Multiple job offers can be a good problem to have when you are in a job search; however, in most cases, they usually come in at the same time. The goal in starting a search is to get as many interviews as possible within a short time frame, the momentum you generate with multiple interviews helps you stay focused and energized.
Interview skills are sharpened with practice and by going on interviews, the more exposure you have with hiring decision makers the greater your confidence in talking about your background. As it stands to reason, the number of interviews will eventually lead to job offers.
The emotional roller coaster of highs and lows that come with unemployment tends to generate a unique set of problems, and when you finally receive a job offer the relief it brings can overshadow good decision-making skills. Multiple job offers often create a dilemma of timing.
One week you may have no job prospects and the next week you might have multiple employers competing for your attention; even though it feels good to be wanted, the decision you make can affect your future opportunities as well as your happiness.
Your first instinct might be to go with the highest bidder per say, but that can be a huge mistake because compensation is not the only consideration in making a good career choice. There are times when candidates get so mesmerized by a dollar amount and the desire to be employed that their better judgment gets ignored.
Take the story of a senior manager who was in the midst of an active search and was going on multiple interviews over a three-week period. One of the interviews turned into his first job offer with an increase in pay and the possibility of a good mentoring relationship. While he was appreciative of the offer he was still waiting on another interview from an employer that he really liked to produce a second offer.
He called the employer whom he liked and mentioned the offered he received with the deadline attached. His strategy gave him an opportunity to convey his desire to work for them while sending a silent message that others saw value in his background. They discussed the interview and their mutual interest however they needed to continue the interview process with other candidates before making a final offer.
A lot of job candidates share his same dilemma when facing a similar situation – should you take a job that on the outside looks really good but on the inside is not your first choice?
After a couple of days of talking back and forth with the company who made him the first offer he was somewhat hesitant to turn them down in hopes he would receive an offer from the employer he liked. With a needed answer looming in the background he decided to accept the job offer he had and not risk losing both of them and remaining unemployed.
However his career decision didn’t end there; while he accepted the first offer he only worked for the company less than 90 days. The employer whom he really liked never stopped talking with him and when they made their decision to offer him a job – even though it was less pay – he took it.
He learned several lessons from his journey, mostly that job offers will not come in the right order and the pressure of needing to take a job rather than waiting for a “maybe” will be a deciding factor. Here are some additional thoughts to keep in mind when faced with multiple job offers:
Taking a job and then leaving shortly afterwards can be difficult to explain and can create a negative perception.
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 the best job. Take all the benefits into consideration even if you compensation is lower.
Listen to your self-talk and learn to distinguish between fear and real concerns.
Taking the first job offered, unless it’s your dream job, needs due diligence and time to consider the pros and cons.
Be sensitive to burning bridges with employers – the one you reject now could surface again in the future. Networking in your field makes the world a smaller place.
How have you handled numerous offers? What made you accept or reject the first job offer?
