Tips For Picking The Best Job Offer

Congrats! Your stellar work experience, impressive interviews (and follow-up), and glowing references have resulted in simultaneous, multiple job offers. Deciding which company will be your next employer has consequences for your daily life and long-term career path. What do you do?

To alleviate the stress, we have put together a few tips for this “too much of good thing” situation.

1) Compare

Start your comparison of the different job offers by answering the following questions, even writing them down side-by-side or talking them out with someone you trust.

• Which job offer better supports your career plans?
• What are the pathways for advancement within the company?
• What is the starting salary and timeframe for a salary review?
• How do the benefits address your, and your family’s, specific needs now – and in the future?
• For a contract position, what is the length of the assignment? Will the contract likely be extended? What’s the likelihood of conversion to an employee position?
• How does the company’s culture – including organizational hierarchy, office environment, telecommuting options, internal communications – mesh with your work style?
• What are the professional development opportunities?
• What were the differences among the interview processes? What does that tell you about the companies?

Once you answer those questions, look at the data and determine which ones matter the most. All job offers have some pros, some cons, so this is when you must decide what is most important or a deal-breaker. If take-home pay is the deciding factor, then you may be ok picking the company offering more money, even if its office never left 1990s cubicle land.

2) Answer Lingering Questions

Though you probably researched performances and reputations of the companies when you first applied, now’s the time to reach out, maybe again, to contacts who know the companies and discuss any lingering questions. What is it really like to work in a specific department, with that specific director? Is the company investing in new technologies or work systems?

3) Discuss with Your Recruiter

Don’t overlook how your recruiter can help you make a decision. They have unique insights into a company’s culture, employment history, and industry reputation. While you ultimately choose the job offer, your recruiter has the invaluable perspective from understanding both you and the employer. Take advantage of that.

4) Do a Gut Check

Think about what makes you happy outside of work and then determine which job offer will make that possible. For instance, if you want to coach your son’s soccer team, the proposal with flexible work hours may be more valuable than one with more money but a fixed schedule.

Finally…

Regardless of your decision, treat all job offers and potential employers with respect. Let the company know your choice as soon as possible, and be fair and realistic with negotiations. Leaving a good impression with someone you turn down can help you in the future.

What are your tips for handling multiple job offers?