
Return to your priorities once the answers arrive. Write down which offer meets them better, what trade-off you accept and what remains unresolved. If you cannot explain the decision without treating an unknown as a benefit, you probably need another answer.
B has a bigger bonus, so it is the better offer.
My priority is predictable income. A provides S$250 more fixed pay each month, and both offers reach the same total if their full example bonuses are paid. I lean towards A. Before deciding, I will confirm B's working hours and learning support because either answer could change how I value the role.
- The decision uses a stated personal priority rather than a universal graduate ranking.
- A provisional preference leaves room for an unanswered, decision-changing fact.
Keep the confirmed offer and clarifications together. If you accept one role, use the other employer's actual acceptance status to decide how to close that conversation.
Sources & example notes
Reviewed 3 November 2026. Worked examples and suggested wording are ApplyLah editorial illustrations. Sources below support the factual guidance; examples do not report hiring outcomes.
