A decade ago, in the wake of the Great Recession, job seekers were struggling to find open opportunities. Things have turned around significantly since then — in today’s environment, candidates in many industries are often faced with the choice between multiple job offers.
If you’re in the enviable position of considering two or more offers, you know that the pressure of choosing the right one can feel overwhelming. You know you must choose quickly, but you also don’t want to accept an offer for a job you won’t be truly satisfied with. Below, Forbes Human Resources Council members shared their advice on weighing your options and ultimately choosing the best path for your career.
1. Don't Dwell On It For Too Long
Job seekers who are torn between two offers want reassurance they are making the right decision. They should compare benefits, compensation, environment and how those align with their personal values. It is important they don't spend too much time on it to avoid overthinking and trust their "gut feeling." This is a timely decision and the potential employer's time is just as important. - Tiffany Jensen, Pure Grips
2. Evaluate Each Offer Using The Same Criteria
Create a personal scorecard against which to evaluate the offers. Start with a list of the top 10 attributes that are most important to you (compensation, travel opportunities, work from home, location, opportunities over time, etc.). Weigh them according to a "must have" versus a "nice to have" scale. Then score your competing opportunities against these same criteria. - Joyce Maroney, Kronos Incorporated
3. Put Your Happiness First
When candidates have multiple opportunities, money, career progression and work-life balance are often all the same. The one thing that can't be negotiated is company culture and the people around you. Your team and manager will have the most impact on your success, but also your day-to-day well being. Make that the primary focus, as money can only compensate for so much. - Karla Reffold, BeecherMadden
4. Remember Why You Are Looking
It's important to remember why you are looking at new job offers in the first place. Based on what you have learned about the company during the interview process, review how each company shared a better experience to address your unique job needs. If you struggle with your "why," invest in a career coach or mentor to help you audit your previous job experiences. - Betsy Johnson, Cludo
5. Apply Data-Informed Decision-Making
Juggling multiple offers can be tough, especially when coming from employers of choice. Consider using a decision matrix to weigh components of each offer by ranking available data found in their employee value propositions. These include total compensation, benefits, work environment, career path and, most importantly, culture. Leverage the results to pick the offer that most fits your needs. - Dr. Timothy J. Giardino, Cantata Health
6. Choose The Company You Could See Yourself Staying With
When considering multiple offers, job seekers should ask themselves which job they would be happiest doing for the next several years. While they may be looking to advance, opportunities may take longer than expected. Beyond that, they should try to speak with a few employees at each company, either at the interview or online, to get an insider’s view on what it’s like to work for each employer. - John Feldmann, Insperity
7. Ask The Right Questions During The Interview
If a job is misaligned with your values, it is unlikely you will be happy. Do your homework and ask questions about the values and how the company is demonstrating them. Have your list of must-haves and compare it to the various positions. If flexibility is important to you, then you should ask for examples of how the company is supporting flexibility at work. You should know upfront what exists. - Geline Midouin, McCann Health
8. Understand Your Growth Potential
When you have multiple offers, think about where you see growth for yourself. I don't just mean upward promotional opportunities — where will you be challenged, where will you learn and where will you be able to step out of your comfort zone? Choosing the obvious or comfortable path may not always be the best decision. Take a risk! - Lotus Buckner, NCH
9. Ask Yourself Probing Questions
The two biggest questions to ask are, “What will I learn at this company to get me to the next stage of my career?” and “What difference will I make in the organization to ‘move the dial’?” The path to better pay and higher titles rests on what skills and expertise you can share with future employers, demonstrating that you achieved some type of goal-oriented business success. - Genine Wilson, Kelly Services
10. Choose The Opportunity That's Best Aligned Your Personal Core Values
What attracts you to an opportunity will likely be different from what keeps you engaged. Focus on opportunities that align to your personal core values. Core values guide our behaviors, decisions and actions. If core values align from a personal and organizational perspective you will experience a greater sense of internal fulfillment, which stands to be more important to you long-term. - Suzanne Hyatt, Hyatt Human Capital Solutions
11. Gauge Your Excitement
While it's important to make sure the offer is fair for both parties, many job seekers let emotion prevail and focus on the fine print and minutiae. Instead of worrying about an extra 5% salary, ask yourself, "Is this opportunity exciting?" If the opportunity is not attractive at the core, you are unlikely to succeed or be happy. Prioritize the opportunity, then let everything else fall in place. - Ken Kanara, Ex-Consultants Agency
12. Know Your Priorities In Life
When trying to decide which offer to take, think about all the pros and cons of each workplace and ask yourself what your priorities are. Are you looking to grow professionally? If so, you might choose the job that has more opportunity over salary. Do you value stability most? Perhaps the job with good pay, benefits and a retirement plan is for you. Be as honest with yourself as possible. - Angela Nguyen, Ad Exchange Group
13. Look To The End Game
Research the company culture and financial stability. Does the company have a viable product and/or service for continual economic performance? Business goes in cycles. You perform your due diligence to see where the company will be in five years. In addition, how will the company add value to your brand? Remember, the company should work for you, just as you work for the company. - Patricia Sharkey, Sharkey HR Advisors
