Got Multiple Job Offers? What to Do and Etiquette to Use

Getting multiple job offers is an excellent position to be in.  Not only do you get to stop worrying about finding employment, but you also now have a few choices of the type of company and position you want to take on.  But making decisions is tough, and this one often isn’t easy.  You want to make sure you make the right decision, not letting the wrong company go and living with regret.  So, when you get multiple job offers, what to do?  Here are some tips on what you should do when you have multiple job offers, and the etiquette you should use with these companies:

1)  Ask for time

When you get multiple job offers, or even one job offer, it’s more than appropriate to ask for up to 5 business days to think about it.  That will give you time to think about your priorities and go over the details of each offer and the company you will be working for.  When you get multiple job offers, it’s proper etiquette to be honest and let the companies know you are looking at several options.  This may give you more negotiating power as well.

2)  Think long-term

Some job opportunities are great in the beginning, but they won’t make you happy a year or five years down the line.  Try to think about which opportunity will make you the happiest in the long-term.  When you get multiple job offers, an important thing to do is to look to see the opportunity for growth and advancement with each position. Also, do you think you would actually want to advance at each company.  And don’t look at the salary and forget other factors.  If a job pays well but you are spending 40 hours a week bored, overly stressed or unhappy, it probably isn’t worth the money.

3)  Be informed about salary

When you have multiple job offers, the right etiquette to use when negotiating salary is to first look up what your market value is for that industry and position.  This way if there’s a job you like better but aren’t thrilled with the salary, you can negotiate to try to get more pay.

4)  Compare the company cultures

Company culture is an important factor to consider when weighing multiple job offers.  Ask yourself what culture would fit you best: a culture of flexibility, teamwork, innovation?  Then think about what you learned from your interviews.  If you still need a better idea of the company cultures from your multiple job offers, it’s good etiquette to ask the hiring managers or other people at the organization more questions about the organization and its culture.

5)  Compare the people you will work with

You spend more time with your co-workers than anyone else.  And if you hate your boss, your life is sure to be miserable.  So, when comparing multiple job offers think about how well you think you would click with the people you met at the interview.  Did they seem happy to meet you, and happy with their jobs?  And did your future manager have good etiquette during the interview and job offer process, by getting back to you in a timely manner and informing you of the next steps?  This will give you a better idea of how he or she will behave on the job.

Once you decide between multiple job offers, it’s good etiquette to let all the companies know your decision, not just the company you will be working at.  Tell the companies that you decided not to work at that you truly appreciate the opportunity but decided to go with another offer.  And don’t forget to send thank you letters to all parties involved.

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