Navigating Multiple Job Offers

[RunningintoFI]

I know there are multiple threads similar to this on the MMM forums but my predicament is enough of a (positive!) head ache that I could use some help from more seasoned Mustachians around my situation. 

To keep it simple - I was working for aerospace manufacturer in process improvement and our work force was laid off due to the massive reduction in travel from the pandemic. 

Flash forward a couple months and I have two confirmed job offers for process improvement roles and two likely pending offers but the timelines are not great between them all.  Summary of the situation below.

• One current offer with a deadline to accept of today that the employer has written they will not extend.  I would be happy with this company and role and accepted the offer since it is better to have something over nothing and I did not know about other potential offers until yesterday.  This does come with a relocation 8 hrs away from family.  Important to note that this role is a training position that involves a promotion ~12 months from now.
• Similar role with a different company that also involves relocation ~6 hrs away with a verbal indication of wanting to extend me an offer but the written offer will not be available until next week at the earliest since HR director is on vacation this week. Main difference between this role and the first one is that this would likely include $10K more in salary but would also involve significant more leg work and challenges day one than the first role. I would enjoy the team and challenge but the ceiling is not as high as 1st role.
• Late stage interview with a local company this afternoon that would not involve relocating at all that could match the salary of the second role.  Not directly related to process improvement but would get me managerial experience that I have been searching for but an offer would not come in until late next week at the earliest if they are interested.
• Gone through final interviews with one other company that would also involve ~8 hr relocation.  They were not comfortable having me manage a team of 15 without experience (fair enough) but the VP of operations I interviewed with told HR Manager that under no circumstance should they let me get away - so they are trying to get me a process improvement role instead.  Only problem is that they are a fairly small company and are hiring 35 new roles so the HR manager is swamped and I won't hear back for another week.

This has partially been a great pro/con list for myself but my most important question is - how do I navigate this without burning major bridges while still doing right for myself?  I would enjoy doing all four roles and each location has merits to them.  Financially, the first three are all in roughly the same realm and all could help move my career forward.  The fourth role would likely pay less but involves creating the basis for nearly all major cancer and immunospecific drugs in the industry today and the passion and purpose of every person I interviewed with sold me that the lower pay is compensated by the reward of making a difference.

Given that I have already accepted one offer, I know I can't realistically negotiate with that company so it feels like my options are to negotiate the 2-4 roles and then potentially back out of an accepted position if one of them really stands out above the rest.  Does anyone have experience with something like this and can provide feedback?  I'd really appreciate it since I've never been the belle of the ball before.

[FIRE 20/20]

I would lean strongly towards #1.  The primary reason is that I've personally had an offer that was verbally "guaranteed" rescinded due to the financial collapse around 2008.  I think there are other reasons to stick with #1 as well.  For me the extra "leg work and challenges day one" plus having a lower ceiling than #1 plus the possibility that the offer might not come through are not worth the initial extra $10k / year. 
I wouldn't ever turn down a written offer for a late stage interview if I was out of work, so for me #3 is out.  #4 sounds like it could be amazing but could also be a trainwreck.  Maybe it's my pessimism coming out, but my experience in the business world is that trainwreck occurs more than amazing 9 times out of 10. 

As for navigating this without burning bridges, I would send a note to each of the options you don't select telling them how highly you regard their company, the people you interviewed with, and the  time they spent talking to you.  However, given that you were laid off you felt you had to take the offer that was on the table.   Everyone will understand that reasoning, and the note will win you some brownie points if the job you take doesn't work out.  In addition to that, I'd call #4 immediately to tell them just in case the VP of operations can turn around an offer today.  If they want you as much as it sounds like they do, small companies can often blow through red tape quickly to make an offer happen. 

Good luck with whatever you choose!  It sounds like you're in demand, and that's a great place to be - particularly in this economy. 

[mamabear18]

If everyone made you an offer - what is your first choice?

[mamabear18]

forgot to add - and assume everything was equal? I don't think location should be factored b/c you already decided that you were ok to relocate before you applied.

[24andfrugal]

If everyone made you an offer - what is your first choice?

This thought experiment is great advice.

[24andfrugal]

You might have already decided what to do, but I'll send some thoughts anyway...I've had this happen to me before. I can't tell you which to take, but here are some questions you should be asking yourself/things to consider:

- First and foremost, is there one job or company you like better than the others?
- You have one job offer. Until you get a written offer (and better yet, contract signed), nothing is set in stone. If you turn down #1, there is no guarantee you'll get #2, #3, or #4.
- How much do you NEED a job? Can you afford to wait and see what happens with the other 3?
- Do you WANT to move? Do you want to move to the places the 3 companies are wanting to send you?
- You're in demand, and company #4 at least really wants you. For #2, #3, and #4, I would use the offer with #1 to gently push the other 3. Tell them you'd like to work for them, but you have another exploding offer and you'll need to provide them an answer.
- The HR director being on vacation means nothing if the company really wants you...they won't let the person they want get away unless they're completely inept.
- Since you've accepted the offer for #1, there is no way to get out of that without burning bridges unless, possibly, you take #3 and tell #1 you didn't want to move after all. (Do people at these companies know each other?) This isn't to tell you don't burn the bridge, just...it's unavoidable.

[RunningintoFI]

If everyone made you an offer - what is your first choice?

This is a great question and something I'm really struggling with.  I only applied for jobs that I knew I would really enjoy and all help move my career along in some unique way to address areas I want to grow.  If you had asked me two days ago, #1 was sure fire, but having done a plant tour with #2 yesterday and hearing the plans they have that can get me a decade of experience in a matter of years was energizing. 

In a weird way the biggest difference comes down to the fact that #1 would move me along the growth curve fairly gently and #2 would give me the chance to jump in with both feet.  I'm fairly young for the position at #2 (shy of 30 and the leadership team with me is late 50s) so partially it is a lack of confidence that I'm at the level necessary to succeed. I have proven historically that I can do the requirements but it's a bit of imposter syndrome for sure.   

[RunningintoFI]

You might have already decided what to do, but I'll send some thoughts anyway...I've had this happen to me before. I can't tell you which to take, but here are some questions you should be asking yourself/things to consider:

- First and foremost, is there one job or company you like better than the others?
- You have one job offer. Until you get a written offer (and better yet, contract signed), nothing is set in stone. If you turn down #1, there is no guarantee you'll get #2, #3, or #4.
- How much do you NEED a job? Can you afford to wait and see what happens with the other 3?
- Do you WANT to move? Do you want to move to the places the 3 companies are wanting to send you?
- You're in demand, and company #4 at least really wants you. For #2, #3, and #4, I would use the offer with #1 to gently push the other 3. Tell them you'd like to work for them, but you have another exploding offer and you'll need to provide them an answer.
- The HR director being on vacation means nothing if the company really wants you...they won't let the person they want get away unless they're completely inept.
- Since you've accepted the offer for #1, there is no way to get out of that without burning bridges unless, possibly, you take #3 and tell #1 you didn't want to move after all. (Do people at these companies know each other?) This isn't to tell you don't burn the bridge, just...it's unavoidable.

I'm glad to see these questions so thanks for sharing them 24andfrugal! 

I don't HAVE to start working due to finances for another year but I'm ready to get back to work to be honest and you just never know how employment situations will change with the economic challenges and election components of 2020.

I am pretty neutral on moving - I like seeing the country and don't have any dependents or partner that would limit me from going.  I would enjoy these places and they all align with my hobbies - I'd miss my friends and family but have never struggled to make new friends and my family is very supportive of seeing different parts of the world so they can come visit. 

I have used the offer from #1 to push two of the others along - #4 has not seemed to realize it from emails and I can't speak to if they have heard my voice mail.  #2 accelerated their plans by two weeks when they heard I had an offer pending to get me in for an interview the next day with a verbal offer within three hours of leaving the facility.  #3 also moved up their timeline by weeks when I informed them of the offer.  With the exception of #1 and #4, every company is aware of the offer situation and have responded very quickly in accordance with that.

And you are completely right that nothing is set in stone until an offer is in writing - thus why I accepted #1 when they wouldn't budge on the deadline.  #2 has sent me a benefits and relocation package - just not a salary and PTO component of the package yet so I'm assuming they will follow through with their stated intentions but nothing is certain until the deal is in front of me. 

Given that you have been in a situation like this before, can you tell me the outcome of your situation?