Candidates who are in high demand often know they are, and so use this to their advantage when looking for the next step in their career. Usually, they will be contacted regularly by recruiters selling them opportunities or asking them what they would move for. We always recommend taking the time to speak to a specialist recruiter as you may be surprised to hear what opportunities are available.

Those who are in high demand tend to not just want an increase in compensation, but want to find an ideal work/ life balance. They take the time to consider what lifestyle would be perfect for them alongside maintaining or increasing their earnings. This commonly comes down to flexible working conditions, whether this maybe working from home, missing rush hour or even working 3/4 days’ week.

When looking for the best offer you also need to consider the push and pull factors such as, why you are not 100% happy in your current role, and what other prospective employers have to offer.  Some candidates, who know they’re in high demand, use this as a ransom to their current company to get what they want. It is wise to note that this is a dangerous game as some employers could see this as being disloyal and may tarnish your existing relationship with them.

As a candidate you have to be careful when managing multiple offers, very rarely do multiple offers come in on the same day so it’s best to be up front and let all potential employers know that you are considering other options and that you need time to make one of the most important decisions in your life.

Some employers may put in a time frame for you to make a decision to try and close the deal but this can sometimes backfire on the employer. You will have an idea of who you want to work with and this will be decided throughout the interview process. Factors such as; will you get on better with a certain team, is the commute less, how exciting is the role and what are the options for career development so, there is nothing wrong in holding out until you feel that right offer has been made.

It’s good practice to start negotiating at the end of the recruitment cycle as both parties have invested a lot of time and effort into the process. However, we cannot reiterate enough how much better it is to be clear from the start about what the key motivators are for making a move.

Be realistic and consider all the things that mean a lot to you, you are going to be spending the majority of your time there. Discuss the pros and cons with the people who it will affect (friends, family, and partners etc.) to get their view. They will probably see through all the excitement and get you to think about what matters to you the most.  Most importantly do not burn any bridges with the companies you have politely declined as they may be attractive later in your career.

Here are some tips from our top Consultants:

• Before considering a move ask your current employer if they are able to offer you what you are looking for, they may be able to accommodate you.
• Be open and transparent with your recruiter and prospective employer with regards to what you are looking for and explain the reasons why these aspects of the offer are important.
• Know your market value from the start of the process or talk to your recruiter if uncertain and then be consistent in your salary/package expectations. It will confuse the employer and it may be an uphill battle to negotiate a higher salary/package at the offer stage.
• You need to know the full details prior to accepting an offer. A high basic salary with low pension contributions may not be as good overall as a modest salary, with a 10% bonus scheme and high pension contributions. Make sure you consider the entire package as most companies have fixed benefits such as holidays, pension contributions and healthcare, so these are usually difficult to negotiate as they are standard throughout the company.
• If you are considering relocating for a position, make sure you and your family are committed to moving. Ask the recruiter if there is a relocation package on offer and how this would be structured. Most companies try to make it as comfortable as possible to relocate but some don’t offer any kind of financial relocation package.
• Don’t be pushed to quickly to accept an offer. Despite what some recruiters may say about the threat of an employer withdrawing an offer, if you don’t accept instantly, most employers will be happy to wait for your decision while you weigh up all offers.
• Set a date for when you are going to make a decision and let all the employers know.
• Don’t try to negotiate a better package unless you are seriously thinking about taking the offer.
• Put together a list of pros and cons for each offer and highlight the things that are most important to you.
• Once you have made your decision be respectful to the other companies who you have rejected offers from. They will want to know why as this may help them when attracting other candidates.

For more information on opportunities available please get in touch with one of our expert recruitment consultants info@pararecruit.com