Each offer has to be taken on it's own merits, and compared with the standard you set when you first started looking.
Job offers don’t always arrive in perfect sequence, and many candidates find themselves with one offer in hand while hoping for another. The key rule is to never turn down a concrete offer for the mere potential of another. Without a formal offer from the second company, any decision must be made by evaluating the actual opportunity at hand—not by comparing it to a possibility. If the current offer aligns with your job search criteria, it should be seriously considered rather than dismissed for something uncertain.
We often overestimate the likelihood of our preferred outcomes—assuming a great interview guarantees an offer or that the next job will come with a perfect salary, benefits, and growth potential. This cognitive bias, known as probability neglect, leads us to compare a tangible offer with an idealized, possibly unrealistic, future scenario. Instead of getting caught up in wishful thinking, assess the real offer objectively. If it meets your requirements, it deserves proper consideration.
Finally, the safest approach is always to secure an offer before making any major moves. Accepting the offer in hand ensures job security while leaving room for communication with the other company. Only after accepting should you notify the second employer that you have taken another role, and only then should you resign from your current position. This structured approach prevents the risk of ending up with no job at all. If you want to master the art of navigating job offers wisely, tune in to this chapter of The Interviewing Series.
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