What to Do When Deciding Between Multiple Job Offers
We’ve spent a lot of time taking a look at the employer’s perspective of the current IT market in the Southern California region. By now, it’s clear that demand is skyrocketing and companies are getting competitive for the top tech talent. The only conclusion is that it’s a candidate’s market, plain and clear.
But what if you’re the candidate? If you have real talent and companies know you’re in the market for a new opportunity, it’s not uncommon to be faced with deciding between multiple job offers. You’re not alone if this feels like a risky situation. It may seem like you have the advantage, the ball’s in your court and everything’s in your favor.
But the truth is, there’s a lot of pressure in this situation. Should you really leave your current position for promises of a brighter future? How do you know if you’re making the right decision? How do you compare the variable factors in front of you to come to a final decision?
Get the Big Picture
It’s pretty instinctual to look first at dollar figures when comparing multiple job offers. The average American has a large hunk of debt, even if it’s just a mortgage payment, and the cost of living in Southern California is higher than anywhere else in the US. Therefore, it seems responsible and economical to comply with the knee-jerk towards the higher paying job.
However, if you have the talent to be presented with multiple offers in the first place, you are probably more than aware of the dangers of this narrow mindset – especially if you’ve ever been stuck in a high-paying job that you grew to hate after the novelty of the fat paycheck wore off.
Getting the big picture is essential. Benefits, vacations and bonuses may be the next logical step to compare, but you need to get even deeper. Do your research and keep asking questions. Compare everything from the commute and company culture to potential career growth and the company’s future business objectives. Find out about the team you’ll be working with, the supervisor you’ll be working for, and the tasks you’ll be working on.
Once you get a handle on all the details, bring them all together and you should be better equipped to assess which opportunity is the right one for you.
Assess Your Career Goals
Doing your homework about each opportunity is only half the work. Sure, a company may seem like a perfect fit now, but do you know what you want 5 years from now? It’s the most cliché interview question in the books, but its intentions are pure.
Life circumstances may change your course, but that shouldn’t stop you from having a fairly fleshed out idea of your future career path. Try to avoid the human fallacy of believing that what makes you happy now will continue to make you happy years from now. Be realistic but don’t be afraid to be ambitious.
Do you see yourself valuing flexibility as your family continues to grow? Or would you prefer plenty of opportunities to learn and grow so you can stay ahead of the technology you’re so passionate about? How about the potential to gain more management experience so you can mentor, coach, and lead?
Whatever your aspirations, you need to be clear about your goals when deciding between multiple job offers.
Don’t Disregard Intuition
The phrase “go with your gut” is an age-old adage for a reason. It may sound like throwaway advice, but it deserves a mention. If, even after you’ve weighed all the pros and cons and carefully evaluated your career goals, something doesn’t feel right about an opportunity you might have otherwise chosen, don’t ignore your instincts. If anything, it may be a subconscious hint that you missed a small detail. It’s worth taking a second look to make sure you have the full picture before coming to a final conclusion.
Making the Final Decision
If you’re working with a recruiter, let them know you’re considering multiple job offers; they may be able to offer insight gathered from their years of experience. Plus, they can also help you out if you want to negotiate an offer.
At KORE1, we’re seeing many candidates receive 2 or 3 offers within days of each other, so we can guarantee that this isn’t a rare occurrence in today’s IT market. If you or someone you know is open to a new IT opportunity, let us help you out. Call or email us today!