Multiple Job Offers: 8 Ways to Choose The One
If you have received multiple job offers, then congratulations are in order.
Assuming they all match the basic criteria of your job search, the final decision will not be an easy one. While you rarely need to give an immediate answer, you will likely want to have some clarity for yourself. Which is your preferred role? The following ideas may help:
Evaluate each role dispassionately on a level playing field. Using the same logical criteria to compare different roles means that you will keep the focus on what is important to you. Compare everything – like with like. If you want to make a balanced decision, you need to deploy logic and reason before allowing your emotions to play their final (and crucial) role.
Consider your chances of career development. Companies that encourage vertical and diagonal career moves are places that offer talent an opportunity to grow. Look at the LinkedIn career histories of your future colleagues. How often have they moved, and how linear have their moves been? Move to a company that will support your ambition.
Multiple job offers – which fits?
Which job fits your current stage of life? Not everyone is looking for a role that brings a new challenge every day. There are so many reasons why people may prefer stability and predictability. Be honest with yourself. You won’t be on an insane journey of growth all the time. Sometimes it is healthy to give career ambition a rest and focus on other priorities.
Put your happiness at the centre of the decision. If your heart doesn’t skip a beat at the thought of starting a new role, then go for another option. A job offer that makes you feel excited is likely to be a role you will enjoy. You don’t even have to quantify your reasons. Sometimes you just sense that you will be happy there. This is so important.
Look at your top 3 new job criteria. Every job will offer a variety of reasons for joining, but you need to consider your key reasons for moving and weigh your decision accordingly. Adopting a data-driven decision process is fine, but getting lost amidst all the positives and negatives is easy. Keep it simple where possible. What really matters to you most?
Consider the trajectory of the company. Accepting a dream job at a failing company will not end well. Pore over the financial press and public records to see how each future employer is faring. You can also see hiring statistics on their LinkedIn company page. Take a deep dive into their future plans – which companies are genuinely going places?
Evaluate job offers
Evaluate the best cultural fit. Talk to a former colleague (and ideally friend) about the culture and values of each company and think about where you might fit in best. It helps to have a different perspective from someone who has worked with you. Focusing on just the “values-led” fit will allow you to put the other aspects of the decision to one side.
Imagine a typical day in each role. You will likely know enough about each company to be able to do this. Think about the sorts of things you will be doing, how decisions are made and the challenges that will come your way. Then picture how you will feel after six months of working in each place. Clarity will arrive remarkably quickly.
Choosing between multiple job offers is a luxury not afforded to everyone, but remember that you can still negotiate if you are in that privileged position. Take your time. If you are not happy with a particular aspect of the offer, you can always ask whether any amendments are possible. The employer wants to employ you – they will almost certainly be happy to enter into a constructive dialogue.
Be true to yourself. You’ll make the right choice.
***
This blog is shared with Job Seeker Duetists.
Written by former recruitment ghostwriter Paul Drury (not AI).
