Top tips for choosing between multiple job offers
It’s an employees’ market right now, especially in the IT industry where demand for talented individuals is high. If you’ve decided that it’s time to move on from your current position (and you’re not alone in this), then you might be in the middle of a job hunt.
After you’ve prepped your CV, found a good recruitment agency and attended some interviews, you could find yourself in the enviable position of having more than one job offer to consider. So how do you choose between them? This can be especially hard if, on paper, they are broadly quite similar roles.
Here are some top tips to help you choose between multiple job offers.
Don't rush into making a decision
Most potential employers acknowledge that moving jobs can be a life-changing decision and will give you time to consider your options. At the end of the day, this is your career and you need time to think things through. Ask each potential employer what their deadline is, so you have a set period of time to make your decision, but it’s important not to rush into a final choice.
Consider the pros and cons
Why are you looking for a new job in the first place? Are you hoping for a better work-life balance? More money? Career progression? Whatever your reasons, write them down and then use your list to compare each job offer against your own personal criteria. The role that suits you might be different to what suits someone else. Be honest with yourself about what you want; it’s easy to be swayed by practical reasons, like an increased salary or good benefits, but you spend so much time at work that you need to think about your wellbeing, what you find fulfilling and the kind of environment that suits you best. Sometimes this exercise in itself can show you a clear winner. You may find that none of the jobs you have gone for offer exactly what you want and don’t tick all the boxes, but you may find you’re closer to making a decision.
Prioritise your wants
If you’ve managed to narrow your options down a little, you might find that you end up with a couple of jobs that don’t quite match 100% of your criteria. You need to think about placing your wants in priority order and deciding what matters to you most. Some criteria will be dealbreakers, whereas others will be ‘nice to have’. If you find one job that has almost everything you want, but is a 2-hour commute, for example, then you have to consider the extra cost of travel, the time spent commuting, how that impacts on your home life, etc. Whereas there might be another role that is pretty good and just around the corner, which could offer you a better life balance, but pays slightly less. Only you know what your priorities are, so decide on your dealbreakers and that might help you pick your best job offer.
Speak to trusted others
Sometimes you need an outside perspective, so chat your options through with a family member, colleague or friend who you trust. They might think of things that you haven’t, and ask questions that help you to eliminate some offers or consider others.
Trust your gut
We have powerful innate instincts that we don’t always listen to when we should! If you have an unexplainable positive or negative feeling about one job, don't ignore it. It’s easy to rationalise yourself into taking a job that you don't really want, but feel like you are supposed to take. However, if you take the role, you may find yourself a few weeks down the line realising that you should have trusted your gut in the first place. Also, your gut can help you decide if the company you’re considering is a good fit for your personality – at the interview, you might feel comfortable and at home from the outset, which is always a good sign that the company suits you.
When in doubt, get more information
After your interview, you may have more questions that didn’t crop up at the time. You can go back and ask for more information to help you make your decision. Speak to your recruitment consultant or potential employer if you need clarification on some points. You need to make sure you have all the facts to help you make that all-important decision. A potential employer would rather you asked what you need to; it highlights that you’re taking time to carefully consider that you’re the right person for the job. Getting a good match between employee and employer benefits everyone involved.
If you’re considering moving roles this year, then get in touch with us today. We can help you through the recruitment process, helping you filter out the best roles for you from our extensive directory of vacancies, and aid you in navigating multiple job offers.