Racing to the Finish Line with 2 Competing Job Offers

Back in June, my sixth sense told me that all my hard work would converge and I'd be struggling with a decision about whom to work for. I even noted this premonition in my job search log book.

 

I know it sounds hard to believe, but having 2 companies pursuing me as a potential new employee is a mixed blessing.

 

The Hare and the Tortoise

 

The firm that’s in the lead to win my talents -- let’s compare that company to a hare -- is a small European-based manufacturer with its American subsidiary a few miles from my home. The position they offer is challenging and exciting: Create an entire department from scratch with little or no process hurdles. If I encounter any obstacles, I just stroll 30 yards to the president's office. So why am I struggling with taking this job?

 

I get the impression that this firm is lacking critical resources. For example, generating my offer letter has been a protracted and peculiar experience. The original hard-copy offer letter featured a major error in bold letters on the first page. Am I being too picky? My friends say to let it go. Meantime, as I wait for a corrected offer letter, the firm’s missteps have dampened my enthusiasm.

 

The other firm in the race is a turbo-charged-but-not-quite-nimble tortoise. It is a Fortune 500 multinational firm with locations close to my home. The company’s newly created position will relieve the vice president of doing 3 jobs in business and marketing development. The work will be well-known and understood by all in the department. At this stage, I am in the 5th round of interviews meeting with the very senior managers.

 

This opportunity came about as a direct result of my filling out employment applications on the firm's own job boards. I applied for several interesting positions that required many of my skill sets. About a month ago, a very smart internal recruiter was reviewing my resume and asked if I would consider this position in lieu of the one I had applied to. Since I had had an excellent experience with this firm a decade ago, I was delighted by her suggestion. Compared to the hare contender, I have no qualms about the scope or nature of the position with the tortoise company.

 

Which Firm Will Win This Race?

  

Timing is everything. I have a job offer in hand (albeit incorrectly written) and the strong possibility of a second offer coming. Is it worth taking a job that is in a state of flux from the start? Or do I continue to use valid reasons to delay the process with the hare firm in favor of waiting for the tortoise catch up?

 

As in any sort of competition, there is jockeying for position even in the last lap. I am bracing for a photo finish.

 

If you were in my shoes and had competing but very different job offers, what would you do?

 

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