Help me to not screw up a potential job offer

July 20, 2009 9:37 AM

Knock-On-Wood-Filter: How can I stall for time considering one job offer while waiting with baited breath for a decision from a second, more-desirable employer?

So after malaising through 7 months of unemployment, I may be very close to landing an actual job.

I've been through two interviews with Employer A, and all signs seem positive so far. I'm waiting on a decision this week.

Meanwhile, I've been contacted for an interview by Employer B--which, to my mind, appears to be a better opportunity. The problem is that Employer B operates on a very slow timeline as far as hiring new talent (it's a public school, lots of protocol and red tape).

So, if offered a position with Employer A this week (knock on wood), how can I tactfully stall for time with them while also very tactfully inquiring about Employer B's decision-making status?

Things I'm wondering:

How much "time to think about it" could I reasonably request, in the event of a job offer?

And how could I make such a request without putting off Employer A? (If Employer B doesn't make an offer, I will absolutely want Employer A's job.)

Do I mention to Employer B that I have another opportunity, but also that I'd much rather work for them? Or does this some how make me look mercenary, impatient, or otherwise undesirable to Employer B?

I've been out of work for a while and am very paranoid about screwing this up. Savvy job hunters, please help!

posted by sureshot to Work & Money (18 answers total)

Change your voicemail message to "I'm on vacation for the next two weeks, but please leave a message."

Then you can decide to call people back any time from today through today + 15 or so, and it won't seem like you're dodging the calls.
posted by rokusan at 9:41 AM on July 20, 2009

Tell B you need to move quickly.
posted by H. Roark at 9:44 AM on July 20, 2009

I'd follow Rokusan's advice AND tell Employer B that you need to know very soon.
posted by chrisalbon at 9:53 AM on July 20, 2009 [1 favorite]

Does A know you're out of work? They may expect a fairly quick response if they do, but I think you can stall for a few days. If you get the decision on Wednesday it's reasonable to think about it over the weekend, before then they might reasonably expect an answer by Friday. Perhaps pick up on something in the offer - "Hmm, I see you've only offered 10 days vacation, I'll have to talk that over with my family. Can I get back to you after the weekend?"

Then tell B that you have another offer, would love to work for them instead but have to accept A's offer by Monday lunchtime.
posted by IanMorr at 10:06 AM on July 20, 2009

Play it safe. Accept Employer A's offer, hopefully with a start date that will allow a window of time for B to make a decision. If B hires you, then gracefully bow out of the job with A. Employer A won't like it, but you will have a job and that's what's most important here.

/I know the ethics of that are a bit iffy, but having been through the same situation in which I did back out of a job offer, I'm glad I followed my own advice. Especially glad since my Employer A was Circuit City!
posted by Dave. at 10:33 AM on July 20, 2009 [1 favorite]

Given that B is a public school, I doubt the people with who. You would interview would have any ability to speed up the hiring process, whether they care about your situation or not.

Accordingly, I would go with employer A, assuming you need a paycheck immediately.
posted by dfriedman at 10:35 AM on July 20, 2009

When does employer A want someone to start in the position?

Bear in mind that when you're on the final shortlist, potential employers are still looking for ways to narrow their choice down to a single candidate - by and large anyone who made it to that final candidate pool is more than capable of doing the job.

You haven't said just how slow Employer B's timeline is, but it sounds like the kind of bureaucratic hiring process which could take a couple of months and it's definitely not reasonable to ask Employer A to wait that long for a decision.

Honestly, if the starting date for the job with employer A is within the next month then you probably can't afford to stall for more than a week. You're not in a situation where you've been head-hunted, so you don't have a lot of leverage and it's likely that other candidates will be pushing for a decision from employer A.

One thing you might consider asking employer B is how big their candidate pool is. If they're interviewing 50 people on the first round, then maybe it's not worth stuffing employer A around.

I guess the risk you take in holding out for employer B is finding yourself unemployed for another 7 months.
posted by Lolie at 10:40 AM on July 20, 2009

Assuming you get an offer from A, it's worth asking them when they need an answer by. More often than not, they're not going to say "right now." The 2 week voicemail message idea risks A hanging up the phone and calling their second choice.
posted by craven_morhead at 10:48 AM on July 20, 2009

from an employer's point of view, the longer it takes for someone to make a decision, the less likely they are to actually take the job (or show up, even if they accept the offer). most people that really want a job will take it within a day and i usually ask (but not require) that candidates respond the next day after an offer. if a candidate went on vacation for two weeks without telling me i would assume they were a) not interested in the position and b) neither courteous nor responsible and would re-evaluate accordingly.

lying is kind of your best option to keep your options open, although it is lame and would definitely burn bridges with employer A if you were looking for a job again in the future.
posted by snofoam at 11:43 AM on July 20, 2009

Take Job A, and wait for a response from Job B. If you get Job B, consider quitting Job A with enough notice (2-4 weeks) so that they're not hooped.

I also think it's important to be responsive to the Job A people - get back to them immediately if they give you a job offer.

Always remember: A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.
posted by KokuRyu at 11:44 AM on July 20, 2009

Employers think nothing at all of how their actions affect the lives of potential, and often, current employees. When they need to downsize, they don't do it at employees' convenience. You may treat potential employers in the same manner. Negotiate with the first company, and even begin work. If the 2nd offer materializes, and you like it, take it. Be polite, but put your needs 1st, as your employer will put the needs of the company 1st.
posted by theora55 at 12:11 PM on July 20, 2009 [3 favorites]

First of all: Don't count any chickens before they hatch. You don't have job A til job A offers it to you, and you actually start working. I take it a step further and say 'until you have the fist paycheck'.

IF you get the offer from job A, ask them when they need a decision by, and honor their timeline. Contact job B and let them know that you're very interested in the position with them, but you have been offered a position elsewhere, that you'd prefer to work with them and what your timeline is for making a decision. It may spur them to wrap up their process a little faster, and it absolutely gives you the advantage in negotiating your salary, benefits, etc.

I take it job A would not start immediately? If you go through the process and job B still is interested but can't accommodate your timeline, accept Job A's offer and if job B makes an offer, deal with it then. You know better than the hive what kind of repercussions there'll be if you back out of job A after accepting it, but speaking generally you have to take care of yourself because no one is more vested in you than you.

Best of luck, and I hope it doesn't come down to any of this application jujitsu. Just remember: there's no offer til there's an offer.
posted by indiebass at 12:24 PM on July 20, 2009

(re: 2nd paragraph, it should read "you have been offered a position elsewhere but you would prefer to work with Job B" and what the timeline is. After posting I saw I had ambiguous wording, and I apologise)
posted by indiebass at 12:26 PM on July 20, 2009

Play it safe. Accept Employer A's offer, hopefully with a start date that will allow a window of time for B to make a decision. If B hires you, then gracefully bow out of the job with A. Employer A won't like it, but you will have a job and that's what's most important here.

I agree - a (guilty-feeling) friend recently did this and donated his one month earnings from job A back to them, which they thought was very nice.
posted by ORthey at 12:41 PM on July 20, 2009

Even if you got the offer from B, God knows how long it would take. A data point: I was selected to be hired by a university once, and despite everything the increasingly-enraged hiring manager could do, I was not cleared to start for four months.
posted by Methylviolet at 12:45 PM on July 20, 2009

Don't lie and say you're on vacation for two weeks. If you're in the middle of a job hunt and suddenly disappear, it's likely they won't wait and will just go down their list. The ratio of applicants to jobs these days increases this possibility.

At worst if you must lie, you might say you're out of town for the weekend, buying yourself until Monday. At the same time, inquire with company B as to your chances and timeframe.

Also, it's "bated breath". Pet peeve.
posted by cmgonzalez at 2:22 PM on July 20, 2009

I don't know about other states, but in Texas, if Employer A is also a public school and you are a professional employee/teacher, you will have to sign a contract upon employment. You have until 45 days before the first day of instruction to change your mind. So if your Employer A is also a public school, accepting that job and then quitting to take the Employer B job may not be an option. They can withhold your teaching certificate if you breach the contract and that would restrict your employment for the rest of that school year. You can ask to be released from the contract but that decision is up to the district. Check the employment laws in your state if you are a teacher.
posted by tamitang at 3:24 PM on July 20, 2009

Ask employer A for time to think about it; a week should be the maximum you can ask for. Then accept the job, but delay the start date for as long as reasonably possible -- 3 weeks shouldn't be too much to ask for. In the meantime, mention to employer B that you've been offered a position, but you'd prefer to go with them so if they can speed it up you'd really appreciate it. If they offer you a position before you start at job A, tell job A that something came up. If employer B can't get their act together in time, it's too bad for you. It's a little sleazy, but it combines low risk with the best outcome for you.

Another, even more sleazy choice: Even if employer B offers you the position after you start at employer A, accept it and quit job A with minimal notice; I don't know if this is legal everywhere, it's not a nice thing to do anywhere. I have seen someone quit after 1 week for his "dream job" elsewhere.
posted by Simon Barclay at 4:54 PM on July 20, 2009