How To Handle Multiple Job Offers (With Examples)

It finally happened: the moment you’ve been waiting for. You’ve spent so much time preparing for interviews, talking about your strengths, and making yourself stand out from everyone else. And you did it — you got a job offer! The sun is shining brighter, your coffee tastes slightly less bitter, and the birds are chirping just for you.

But wait — you just got yet another job offer, and a third one might be on the way. Now this exciting moment has turned into a stressful nightmare. What do you do? Which job should you take?

Relax! Even though this can be a tough situation, it’s a good problem to have. Before you start cursing yourself for being so charming and well-qualified, go ahead and give yourself a pat on the back. Now it’s time to start comparing and contrasting the jobs to figure out which one is the best for you.

Key Takeaways

• Don’t be afraid to ask for more time to consider your offer, and also be sure to alert other companies promptly as to your decision — they’ll appreciate you being considerate of their time.

• Remain enthusiastic, polite, and professional throughout the interaction. Hiring is an involved and expensive endeavor on the company’s part, so don’t forget to express gratitude.

• Remember that this is a positive outcome because having multiple job offers makes you a desirable hire, and can be used in negotiations and speeding up a company’s decision.

The First Steps to Making Your Decision

1. Think before you act. Even though this is an exciting moment, try to fight the urge to accept right on the spot if you have other job offers on the horizon. Express your excitement and gratitude without actually saying “yes” or accepting the offer.

   Ask the employer when they need to know your final decision and let them know that you’ll get back to them with your answer. Then proceed to do a happy dance.

2. Buy some time. If you have to, try to negotiate when you have to give your final answer. One way you can do this is to request something that will cause a reasonable delay, like asking to meet with your future coworkers. Just make sure that you ask in a way that doesn’t make them doubt your interest in the job.

3. Leverage your offer(s). If you’re still waiting to hear back from another employer, mention that you’ve received another job offer and ask if they might be able to speed up the process. Remember to be professional and avoid saying things like “Could I get that job offer already? Jeez, you take forever.”

   Instead, try to say something along the lines of, “I recently received a job offer from another company and was wondering if you could possibly let me know where I stand in your hiring process by this date.”

   If you use this method, you should have a response ready in case they decline to speed up the process. Try not to get angry or frustrated by this. You then have a decision to make — whether to request an extension on making a final decision from the your first offer, or to just consider the second company’s lack of accommodation as a lack of interest.

4. Research the companies. Learn everything you can about each company so you can compare and contrast them to make the best choice for your future.

   Reach out to the employers and ask for any information about salary and benefits, opportunities for growth, schedules, working conditions, job duties, or anything else you’re curious about.

5. Determine pros and cons. Make a list of the factors of each job that matter the most to you, including things like stress level and your projected work/life balance, and figure out how much of those aspects you can expect to have with each job.

   Use this information along with your gut instinct to make your decision. Your true feelings can be a good indicator of whether you should take a job or not.

6. Think long-term. Ask yourself which job will bring you closer to your ultimate career goals. Which job is going to give you the most experience, skill development, or knowledge in a new field. Are there opportunities for sponsorship or mentorship?

   Salary is important, but the potential for growth and development are equally important.

   If both jobs stack up the same, consider things like daily commute time and company culture. If one job will add an hour onto your commute or if you can see yourself fitting in at one company more than another, you may have your answer.

Time to Negotiate

Make sure that you actually have a written offer before you make any moves. Verbal offers don’t count as real offers, but if you haven’t yet gotten your offer in writing, you can use that to your advantage to buy you an extra day or two before you have to make your decision.

• You can respond to the employer who gave you the verbal offer and ask when you can expect to receive it in writing.

• Be honest and mention that you have a job offer from another employer. This can be a risky move, as the hiring manager may not want to compete for a new employee, but most employers will probably see you as more valuable if you’re in high demand. Employers will most likely appreciate your honesty and give you a small extension.

• If both companies meet your needs, you might try letting each one know that you’re considering other offers and seeing how they respond. Depending on how badly they want you for the job, they might offer you additional perks to help you make your decision. On the other hand, if they react negatively — that might be enough to give you your answer.

• Try not to boast about your many job prospects and avoid being arrogant. Don’t act like someone you wouldn’t want to work with — because they won’t want to work with you, either. You should show the hiring managers that you’re grateful for both opportunities.

Examples of Handling Multiple Job Offers

Now that we know general strategies for dealing with multiple job offers, let’s take a look at a few examples of how to handle the situation.

1. Enthusiasm Without Saying Yes Example

   Thank you for this exciting offer! This job seems like a great fit for me. I would like some time to discuss this offer with my family before making my choice. When do you need to know my final decision?

2. Awaiting Another Offer Example

   I’m thrilled you’ve decided to extend me a job offer. I believe I would really enjoy the role and could make valuable contributions to your company. I’ve been involved in discussions with another company and am awaiting a job offer from them as well. Although I’m certainly leaning towards working for you, I would appreciate the time to look over their offer to make a fully informed decision. Can you give me until Monday to make my final choice?

3. Received One Offer, Asking About Another Example

   I’m writing to check in on the status of your hiring decision for the Data Analyst position. I received a job offer from anther company who expects a final answer from me by Tuesday. I would prefer to work for your company — is it possible you’ll arrive at a decision by Monday?

4. Buying Time Example

   Thank you for the offer — I am definitely interested in this position based on what I’ve learned about it. I would feel most comfortable accepting this offer if it were possible to talk to some of my potential coworkers in similar positions or shadowing them for a day before I make a final decision. Would it be possible to arrange something like this?

How to Decline a Job Offer

Once you’ve made your choice, it’s time to decline one (or more) of the job offers you’ve received. This will look a little different depending on the situation and your reasoning, but follow these general steps to decline a job offer with class and professionalism:

1. Respond promptly. Once you’ve made your decision and accepted one job offer, you need to act quickly to inform other employers that you won’t be accepting their offer. You’ll come off as a respectful and considerate professional the faster you let the company know.

2. Email or call. An email is fine in most scenarios, but if you felt you developed a good relationship with the hiring manager and feel confident in describing the circumstances over the phone, go ahead and call.

3. Express gratitude. The hiring process is long and expensive. Show that you appreciate this fact by always maintaining a grateful attitude. You’ve made a good impression on the company so far — keep it up until the very end.

4. Give a reason. If you already told them you were considering multiple job offers, they probably braced for this possibility. Still, make it clear why you’re going in another direction.

   It doesn’t have to be a long-winded explanation — simply saying that the other job aligned with your interests/career goals/salary requirements a little better is fine.

5. Don’t ramble. While you may feel guilty and want to let the employer know that “it’s you, not them.” This is a business transaction, so resist the urge to gush about how great the company is and how you wish you could just take both job offers. Compliments won’t make the hiring manager feel any better, so don’t waste time with needless fluff.

Multiple Job Offer FAQ

1. Should I tell a potential employer that I have another job offer?

   Yes, you should tell a potential employer about any other offers that you have received. This could be beneficial for you because it may speed up the hiring process at that company and it shows that you are a desirable candidate. It is ultimately your decision on whether or not you tell a potential employer about other job offers, but know it is OK to do so.

2. Can you decline a job offer after accepting?

   Yes, you can decline a job offer after you verbally accepting a job offer. Most states are “at will employment” states meaning an employee and employer are not in a binding contract. If you signed any employment agreements, check the legal implications before declining the offer.

3. Should I accept a job offer while waiting for another?

   Ask for time to decide instead of accepting a job offer while waiting for another offer. You can tell a company that you want time to decide. You can ask for one to two weeks, depending on the company, for time to consider. You should only accept a job offer if you have multiple if that is the job you really want.

4. Should I keep interviewing after accepting a job?

   No, you should not continuing with interviewing after you accept a job at another company. You should only accept a job offer if that is the job you want. If you are hoping for another offer, decline the offer and continue interviewing other places.

Final Thoughts

When you’ve finally made your decision, you should contact the company you turn down and kindly ask to remove yourself from the hiring process and thank them for their time.

Even though it’s awkward to talk to people who are disappointed or frustrated with us, it’s important to end the process with a round of thank you’s, especially if they gave you extra time and consideration.

Remember that even though this is a tough spot to be in, it’s a good problem to have. Try to keep in mind that a lot of people would be thrilled to be in your position. You should ultimately do what’s best for your career goals, and congratulate yourself on your hard work.

References

1. Harvard Extension School – Evaluating and Negotiating Job Offers

Author

Maddie Lloyd

Maddie Lloyd was a writer for the Zippia Advice blog focused on researching tips for interview, resume, and cover letter preparation. She's currently a graduate student at North Carolina State University's department of English concentrating in Film and Media Studies.