As you think about what the future holds, and closely analyse the pros and cons of a role, you might find the desire to make an emotional decision falls away. The excitement won’t fade, but the temptation to close your eyes, hold your nose and do a bomb into the deep end probably will - and that’s almost always a good thing.

After any job offer, but certainly in the case that you have two or more to choose from, negotiation is crucial. Dr Dhaenens reminds you that you only get one “crack” at negotiating a new offer and you should feel confident doing just that. The fact that this is your dream position doesn’t mean you have to accept the conditions holus bolus.

After the employer responds to your areas of concern - that could be salary, annual leave or other benefits - you need to accept, reject or “give a very limited counteroffer”. In the case of a counteroffer, Dr Dhaenens says you should cover only areas already outlined: “It is not appropriate to bring up new points of negotiation after the employer responds. It is appropriate, however, to mention salary - and 10 percent more than the offer is usually a healthy target.”

It goes almost without saying that if you receive two offers, or if on reflection a job just doesn’t seem quite right, you’ll need to decline. And, Dr Dhaenens says, it’s best to be honest, keeping in mind that you may come across an employer or hiring manager again during your career travels. Even if that’s many years down the track, it’s important not to burn proverbial bridges.

“In considering offers, it is really important to think long-term. Cities, industries and other communities end up being smaller than we think, and we want to keep the dialogue open for the future.

“You might say that you enjoyed the opportunity, the chance to meet with the team, and appreciated the conversations, but that your circumstances have changed or you went with another offer. Depending on your discussions, it might make sense to wish them luck or state an openness to future opportunities.”

As to which job you should take, that’s entirely up to you. I would lean towards the dream job, but I completely understand the allure of a permanent role - as Dr Dhaenens told me, it’s so important to find “a role in which you can thrive and contribute long-term”. Whatever option you choose, I hope your next role is enjoyable and professionally rewarding.

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