You’ve received multiple job offers. Now what? Jordan Wood, Director in Vaco’s Nashville office, provides her tips on selecting which job is right for you when you have more than one offer in hand.
The current U.S. hiring market is hotter than it’s been in years, amid a record number of job openings and 44% of employees looking to make a job change this year.
In most job markets throughout history, job seekers have been thrilled to receive one great offer during their search. In this market, however, countless candidates are receiving two, three and even four offers at once. In Vaco’s recent survey, Current State of the Accounting & Finance Market in Nashville, 22% of job seekers reported receiving three job offers in their most recent job search.
If you find yourself in this position, you should be proud! Multiple companies have recognized your value and abilities, and they want you to join their team. Now comes the hard part: determining which job offer you should accept.
Which factors should you consider when weighing multiple job offers?
First things first: congratulations on rocking the interview process and landing offers from multiple potential employers! Kudos to you.
With multiple offers, it’s essential that you consider a few aspects of each opportunity very carefully; this will help you determine which offer best aligns with your desires and career goals.
Let’s get started.
Salary
Salary and benefits are two of the biggest motivators for job seekers, and understandably so. But when you’re weighing the pros and cons of multiple job offers, compensation shouldn’t overshadow everything else. This is the time to reflect on what’s actually important to you. A high salary may not be worth it if you have to sacrifice flexibility, PTO, and a great workplace culture.
On the flip side, it’s important to know your worth. If a company’s offer doesn’t meet your salary expectations—even after negotiation—take note. Initial excitement over a company or role can fade quickly once you’ve settled into the job, and you know you aren’t being paid what you’re worth.
Read more: How to negotiate salary for a new job—the right way
Intangibles
While the financial aspect of a job opportunity is compelling, it’s crucial to evaluate the entire offer.
Ask yourself:
- Is the hiring company stable?
- Does the role provide opportunities for growth and building my career?
- Does the offer feel like a good long-term match?
- How do I feel about the company’s culture?
- Will I be valued for my work, or will I be just another number in the corporate structure?
Read more: Questions candidates should ask during an interview
Take your time
Don’t rush to accept the first offer you receive. If you experience any hesitation, or you’re waiting on the outcome of another opportunity, take the time to carefully think it through. Weigh the factors that are most important to you, whether that’s flexibility, the benefits package, or opportunities for advancement. Be honest about how the role stacks up against your own expectations and long-term goals.
Make sure you have written mutual agreement
Carefully review your job offers to ensure each one clearly outlines the information you discussed with the hiring company during the interview process.
Ask yourself:
Does the written offer explicitly contain the terms and conditions that you were given during your conversations with the hiring manager? Are there certain terms that aren’t included?
Make sure anything that was discussed or agreed upon in your verbal offer is included in your written offer so you and the hiring company have mutual agreement in writing before you sign on the dotted line.
Consider the holistic package
For millions of employees, work/life balance has grown even more important in the post-pandemic world. When you’re reviewing a job offer, consider how the role would impact you both personally and professionally.
Does the role require you to be in the office full-time? Would you have flexibility in your schedule and generous PTO? Does the company’s culture value employee well-being and balance?
Consider how the role could positively or negatively impact your life holistically—both now and in the future.
Read more: Explore our resume templates to take your CV to the next level
Trust your instincts
No one knows you better than you know yourself, so trust your gut feelings! Deep down, you probably know which job offer excites you the most, for reasons beyond the salary or compensation package.
Ultimately, you and you alone have to determine the most important aspects of a job opportunity. When you have multiple offers on the table, take the time to reflect on your own career drivers and professional goals and ask yourself which offer has the most potential to help you achieve them. When you’ve done your due diligence and reviewed each job offer based on your own criteria, you’ll know which position is the right one for you.
Once you’ve reached your decision, it’s time to celebrate! You have an exciting new role in front of you that will take your career to the next level.
Check out more of our resources, info, and tools for job seekers today.
Jordan Wood is a Director in Vaco’s Nashville office. Connect with her today!
