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While it may seem unlikely by puffing up your LinkedIn profile and reading job offers on Indeed, it is actually possible that you will receive multiple offers – or have several viable job offers at stake – in the same time frame.
An exciting prospect, no doubt, but it can also be nerve-wracking. So what to do How can you use this reward to your advantage without missing out on either opportunity? Here are a few tips.
Expressing excitement without saying yes
First, make sure you have expressed gratitude and enthusiasm for the vacancies while resisting the urge to accept either one right away. You can say something like, “Thank you very much. I think this is a great fit with my abilities and I am excited about this opportunity. ”You can then buy yourself time by asking,“ When do you need a final decision? ”
Make sure you have a written offer before you negotiate
If the offer is verbal, it is neither official nor solid enough to be used as a lever. Make sure you get a written offer before you move. If you don’t already have one, you can either sit in the extra time it gives you or go back to HR and express your excitement (again – they want to know you care about them) followed by a polite request, all to review the details in writing. (Details are salary, paid time off, social benefits, work-life balance, etc.) what to look for in a letter of offer other than money.
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Be honest and tactfully ask for more time to make a decision
Recruiters and managers know that every good candidate is likely to be courted by more than one company. When you have an offer in hand and you expect another to come soon, it makes perfect sense to tactfully ask for more time.
For example, you could say:
“I’m very happy about this position and think that it fits very well. I have one final interview with another company this week and while your company is my first choice I would like to give myself the opportunity to fully consider both options before making my final decision. Would it work if I get in touch with you next Monday at the latest? “
While there is some risk, most companies realize that great candidates are in high demand and won’t blame you. (In fact, they may care more about knowing that they are looking for you elsewhere.) The worst that can happen is they say no, we need your decision sooner. In this case see below.
Mention the first offer and try to get the second
Let’s say you have an offer from a company of your second choice (Company B), but you have another round of talks on your first choice (Company A). It is time to get in touch with Company A to see where you stand.
For example, you can say, “I’m really interested in this role; it seems to go well with my background and experience. I wanted to see if I could get a feel for the team’s interest in me as a candidate and the timing of the hiring decision. I have another offer on the table and although Company A is my first choice, I don’t want to miss another opportunity if there is little potential for further development. “
Most likely, Company A will appreciate your honesty, give you a straight answer and, if interested, do everything possible to speed up the hiring process.
Avoid getting caught in the weeds of your behind the scenes process
If Company A responds to your query by stating that it wants to get you to the final stage, but there is higher red tape that could slow the process down, resist the temptation to detail how you will deal with it.
Don’t say something like, “OK, the other company has to know about X first, so finding out through Y works for me because yadda yadda yadda.”
What to say is a little closer to “Sounds great! Thanks for the additional information. I understand that the process takes time. I will manage things on my side. ”
Politely decline the other offer
When you make a final decision, it is time to turn down the other offer like a pro. It’s up to you how detailed you want to be in this communication – you could mention that while you’re a huge fan of the company, certain aspects of the job didn’t fit your long-term goals.
But it’s also perfectly acceptable to keep it short and sweet: “Thank you for offering me the XYZ position at Company B. Although it was a difficult decision, I accepted an offer from another company. I really appreciate your time and consideration during the interview process. ”Now, before you start your favorite job, celebrate you champion.
