Congratulations! You have received multiple job offers from different employers. Or, perhaps you have received one job offer, but are eagerly awaiting another offer that interests you more. While many see this as a time to celebrate, you, in fact, may feel a bit overwhelmed and uncertain how to proceed.
Let’s discuss some ways to navigate this process.
First off, only WRITTEN offers should be considered as viable offers. If an organization has only given you a VERBAL offer, politely ask them to send you the offer in writing. By doing so, you will get a bit more time to consider the other offer(s).
When you receive a written job offer, you don’t have to accept it right away. You may ask for more time to accept the offer. You will want to consider the salary, benefits, responsibilities, and work environment of the position. Once you have enthusiastically thanked the person making the offer, you may ask for their timeline of when they need your decision. Typically, employers offer 1-2 weeks for your decision, but some may not be as generous. If this company (Company A) offers a very short turn-around time for your response, at this point, you may want to be honest about your situation.
Tell them that you are expecting another offer and ask again if you can have an extension on the decision deadline so you can make the most informed decision. It is highly unlikely that Company A will rescind the offer. If Company A declines an extension for your decision, you can reach out to the other companies and say that you have an offer from another organization, but you would like to know where Company B stands on your candidacy. Let company B know that you are very interested in working for them and ask whether they can speed up their process since you have another offer. Most likely, Company B will appreciate your honesty, and in the best case, will accelerate their process, so they don’t lose a great candidate – you!
If Company B cannot speed up the interviewing/hiring process, or Company A wants a more immediate response, you will need to decide whether to accept Company A’s offer.
If you accept Company A’s offer, we highly recommend that you follow through on your decision and not renege on the offer if other opportunities present themselves later.
Be respectful and positive about any communication you have in every phase of the interview process. Be careful not to pit one organization against another, and refrain from mentioning another employer by name. The goal is to get all the offers on the table in the same timeframe so you can make the best decision for your career goals.
Remember that the CCD is here to help you with your decision-making process. You can check Handshake for an available appointment with a staff member. If you don’t see an appointment that meets your tight decision-making time frame, you may contact the CCD at future@bu.edu or (617) 353-3590. Explain your situation to see if there is someone available to help you sort it all out. The CCD is open Monday through Friday. Check our website for operating hours as they change throughout the year.
Again, Congrats on all the hard work you put in to getting multiple job offers; you ROCK!
BU + Beyond 