Step 4: Weigh Two Seasonal Offers Before Saying Yes
Two offers can land in the same week, and the bigger hourly rate may still lose. Travel, hours, housing and the way the job ends all shift the real picture.
This last step offers a method for comparing, questions worth asking before you say yes and an official source for wage rules.
- Compare pay, hours, costs and end dates, not only the hourly rate.
- Get the key terms in writing before you accept.
- Contact the Wage and Hour Division if you are unpaid for hours worked.
Put both offers side by side
List the same facts for each job. Include the pay basis, expected weekly hours, start and end dates, commute, and costs such as uniform, fuel or parking. Add perks like discounts and meals, and drawbacks like late closing shifts. Run both offers through the pay calculator on this path’s overview page, once for a quiet week and once for a busy one. An offer with slightly lower pay but steadier hours may come out ahead.
Questions to ask before accepting
Ask for the answers in writing, by email or an offer letter. A reasonable employer will agree.
- What is the exact pay and how often am I paid?
- What hours are expected, and what happens if they drop?
- Is the job paid as an employee or a contractor?
- Are there costs I must cover myself?
- Is there a chance to return or extend?
Also ask about training, and confirm the first day and the person to report to.
Red flags
Be wary of any employer that asks you to pay for the right to work, will not put terms in writing, pays in cash with no records or pushes for a same-day answer. If pay is lower than what the law requires, or you are not paid for hours you worked, contact the Wage and Hour Division or your state labor office. Keep your own record of hours worked. A pay statement should match that record.
Decide and plan what comes next
Choose the offer that fits your goals, not only the highest number. Accept in writing, and decline the other politely and quickly so the employer can fill the slot. Near the end of the season, ask whether you can return or move to a related role, and save your pay statements for tax time.
| Factor | Offer 1 | Offer 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Pay basis | Write it here | Write it here |
| Weekly hours | Low and high case | Low and high case |
| Costs and commute | Fuel, uniform | Fuel, uniform |
| Perks and end date | Discount, housing | Discount, housing |
- Pay basis and payday confirmed in writing
- Weekly hours estimated in a low and a high case
- Costs of travel, uniform and housing counted
- Employee or contractor status clarified
- Start date, end date and first contact known
- Other offer declined politely once you decide
Look up federal wage rules directly
Enforcement of federal wage laws, including minimum wage and overtime, sits with a Department of Labor division. Its site is where you can confirm which rules cover your job before accepting. Your state labor department may add stricter ones. Choosing between offers remains your call.
›Check federal wage rules‹The button opens a page run by a federal agency. We are a separate guide and have no affiliation with it.
Independent information guide. This site is not an employer or a recruitment agency, does not publish its own vacancies and does not collect résumés or personal data.