Multiple Job Offers by o5com
As in my client’s case, for someone unemployed one of the first questions to consider is “Can you afford to not accept this position?” This will differ for each job seeker based on personal finances. I would never recommend a client accept a position and continue long-term down a career path he doesn’t like purely for the paycheck. It’s important to enjoy what you do. Rather, if you feel compelled financially to accept a position, I would recommend strategizing and brainstorming on possible paths or transitions from this role. If you must accept the position from a financial standpoint and it’s your only viable option, go in with a game plan. Is there a way to accept this position and transfer within the company later or could this experience be marketed as transferable skills? Is there experience or the skills you are gaining useful to you? If you accept this position and it’s not in line with your career goals, will you have time to continue your job search? Do not go in feeling defeated or that you “gave up” or “gave in” as this will affect your morale and focus.
For a passive job seeker who is gainfully employed, this is a very different scenario. In that instance, you need to weigh the risk of accepting it and possibly having to leave after a short period of time if you do not like it. This decision will depend on how happy or unhappy you are in your current position – are you willing (and financially able) to be unemployed if the new position does not work out? If you are looking for a new position because you’re desperate to leave a hostile or otherwise unhealthy work environment, it’s best (and tricky, I know) to separate that emotion from the decision of accepting the new opportunity. I know from counseling clients in this situation that this step is not easy, but it’s critical to avoid making a potentially regretful decision. The key is to keep your wits about you to avoid jumping out of the frying pan and into the fire.
In the long-run, if you don’t make a habit out of jumping ship and changing jobs quickly, having to include one short-lived position on your résumé will not make you look like uncommitted as long as you are able to discuss it and you can show longevity and commitment with the rest of your positions.
If you find yourself in this situation and need to consult with a professional for advice, please give us a call.
I just did a search on this subject and this is how I found your blog and I am so glad. I am currently going through a situation where I had to accept a position that I absolutely hate…however, I am still applying for other positions elsewhere and have the question in my mind “what do I do about my resume? Do I add this short lived position or leave it off and this article has help me a lot! Do you have any suggestions?
Hi Cassie,
In the short term, I think it’s okay to leave the position off of your resume, but as more and more time passes (say perhaps close to 9-12 months), I might recommend including it on your resume to avoid showing an unnecessary gap in employment. The answer can vary for different people and in different situations.