Imagine this: In one hand, you hold a job offer with a great company. In the other, you hold a second job offer…from an equally great company. Which do you choose?
This “best of all possible worlds” for job-seekers comes with its own headaches. It feels great to be in demand from multiple employers, but it also means that you have to make a tough decision – one that will affect the trajectory of your career. What do you do?
Here are a few tips for considering multiple job offers and choosing the one that is best for you:
- List the pros and cons. For each job offer, fold a sheet of paper in half. On one side, list all the “pros,” or positives, about the offer; on the other, list the “cons,” or negatives. Consider not only the compensation, job title, and company’s reputation, but also factors like the office culture, your impression of the team’s chemistry, your compatibility with your manager, professional growth opportunities, and ability to maintain a work/life balance.
- Ask for more information. If there are key considerations that would sway you in one direction or another, it may be appropriate to ask each company for more information. For instance, the company may be willing to let you “job-shadow” for a day on the team you’d work with, so you can develop a better sense of how well you get along with your prospective colleagues and supervisor. Likewise, you may be able to gather more information about traditional benefits like health insurance, as well as non-traditional benefits like flex time or telecommuting.
- Talk it over. Contact a respected colleague or mentor in your field and ask if you can discuss each opportunity. Your mentor or colleague can provide perspective and help you see how each position might affect your career potential and opportunities. For additional perspective, talk to your recruiter: staffing agencies specialize in knowing the details of your industry and can give advice on how each offer might “fit in” with emerging trends and ongoing challenges in your field.
At THE RIGHT STAFF, LLC, our experienced recruiters can help you connect with great employers in your field and understand the terms of any job offer you receive. Contact us today to learn more about our job opportunities in St. Paul and beyond.
