It’s admittedly not a problem that every jobseeker has to face, however it’s still one which merits quite a bit of thought in order to determine the right outcome. What ‘problem’ are we referring to, you may ask – it’s that old chestnut – the multiple job offer. So what should you do if you get contacted by a couple or perhaps several employers at the same time, each one offering you the opportunity to join their organisation? Or what should you do if you are offered a job and are actually still waiting to hear the results of another interview that you’ve had? How you respond to either of these situations is of course entirely a personal matter, however these basic tips on how to deal with multiple job offers should certainly help.

Ask for some time

In most cases, an employer or recruiter will call you to offer you a job and you won’t necessarily be expected to make a decision there and then. Although they would ideally like to know your decision immediately as it will help them bring the recruitment process to a close, they generally will respect your wish to have a little time to think things over. As long as you express gratitude at being offered and are polite when asking for a little time before making a definitive decision, you should be fine. You may only be given a 24 hour window or they may allow you to mull it over for a couple of days – either way, it’s certainly worthwhile asking.

Weigh up the pros and cons

If you have a couple of offers on the table at the one time, you ought to first of all weigh up the pros and cons of each. Consider factors such as the salary, any additional perks or benefits, the job duties, the company culture, how each role fits in with your long term career goals and objectives. All these elements ought to be considered in detail before you come to a definitive decision. It’s important to evaluate which element matters to you the most. If you are primarily motivated by money, your decision ought to be quite easy – i.e. accept the highest paying role. If however other factors matter more, your decision will naturally require a little more deliberation. Choose the best job for ‘you’ and don’t be dismissive of your gut instinct, if one job seems to appeal more over another.

Communicate your decision promptly

Once you have weighed up all the factors and made your definitive decision, do endeavour to let each employer know as quickly as possible. This may not only speed the process up for you in terms of receiving a formal contract of employment and details of a start date etc but will also in turn help the employer draw the recruitment process to a close. It is likely that there will be a second or third choice candidate who may be patiently waiting to hear if they have been successful or not. Out of respect to the employer and your fellow candidates, try not to unnecessarily delay the entire process for everyone concerned.

Be wary of accepting then declining

If of course you decide to accept a job, and then subsequently change your mind because of another offer, it is important to do so professionally and politely. Be aware that your decision is unlikely to be welcomed by an employer or recruiter since they may have already commenced the process of drawing up your contract or communicating with other candidates that they have been unsuccessful. They will however respect you and your decision if you are courteous and convey genuine gratitude for being offered the role in the first place and also if you apologise for any inconvenience you may have caused. Your paths may cross again in the future so it’s important not to burn any bridges as it were.

We hope that these tips on how to deal with multiple job offers may help if you are in the fortunate position of being faced with this problem. If you have any other tips you’d like to share, why not let us know via the comments section below.