How to Decide Between Multiple Job Offers

That's not a valid work email account. Please enter your work email (e.g. you@yourcompany.com)
Please enter your work email
(e.g. you@yourcompany.com)

WalkerHello, this is Laura Lee Rose. I am a speaker, an author, and an expert in time and project management. I help busy professionals and entrepreneurs create effective systems so that they can comfortably delegate to others, be more profitable, and have time to enjoy life. At the end of the day, I transform the way you run your business into a business you love to run.

Today’s question came from a professional trying to decide between multiple job offers. Although this example is specifically about a job offer, the tips that follow are valid for any difficult decision that crops up in your life:

How do job seekers who receive multiple job offers that weren’t quite what they expected know when to accept one, keep hunting, change directions, or go off on their own?

To make a decision like this, you can use what I call the “Pro and XCon” list. Everyone is familiar with a regular pros and cons list, where you list what you like and don’t like about a job. However, using the pro and con method often results in indecisiveness, because you often find that each job has similar amounts of pros and cons.

My Pro and XCon list, on the other hand, is a three-column list. You have your regular pro and con columns, but then you add your “XCon” column. You use the XCon column to list what needs to happen to turn a con item into an XCon (or acceptable to you).

Then use the XCon items in your negotiation meetings. This strategy will help you to better determine which job you should accept — or if you need to continue looking.

Reminder: Employers are going to be putting their best feet forward during the interview and hiring process. If you find them unwilling to negotiate at the interview stage, they will be less likely to negotiate after you are hired. If you do not like how they are reacting to your attempts to create alternatives and agree on solutions, then you should move on without regret or doubt.

How Do Job Seekers Know When to Keep Hunting or Go Off on Their Own?

My recommendation is never to go off you your own just because you can’t find the perfect job. Only start your own business if you want to start your own business.

Then the next question — after you have decided that you want to start your own business — is when to start it? And, that my friend, is a topic for another day.

Sample Pro and XCon Worksheet:

 

ProCon

 

ProCon2

For more worksheets that help clarify your goals, your teams missions, and your performance expectations, please see my professional development yoolkit

For more information on everything discussed here, why don’t we schedule an appointment, where I get to know more about your unique situation? I will be happy to make recommendations on what your best steps are moving forward. Contact LauraRose@RoseCoaching.info.

By Laura Lee Rose