How to deal with multiple job offers

It is every job seeker’s dream to have options; it can often be a far more complex decision-making process than it looks.

Candidates who find themselves in this position are very fortunate. Still, many don’t know how to best handle the offers without risking damage to their relationship with the organisations whose offers they decide to turn down.

The number one thing you should avoid doing is to accept an offer and then retract it if a better one comes along. Retracting your acceptance will ultimately damage your reputation with the company and everyone involved in the recruitment process.

When you accept an offer, a chain of events sets in motion – the other applicants are notified, and the job posting is removed. When you retract at this stage, you cost the company as they have potentially lost other candidates they were considering.

So instead, we advise you to be honest and upfront. Most employers and recruitment agencies will ask if you are interviewing with other companies. Feel comfortable explaining that you are taking your job search very seriously – it is not often that you look for a new role, and you want to make sure you explore all available options.

You can almost always ask for two working days to consider when you have more than one offer. Most companies will accept this, allowing you time to make a fully informed decision. But this is also why many companies are now speeding up their interview processes to secure their preferred candidate before a competitor makes an offer.

We also advise you to work with your recruiter to help you choose the right job for your long-term career. Many employees are no longer moving for higher salaries alone and are considering roles that offer long-term career paths, more flexibility, and new challenges.

Weighing it up: Five steps you can take to deal with multiple job offers.

• Ask for time to consider your offers. Most employers will allow you time to decide whether the request is right or not for you.
• Look at your long-term objectives – is this a company you want to work for in five years? Does it provide opportunities to advance your career, mobility, or benefits compared to what another company offers you? Draw up a list of pros and cons for each organisation.
• Who pays more? A higher salary is always an attractive incentive, but it should not be your primary motive for choosing one job over the other. The lower-paying role could offer greater challenges or career advancement potential.
• Process of elimination. Is there a job you can quickly eliminate that doesn’t meet your career objective?
• Communicate your intentions - advise the company that you have chosen that you will be accepting its job offer. Inform the others professionally that you have chosen to go with another offer but that you were grateful for the opportunity.