Multiple offers!? Is that even possible? Well, past recruiting has resulted in many students finding themselves in a place that is both rewarding and challenging…trying to decide who to start their career with. Here are some things to keep in mind as you enter the application, interview and offer stages of recruiting this Fall.
1. An offer is not an offer….until it is an offer!
An offer is an official piece of correspondence by letter or email that is clear concerning the position, the terms of employment and the salary. You must have this to truly believe you have an offer.
If you hear from a firm rep or staff member that your chances are good, “that is not an offer.”
If someone tells you they believe you are a fit in their company, “that is not an offer.”
If an interviewer tell you they are quite sure you will get an offer, “that is not an offer.”
If you feel like you have made excellent connection with firm reps to the point where you are texting and meeting them socially, you might feel really special and positive, “that is not an offer.”
2. When you have one offer and another final interview is approaching with a potential offer.
Be sure to look at this realistically and understand that until the second offer officially comes, you only have one offer. This is especially difficult for people when the upcoming interview is with their favourite firm. Don’t let your emotion take over here. You will need to think this through. Here are a few tips to manage this. Some have more inherent risk than others.
A. If an upcoming interview will take place after the date you have been asked to accept a current offer, you have a few options.
i) Accept the first offer and enjoy your CPA candidate experience (no risk)
ii) Ask your favourite company with the upcoming interview that you think may end with an offer to move their appointment up. (some risk)
iii) Tell your favourite company that you have an offer from another company and you would really like to meet with them earlier if possible because they are your favourite company and you really want to work for them. (elevated risk)
iv) Ask the firm that has made the offer for extra time (be specific) to get back to them due to some personal matters you need to deal with. (true…but…highest risk)
Note: These scenarios are also applicable if you have already interviewed with the second company and you are waiting to hear if you may get a second offer.
3. If you have multiple offers at one time.
Creating a pro and con list where you can identify the areas most important to you in your upcoming CPA preparation experience. Is it the prestige of a big 4 firm? Is it the idea that you will be able to be involved with clients sooner than later? It is a small family your wanting? Is the large corporate structure where you want to develop your knowledge of the various service lines? Once you have determined the questions then you can rate the offers using a 1-10 scale and you can add cons on the other side which may include things like; they are too far away from home, don’t have the long term path that you are wanting to pursue or their travel options are not as interesting to you as the others.
Once you get this all down on paper, it is easier to make a comparison and a decision.
I hopers everyone that reads this has the problem of multiple offers!
Best of luck,
Russell
Russell Garrett is the Owner of Protocol Business Solutions, a Certified Career Consultant and the DAP Career Coach. He also collaborates with the Business Career Center to support BCom career initiatives from time to time. Be sure to attend all the CPA Summer Pre Series Workshops which are posted on COOL for registration and on Connect for post-workshop viewing. Russell will be delivering and co-facilitating workshops for DAP and BCom students in collaboration with the Business
Career Centre staff. Russell is also available to DAP students for online coaching appointments set up through email requests and for in-person coaching appointments posted in COOL. You can contact Russell at dapcareersupport@sauder.ubc.ca.