Received Multiple Offers? Let’s Stack Them Up.

One of the most popular conversations my team and I have with candidates is regarding what to do with multiple offers. It’s a good problem to have, of course - but it creates quite the pickle. Your recruiters are never going to tell you what you should do, they may have an idea of what they’d like you to do - but only you are the beholder in the final decision. When a candidate is new to a search, I often refer to them as their biggest cheerleader . At the end of the day - only the candidate can decide whether to accept the offer or not, not the company. It is similar to “rush” (now called recruitment in the Greek/sorority/fraternity world) the bids can go out to as many recruits as they’d like - but the acceptance of a bid lies in the beholder of the rushee….not the house.

This article isn’t solely focused on negotiation or what more to ask for, it is however about what the process of offers look like today and how to stack up the offers you have received, and furthermore the offers you have yet to receive.?

1. What About The Offer You Have Yet to Receive?

I started with this first because it’s the easiest. Is just that… you haven’t received it yet. Unless it’s in writing, it hasn’t happened yet. A bird in the hand is worth two offers in the bush. The offer may be in process, and use the power of your current offers in hand as a push - but know that any company, no matter how much red tape there is, will work to get you their offer as early as they can if they really want you as a candidate. One benefit of working with a recruiter is that they have an extra hand in this process - so we can help push to make it happen faster since we are an embedded part of the process.?

1. How Quickly Are People Receiving Offers?

Right now industry cross - we are looking at a 3-4 week turn around for offers. That is from the first interview to the offer. It’s the fastest I’ve seen in the last 10 years, and the reason is the candidate shortage. If a company wants you, they will let you know they want you. Of course it takes two to tango. Check in throughout the entire process with either your recruiter, or the hiring manager - whoever is your point of contact. Let them know your progress in other ventures, and this may help push the needle in multiple ways. You don’t have to ever say who or what - just that there is another opportunity who is in the final stages of interview, releasing an offer, etc. Transparency is the best bet in this final stage of offers - this isn’t poker, and it’s for sure not Vegas. (unless it is Vegas - in that case, still be transparent.). Keep in mind hiring managers are also running day-to-day, managing a team and working on the next big milestone. They do not mean to neglect the hiring of their next rockstar - but sometimes need a reminder that their top candidate may have other options out there.?

1. When I Do Have Multiple Offers , What Should I Be Asking Myself??

This is both an easy, and tough question at the same time. I always tell candidates to look at each opportunity with not only a dollar sign or the future in mind, but these three essentials:

• PRODUCT: Do I like the product? What is the product actually doing? What will this product be doing, and what/who/who is it making a direct impact and what will it accomplish? Does it align with what I want I too want to accomplish??
• GROWTH: Does this opportunity provide growth? What does growth mean to me? Define it first - Do I want it to mean monetary? Do I want it to provide a management path? Do I want it to mean personal and/or professional growth??
• PEOPLE: Are these people I can see myself working with and thriving? Ask do I like my potential teammates, and can I envision working day to day with this team? Is the leadership team and their culture they created somewhere you can see yourself working??
• WHY: Always revisit why you started looking in the first place. Remember the Why. Do any of the above questions resonate with your why??

4. When/Should I Ask for More??

A lot of effort goes into putting together an offer - and until you’ve been on the hiring manager side of that you may not realize it. Even if you are the diamond in the rough perfect gem they have been looking for - the battle is still real. The internal push, the signatures of everyone who needs to sign off, management getting the random person on vacation in the Swiss Alps for a month on the phone who needs to approve, the “wait that’s above the discussed pay rate” HR battle, the onboarding/medical/401K/equity piece, and often the board sign off - all are REAL. So just to make the candidates aware - a company (especially now with the candidate shortage) is coming out with the best offer possible. This includes the salary/contract offer, any bonuses and any equity. Some states (Cali) are now made to post the range when they first advertise about the role, so there are zero surprises. It is okay to ask for more IF the prior discussions of salary are not met in the range you provided during the interview process, or with your recruiter. If they are in the range it could come off as insulting after the amount of work that went into the initial offer. Feel free to negotiate PTO, start date, sign-ons, and even that planned trip to the Caymans you already have in the books. Those are all just icing.?

However, if this is not a job you will accept in the end, don’t negotiate. Simply say thank you, move on - and keep those bridges unburned.?

So the reality is no matter how talented you are, and how much you are worth, and how big a cheerleader you are of yourself - ALL the offers you anticipate and want will never all show up at the same time. If they HAVE then you have proven me wrong - and I owe you a beer or something but that is like the great myth that we were all taught probably back in college when we were graduating that they will happen simultaneously. It doesn't happen that way in the real world. Take the time you need (within reason) to review the offers you have received, and discuss with your family and mentors about what opportunity is best for you. They are your real critics - and you get to choose whether or not to listen to them. And if you decide for sure that these aren’t the offers for you - then do yourself a favor and wait.?

Regardless of your reality - know that you are worth it, and you got this.?Let me know other advice you have been given, or have given, when receiving multiple offers.