Public Finance Blog

If you are fortunate enough to have put yourself out there (something we don’t necessarily recommend, but we are aware that certain candidates are rock stars) and are in demand, you may just have multiple offers to evaluate.  What do you do when comparing offers? How to make sure you’ve selected the right firm – that final decision is indeed today’s topic.

When Word Gets Out…

Let me be clear that H Friedman Search recommends our opportunistic approach to yield the best results, but sometimes things just happen.  Things we have no control over when we are dealing with the “best of the best.”  If word gets out there that you are considering making a move, other suitors are going to come after you.  That is the main reason we never advocate announcing you are looking to make a move; however, if it does become known, how do you make that final decision as to which firm or institution you go with?

Looking At The Bigger Picture 

Like any major decision, you must establish the criteria that you are measuring against when comparing offers.  What is the main reason that you have decided to make a move?  Here you cannot be vague but must be intentionally specific.  The more specific you can be, the easier this important step becomes to evaluate.  Once the specificity is clear, you must determine which one of the suitors meets that need the best.  But that’s not all – you must be aware of the long-term effects and future ramifications of your decision.  In the world of instant gratification, can you see past that and look at the big picture?  Maybe a new title is what you seek. Maybe the firm that you think will be the best one for you is not giving you that, but they are laying a proper foundation or a path that will lead to that new title… but not today.  Yet everything else lines up like a better platform, more exposure, etc.  Denying that instant gratification may yield a better result in the long run for your career.

Looking Deeper

On another note, maybe you can see that the people and exposure to a wider network is the overwhelming desire.  When comparing offers you decide that even if the compensation of one offer is not as good as the other, you’ll take it. Why? If the long-term result appears to be much more likely that the amount of business you can do will increase significantly, the actual compensation in the near future should dwarf the other offer.  The gist is you might have to look past the immediate offer and see the big picture, especially if you are a candidate who has not moved around much.  You surely are in more demand. Even though sometimes demand does not result in immediate dollars, looking towards the future can have greater value.  Let us help you evaluate all offers objectively where the right firm will rise to the surface.  Looking deep and taking your time to evaluate multiple offers is the key to the process.  At the end of the day, go with the firm that offers the best in the long-term goals for your future.

Conclusion

You don’t need a resume to chat with us! If you would like to discuss your options, please reach out for a confidential conversation at 760-477-1284 or email at harlan@hfriedmansearch.com. He can also be reached on LinkedIn. Harlan publishes a blog every Thursday here. Subscribe to our monthly newsletter here, which is a compilation of our weekly blogs, so you never miss one. 

About Harlan Friedman, JD & Founding Member, H. Friedman Search LLC. Harlan is a thirty-year veteran Public Finance Banker turned recruiter who specializes in the placement of all levels Public Finance Bankers, Healthcare Bankers, Municipal Advisors, Compliance Officers, Issuers, and Bond Counsels.