Career

When it rains, it pours!
What to do when the opportunities start flooding in.

By Louise Evans

Looking for a new job is really, really difficult. I've shaken dozens of hands. Had countless cups of coffee. Added many new people to my network. And let's not forget that I've also sent my resume to every online posting ever written. I've also read LinkedIn until my eyes started to bleed with no results. So I try to head out with the dog for a daily walk to clear my head. And I try desperately to think about anything but my career.

But it doesn't take long before my internal monologue flips between a pep talk and my list of financial obligations. And then there are those moments like the one I had recently when I came home to voicemail messages (three to be exact!). The adrenalin starts to pump just listening to messages from prospective employers. "We'd like you to come in for an interview." Music to my ears! Optimism at last. There's a flurry of preparation, meetings and conversations. But there's also a new dilemma. I've gone from zero to three solid offers at one time! It's not quite like an NFL draft, but it is an amazing feeling to be wanted and in demand!

So, here's how I recommend to decide on the best offer:

• Go back to the beginning. What are your "must haves" for a new job? If free coffee matters, taste it. If autonomy or building relationships with clients is important then find a way to test the relationships or find out how the employer truly defines autonomy. Once you've signed on the dotted line you don't want to find out that your deal breakers are broken.
• Weigh out your options. What do you really want vs. What are the details of the offer, the role and work environment? Be honest. Do they really match or are you saying 'yes' because the holiday season is around the corner and you could really use the cash.
• Research the company. What is its reputation and what's the culture like there? Use tools like LinkedIn and your networking skills to help you find at least one person, preferably two or three, who can tell you what it's really like to work at the company. Then match reality with your job search goals.
• Identify red flags that were stumbling blocks in previous jobs. Have you learned from the previous experience? How are you going to avoid them this time and be successful? Know your limits and work within them.

No matter how carefully you map out your options and make a decision, the real test is your "gut check." Does one role make you feel uneasy? Does another role make you feel pretty good on paper, but you just aren't sure it's worth the commute? Then it's time to trust your gut. According to project specialist, Melanie Johannink, "it's also when you need to trust your value as both an employee and a person to do the right thing."

Louise Evans is a corporate communications professional with 20 years of experience helping business leaders convey information to their employees, suppliers and customers. She has won several public speaking contests and is an experienced presenter. Louise has been using her strong writing skills for speeches while also coaching business leaders to deliver their messages effectively. Louise is a graduate of the University of Toronto and Ryerson University.

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