I have to be honest that I don’t often hear people talk about the number of simultaneous job offers they receive. In fact, I can really only think of one example where a relative of mine had the opportunity to choose staying in his current position or being promoted with the company requiring relocation in a different state. That’s as close as I’ve come to knowing someone with options. And, that’s simply not the same thing as having more than one offer from different companies.

As I can’t relate to the multiple offer situation, I almost passed on reading Richard Moy’s article, “4 Crucial Questions You Need to Ask Yourself When Deciding Between Multiple Job Offers.” However, I am a huge fan of transferable skills, so I read it hoping to glean advice applicable not just for managing multiple offers but also to decisions associated with the search process as a whole. My hopes were met. Take a minute to check out considerations I find applicable to many stages of the search:

Let the Job Outweigh the Perks. Indeed, perks job are nice, but they can also distract from the duties and the environment. Depending on the job industry, there might be just as much information about the perks as exists about the position itself. Be mindful of the perk situation in all cases but particularly when comparing them cross industry as, let’s face it, there often is no comparison. Look beyond what’s shiny, and focus on the meat of the job you will be expected to perform day after day (after day!).

Focus On Opportunity For Growth. There are two main scenarios for growth: Either, you will have opportunities to grow and advance within the company, or, this position is a stepping stone in your career before moving on to take a higher position in another company. Understand how your professional growth comes into play with any job for which you apply. Many positions exist where the hiring manager knows a high-caliber employee will eventually get restless. In that case, make sure you understand the role for what it is, and be ready to address that exact issue with a plan for the future in an interview. Investigate the growth opportunities, and visualize how they play into your own aspirations.

Consider For How Long You Envision Being Happy. Especially if you want to advance within a company, understand enough about the organization that such a vision excites you. Do your research on the company, its mission and its projects. Understand the direction the company is moving. This insight will help you see if you like what the company has to offer right now and if you like where it is headed. It’s perfectly acceptable to like the immediate circumstances and not the outlook, but don’t sign on to a new job thinking you can somehow dodge or resist the planned change.

Even if you do not intend to advance within the company, give some thought as to how long the job for which you apply will excite you enough to return to it every, single Monday. Depending on the depth and breadth, some positions might not invigorate you for as long as you would like. Be aware of not just the duties as stated but also your opportunity to be creative within the position. Will you have freedom to develop your own projects? Or, is there a pretty standard script for you to follow? If you anticipate quick stagnation, consider that a red flag for your satisfaction.

Assess the People Factor. You will likely spend more time with your coworkers than you do with your own family and friends. So, this criterion is just as important as others in your decision. Most of this assessment will wait until you actually interview, but, do some digging beforehand. You might know someone who knows someone who works at a particular organization who can give you some insight to the culture and personnel. And, there are often bios on organizational websites that might clue you in as to the interests and personalities of those who work there. This particular factor is important to your daily happiness. Investigate and assess it.

Each of these factors directly contributes to the overall sense of satisfaction within a job. Anyone can put in some time to perform the daily grind, but for how long is that inspiring? There has to be more to it than great perks to compensate for a job you outgrow with no place to go within a year or two. Use a big picture assessment to determine what position and in what organization you will foreseeably remain motivated to show up and perform.

Moy, Richard. “4 Crucial Questions You Need to Ask Yourself When Deciding Between Multiple Job Offers.” The Muse. Daily Muse, Inc. 2016. Web. (25 July 2016)

Nancy Stoker is a Senior Client Services Representative and Research Associate with ExecSearches.com. ExecSearches provides various recruitment and executive search services for nonprofits including its nonprofit job board.