How to handle multiple job offers

How to handle multiple job offers has been discussed in this article to help you make the best decision when faced with multiple jobs.

Job hunting is difficult, and we often feel lucky to land just one job offer, much less multiple offers. But it happens. And when you do, it can be overwhelming, confusing, and stressful. This guide is here to walk you through what to do when not one, but many companies make you an offer that you may not want to refuse, from how to weigh each option to how to explain the situation to a recruiter and how to decline the offer (or offers) you don’t want.

Also Check: How To Negotiate A Higher Salary

How to handle multiple job offers

When you receive multiple job offers or think you will receive multiple job offers, it is important to handle them well and be able to tell any potential employer or recruiter that you need time to consider their offer. And now, with that purchased time, you can compare each offer against each other.

You need to be thorough: Start by researching companies and compiling whatever information you find about their salary, benefits, company culture, location, flexibility, job responsibilities, and whatever else you think is important in a document that makes it easy to weigh companies against each other. Ask: Do any standout? You may have your answer.

If it’s still unclear, consider your own career goals: What do you want to do not just now but in the future? Can one company help you achieve your goals more than the other?

And if you find you have more questions than answers, don’t be afraid to reach out to company employees and recruiters for the information you need to make a decision.

If all else fails, trust your instincts. If you feel much more confident about one company or job than the other, but don’t know why, it’s okay to just follow your instincts.

How to handle multiple job offers: Talk to recruiters about multiple offers

Should you ever reveal that you were offered multiple jobs? It is a delicate question.

There are at least two situations where you could reveal to a potential recruiter or employer that you have another option on the table. One is if the company you want to work for hasn’t made an offer yet. By telling the recruiter that you have already received an offer from another company, he or she can pressure your hiring manager to make a decision and offer.

Also Check: HR Skills that are of High Demand in 2020

In this situation, you might say something like, “I am so excited to have come this far in the interview process and I am confident that I can make a great contribution to the team. But I want to let you know that another company has offered me a job. I would rather work for you, but the other company has asked me to decide date X. Is there any chance that I could decide on my candidacy on or before that date? I would appreciate it. “

The second reason you might reveal that you received another offer is as a tactic during a salary or benefits negotiation. If the other company’s offer provided better benefits or higher pay, you can ask the company you would like to work for to match (or exceed) it on its offer.

Try something like, “I want to be transparent that I have been offered another job. This job with your company is my first choice and I am very excited about this opportunity. But the offer from the other company includes X pay/benefit. So Is there any leeway in your offer to match that pay/vacation time / other perks? If so, I would appreciate it. “

But both tactics carry some risk: You could certainly offend a recruiter or your company, who might decide not to make you an offer, or even rescind the one they made.

However, if you are courteous and respectful in your approach, a recruiter might value your honesty, and a company may even view you more favorably because you are in demand.

How to negotiate salary

As we mentioned earlier, you may decide to use your other offer or offers to negotiate your salary and benefits. However, there are other tried and true ways to get a better salary.

First things first: to negotiate your salary, you must know its value. You can use Glassdoor’s Know Your Worth tool, which gives you a custom estimated market value, what others in your field get paid, and available job listings. Once you have a rough value for your market, you can compare it to the average salary for the position (or positions) you are competing for, using research in negotiation.

Consider other benefits you can negotiate in addition to your salary, such as vacation, PTO, bonuses, and more. These things can add a lot of value to your final offer.

Then be sure to practice your negotiation at least once, if not twice, before actually doing it. Find someone who will listen to your salary increase proposal so that you can feel the cadence of your talking points out loud in a conversational setting. Much of a successful negotiation comes down to feeling comfortable and practiced and, of course, safe.

Also Check: Training Officer at Negotiation and Conflict Management Group (NCMG) International

How to decline a job offer

You cannot accept all the jobs that you have been offered. So how do you say no to others?

Most people choose to decline a job offer by email, which in most cases is perfectly fine. But, if you want to go the extra mile, try calling the company. While it’s not for everyone, a phone call offers a more personal touch and can also help you avoid the unfortunate miscommunications that sometimes arise from written messages. Plus, putting in a little extra effort shows respect for the amount of time and resources the company took to interview you. Calling shows that you care and that you are grateful and appreciative for their time.

You may not dare to explain why you are turning down the job, but doing so will keep the company from wondering what went wrong and may even help them improve their hiring process in the future. However, be careful what exactly you share. Something too direct, like, “The hiring manager was an idiot,” will not work well. However, saying, “I connected with the team at the other company I interviewed with” is acceptable.