Last week, we discussed how to pick between two amazing candidates, but what happens when the roles are reversed and you, as the candidate, find yourself struggling to choose between two seemingly wonderful opportunities.
When it comes to looking for your next opportunity, you may find yourself in multiple interview cycles, running concurrently. Often during these interview processes, one company will become the stand-out opportunity and your choice is easily made.
However, over the last 12 months, with the evening out of the supply/demand of candidates for opportunities, and the trend of employers seeking specific subject matter expertise to ensure success in a post-covid economy, you just might find yourself being sought after for more roles than you expected!
Should you be in this situation, here are some practical steps to help you choose the best role for you:
1. Curate
Searching for a job can quickly become a full-time job, even when you already have a full-time job! Searching for opportunities, engaging in discovery, researching, resume updates, 3-8 interviews per role, case studies, and contacting references – it can quickly become exhausting.
While all of this is going on it’s important to be razor-focused on your desired outcome and what you hope to do next. All while knowing where you can be flexible as nothing will ever be picture-perfect, but your next role should make you feel excited about the future.
If after taking a closer look or after the initial two interviews you know it’s not for you: be honest and stop the process. This allows you to spend your valuable time on winning the job you want while freeing up the opportunity for someone else who views this as their dream job.
2. Ask Yourself These Two Questions
- Is this a job I want to do?
- Is this a group of people I want to work with?
The answers to these two questions will help to remove emotion from the equation and distill what counts, the long-term outlook. Any full-time role you commit to is a commitment to doing the job. That is what will be left when the ink on the offer is dry and the champagne has been drunk. If the job is one you don’t want to do, no amount of money (or company culture or incredible valuation) will make your daily grind feel better.
The same goes for people. It’s been said we don’t work for companies, we work for people; for people and with people. If your team is not one you can work well with, nothing will change that.
3. Go Back to Day-One List
It’s easy to get swept up in the emotion of being wanted. It’s flattering to know a leader of a company wants you to continue down an interview process. However, be aware that the best interviewers make every candidate feel special, as though they are the only person being considered.
When things seem confusing or highly emotionally charged, it’s time to go back to your day-one list:
- What impact were you interested in making?
- How does the commute fit into your lifestyle?
- Is the scope or industry relevant?
These questions should help you take the flattery out of multiple offers and steer you in the direction that best serves your career growth and ambition.
While having multiple opportunities is an envious position to be in, it’s not without its stressors. Taking the time to ask yourself these key questions will help to guide you in the right direction.