Making a good decision with multiple job offers
Q: I have been searching for a while, and all the interviews I went on a month ago have turned into offers. I felt comfortable and liked all the employers who interviewed me, even though one offer was lower than the rest. I am trying to figure out how to handle multiple offers at once and would like your advice on making a good choice. What is the best way to decide?
A: The emotional roller-coaster of highs and lows accompanying unemployment tends to generate a unique set of problems. When you finally receive a job offer, the relief it brings can overshadow good decision-making skills, and multiple job offers often create a dilemma with timing.
Your first instinct might be to go with the highest bidder. However, that can be a huge mistake because compensation is one of many considerations in making a good career choice. Sometimes it is easy to get so mesmerized by a dollar amount combined with the desire to be employed that your better judgment gets ignored.
Before you decide, take some time to start listing your interests. Start by listing the company culture, size of the company, leadership styles, career growth, location, work settings such as remote or hybrid, compensation, bonus potential, vacation, insurance, 401(k) matching, and other perks.
Take the offers and compare them to your list. This exercise helps you visualize the benefits of each employer as well as review each offer in a factually based way.
Making a good decision is more than compensation. It involves the information you gathered during the interview, such as communicating well with your potential boss and colleagues. The truth is you can earn a high income and be absolutely miserable.
Pay attention to your instincts when weighing out the pros and cons of each offer. Listening to your inner talk is a lesson a job candidate will always remember when receiving a couple of job offers simultaneously.
The first offer received was so good that they ignored their reactions during the interviews with the future boss. They were so enamored by the company they did not listen to their better judgment when the boss answered two calls during the first interview and needed to cut their second interview short.
The second offer came from a smaller company with less compensation, but they felt comfortable with the management and liked the leadership style. As most people do, they leaned toward the first offer with higher pay, even though their instincts were not on board.
Within 90 days, they resigned from the first company due to different management philosophies. The second company kept the job offer open, and they accepted it. They decided based on factors other than compensation and was much happier.
Here are some considerations when deciding on a job offer:
• Even though unemployment can be awkward, taking a job for the sake of having one is not always a good plan.
• A high salary does not guarantee career satisfaction or make it the best job. Consider all the benefits, even if your compensation is less than expected.
• Listen to your self-talk and learn to distinguish between fear and real concerns.
• Be sensitive to burning bridges with employers; the one you reject now could surface again.