Banner Tips,Choice

Choosing an Offer: Tips for Making the Best Choice

Choosing a job offer can be a momentous event in a college student's life. Researching prospective employers, reflecting on your priorities and reviewing your options can help you choose the best career path.

Evaluating Job Offers

If you're one of the lucky job seekers who have multiple job offers, you may not be feeling so lucky when it's time to make a decision. Choosing between jobs can be the most difficult part of the job hunting process. However gaining knowledge about the company, comparing your own priorities with those of the company and evaluating your options can help with your decision.

Learn About the Company

You may have already done a bit of research on the company before your interview. Job seekers should try to gain as much experience in the field as they can, and that they should research information about the company they are applying to. You should make sure to know enough about the job, the organization and the offer details so you can weigh one offer against another one. Visiting company websites, asking questions, contacting who conducted your interview and asking the company's human resources representative are all great ways to learn about the company.

Reflect On Your Priorities

Make a list of what you're looking for in a company, a job and a career. After you make this list, see how each offer is able to satisfy your needs and desires. Here are the two main questions you may want to ask to help you generate a list of priorities:

-What are your professional goals?

-What will make you happy?

Organizing your priorities on paper usually helps you visualize the upcoming years at your first job.

Ask for An Extension

Many companies ask you to make a decision about an offer within a week. However, offers are often considered contingent, meaning it's dependent upon your specific conditions. Consider asking companies for extensions, especially if you're not going to graduate in the upcoming weeks. Asking for an extension gives you time to carefully evaluate the offer as well as negotiate the terms of the offer. When you ask for an extension, make sure it's reasonable. You don't want to make the company think you're trying to take advantage of their generosity.