How to Handle Multiple Job Offers
2021 is the year of the candidate! The combination of employers feeling increasingly confident and actively recruiting and a mass exodus by many from the job market completely, the end result is a candidate-led marketplace.
Simply put, this means candidates have lots of choice, are receiving multiple job offers and then also counter offers from their existing employers who hope to retain them. As a candidate this is a great position to be in but it can bring its problems!
Multiple Job Offers
While candidates have always applied for several positions at the same time, either with our help or working independently, a process of elimination and refining takes place as they learn more about an organisation and attend interviews. However, in today’s market we are seeing employers making job offers far earlier in the recruitment process, leading to candidates receiving multiple offers. So, if you find yourself in this situation, how should you handle it?
- Stay true to your priorities – remind yourself of what motivated you to look for a new job in the first place and ask yourself, are my priorities being met?
- Do your market research carefully – consider the type of employer organisation, read their online employee reviews, and check out their company values and culture-led employee wellbeing initiatives, as well as the salary and benefits on offer.
- Communicate – it’s important to keep all parties in the process informed. If you need time to consider multiple offers then communicate this to those involved, explain your reasons and agree a reasonable timeframe for a decision to be made.
The Counter Offer
Accepting a counter offer can be tempting but all too often is a temporary fix.
Research has shown:
• 80% of candidates who accept a counteroffer from their current employer end up leaving within 6 months, rising to 90% within 12 months.
• 50% of candidates who accept a counteroffer from their current employer are back on the job market after two months.
So, the key is not to let an expected or even unexpected counter offer stop you in your tracks.
We have found that the real reason for your resignation still might not be addressed, and even worse for you, your loyalty could be questioned in the future, as you have demonstrated your willingness to leave.
Most importantly, you should not have to resign for your true value to be recognised and an increase in salary and/or increased responsibilities will be a short lived bonus if you continue to feel undervalued.
Negotiating Offers
In a candidate-led market it is of course quite natural that you want to maximise your potential and it can be very daunting to negotiate with a prospective employer.
You may feel you might jeopardise your position if you ask your prospective employer for a better package but we are here to guide you through this tricky process to ensure you fulfil your potential and are welcomed by an employer at the same time.
If you would like a no-obligation chat with our recruitment team on handling the current job market feel free to contact us on 01977 269069.
