Juggling Multiple Job Offers: How to Decide Which One to Choose by Gerald Balmek

So you’ve been offered more than one job. First, congratulations. You are clearly a well sought after candidate with a good set of skills. So now it’s time to decide which job offer you should go for.

• Don’t decide straight away. Making a decision to hastily can lead to you making the wrong one. Also, if you accept a job offer on the spot, you may then regret doing so if you get another one the next day. When you receive the offer, discuss a deadline with the employer as to when you need to accept it by. Some will be sooner than others, as it depends on how soon they need someone to start, but in general, you are allowed time to think the decision over. Make a list of the pros and cons of accepting each offer to give you a better idea of which you are naturally leaning toward.

• Consider all factors. Some people with multiple offers accept the one offering the highest salary without looking at any other benefits or factors. Don’t forget to consider other benefits such as holiday, company perks, location, travel and much more. Also, it’s worth looking into the pay structure and potential for pay rises, as you may end up earning more long term at a company that offered a lower salary initially. As well as this, consider the position of the company – is it doing well? Is it one of the market leaders? Is it expanding and developing? Rather than joining a sinking ship, if you get the opportunity to join a company that is innovative and growing then this will likely be the better option long term.

• Make sure it fits. Much like buying a house, getting a new job has to feel right for you. You need to be able to imagine yourself working there, making friends with your new colleagues and getting stuck in to your new role. If you’re struggling to envisage this, then maybe it isn’t the right company for you. In the same way that recruiters look for candidates that are the right fit for their organisation, you should be looking for that company that you feel you will fit into. If it doesn’t excite you, then this probably isn’t the case. One offer may seem like a better option on paper – perhaps it’s for a well-known organization or has a higher salary – but this does not mean that you will enjoy it more. At the end of the day, your job satisfaction is what comes first, and this will be in a role you are passionate about.

Despite external pressures, the overriding thing to remember is that you should choose the option that is right for you. It seems obvious, but when faced with a choice, it can be easy to be pushed down a certain avenue.

Take 30 seconds and join the 30Seconds community. Inspire ... and be inspired.