How To Handle Multiple Job Offers

When job hunting, you are more likely to be prepared to accept an offer than reject one. But what happens when you receive multiple job offers? Many candidates don’t consider this possibility beforehand and in turn do not equip themselves with the information they need to make this decision successfully. Knowing what to do in the event that multiple companies are interested in hiring you, which is a good problem to have by the way, will help you make the best decision for you and your career.

Steps For Juggling Multiple Job Offers

1. Complete the entire process with each job opportunity.

Don’t try to take short-cuts in the hiring process. During the interview, Company A might send hints that you will receive a salary that is $10k more than you are expecting. Finish the interview process. In fact, finish all post-interview steps that lead up to the job offer. The biggest mistake you can make at this point is to use the information Company A provided you with to turn down an official job offer with Company B. There are a number of factors that go into selecting a job, and you don’t want to hastily make a decision without having solid information.

While it would be misleading for a company to intentionally make a promise during the hiring process that it does not intend to keep, it is not necessarily illegal. Hints, suggestive language, and verbal statements can all be retracted prior to an official job offer being made. Numerous issues could arise within the company that can make even the most genuine promises impossible to carry out.

2. Understand each role and how they fit your career map.

When you are trying to balance multiple job offers, having a full grasp of each one is key. This step alone can help you eliminate offers that are not a good fit. Do your research, and ask questions. What are the requirements for the position beyond what is listed on the job description? Believe it or not, some job descriptions are not as clearly defined as you might expect. They can be outdated or too generic. Do you have the appropriate skillset to excel in the position? Some jobs require you to be licensed and/or certified prior to beginning work. Ideally, you would learn this sooner rather than later.

Where does the position fit in on your career path? Does it move your career forward  is it a lateral or even a step back? Your career path clearly defines where you are going in your career and how you plan to get there. Asking yourself these questions will ensure that it even makes sense to consider each job offer. There’s no point in wasting time analyzing an offer that is not a good fit.

3. Understand the company culture.

After carefully assessing the details of the position, take time to consider what the company represents. Is the turnover low or high? What are the employees really like? Is management fair? Glassdoor  is a website that houses numerous company reviews submitted by current and ex-employees. You can find a range of information from work-life balance to management quality. And if you’re lucky, you will find reviews posted by individuals who work in the exact or a similar position to which you are considering and possibly even the same office.

Regardless of titles, all jobs are not created equal. You can hold the same job title in two companies and have a completely different experience in each.  How the company functions internally should be major concern prior to accepting any job offer. Don’t be afraid to ask the hiring manager questions to help you better understand how comfortable you would be in the environment. Is the workload heavy, moderate, or light?  How would you describe the way the department functions? Can I do a company/department walk-through at any time before the end of the hiring process? The more you understand about the reality of the company’s culture beyond what its website depicts, the better.

4. Get written offer letters, when possible.

Once you complete the initial part of the hiring process, in the pre-offer stage, and you have taken ample time to review the company and the position, you are ready to receive the official job offer. Please note: Until you have a job offer, you have no decision to make – unless it is to drop out of the process. Make it a point to request a written offer letter as that gives you more protection than the other alternatives. Be aware though that some companies will only want to provide you with a verbal offer. In these cases, don’t forget to request that they include a summary of benefits, non-compete agreements, etc. for you to consider as you make your decision.

Just to reiterate: Until you have a job offer, you have no decision to make, unless you encounter a deal breaker. If you express that work-life balance is at the top of your priority list and the hiring manager responds with, “We work hard and play hard,” you could take that as a cue that you may very well not find the conventional 8-hour workday you are looking for with this company. In this scenario – or any deal breaker scenario, it is perfectly acceptable to withdraw from the process.

5. Be professional and upfront.

Professionalism is a requirement whether you have one job offer or four. When you are balancing multiple job offers, it is easy to feel less pressure to be the perfect candidate as you are in serious demand. Be honest & upfront about your thoughts concerning each position. Don’t fabricate stories about the number of offers you have on the table. Trust is an important factor in all employee-employer relationships, and you don’t want to start any relationship by misleading someone for your benefit. If any hiring manager inquires that you identify the companies you are considering, you should simply state that you prefer not to disclose that level of detail for privacy reasons.

Choose the Position That’s Right for You

Knowing how to deal with multiple job offers effectively transforms the interview process into more of an opportunity than a challenge. Instead of having to accept the first offer you receive, you have options. Once you decide which offer you intend to accept, you should maintain the same professionalism you carried throughout the process. Gracefully decline the offers that did not make the cut. Thank the hiring managers for their time and consideration, and do your best to keep the conversation positive. Accept the offer you decided would be the best fit, and prepare to join your new team.