I just need more time!
September 14, 2013 9:27 AM Subscribe
I had an interview with Firm A on Wednesday. I liked them a lot and felt very comfortable at the interview. I guess they liked me, too, because they called me on Thursday morning with an offer and wanted an answer by Friday. I was taken by surprise, and said that I needed the weekend to consider it... upon consideration, I'd really like a week. What is the best way to ask for more time without jeoprodizing the offer?
I still have several interviews scheduled, and just received notice that one firm would like me back for a second interview next week (in my experience, a second interview at a small firm usually means an offer, although of course that's not a sure thing). But I'd at least like to see out these interviews, notify other firms that I've had an offer, and generally feel like I'm making a solid choice.
As I said, I liked the people at Firm A, but I'm now feeling a little bullied by them wanting an answer RIGHT AWAY. Their offer is fairly low-ball on salary, benefits, and vacation time. Although I'm pretty sure I can negotiate on some of those, it counteracts some of the warm-and-fuzzy feeling I had coming out of the interview. I also feel that it may be a good job day-to-day but may not particularly advance my career.
Do you think it's acceptable to email them saying outright that I feel that I need to carry through with the interviews I'd already scheduled in order to make a decision that I can be sure I'll feel comfortable with for years to come? I don't want to rub it in that it wasn't love at first sight for me, and sour things if I do decide to accept the job. I feel like an email over the weekend would be better than a phone call on Monday, when they'll be expecting me to call with my decision made. Do you think that's true?
Help!
I still have several interviews scheduled, and just received notice that one firm would like me back for a second interview next week (in my experience, a second interview at a small firm usually means an offer, although of course that's not a sure thing). But I'd at least like to see out these interviews, notify other firms that I've had an offer, and generally feel like I'm making a solid choice.
As I said, I liked the people at Firm A, but I'm now feeling a little bullied by them wanting an answer RIGHT AWAY. Their offer is fairly low-ball on salary, benefits, and vacation time. Although I'm pretty sure I can negotiate on some of those, it counteracts some of the warm-and-fuzzy feeling I had coming out of the interview. I also feel that it may be a good job day-to-day but may not particularly advance my career.
Do you think it's acceptable to email them saying outright that I feel that I need to carry through with the interviews I'd already scheduled in order to make a decision that I can be sure I'll feel comfortable with for years to come? I don't want to rub it in that it wasn't love at first sight for me, and sour things if I do decide to accept the job. I feel like an email over the weekend would be better than a phone call on Monday, when they'll be expecting me to call with my decision made. Do you think that's true?
Help!
Entering into the negotiations on the "salary, benefits, and vacation time" issues that you mentioned would be a perfectly good way to stall for time, while giving them at least a partial answer to their offer. I would contact them Monday to tell them you have some concerns about their offer, and see how long you can string that out for while you do your other interviews.
posted by chrillsicka at 9:37 AM on September 14, 2013 [15 favorites]
posted by chrillsicka at 9:37 AM on September 14, 2013 [15 favorites]
Do you think it's acceptable to email them saying outright that I feel that I need to carry through with the interviews I'd already scheduled in order to make a decision that I can be sure I'll feel comfortable with for years to come?
I think I'd say 'interview' rather than 'interviews,' since you don't want them to think you might string them along indefinitely. But the language about making a decision that will be a good fit long-term is good because it shows you're taking this seriously and are likely to stick around if they're successful in hiring you. Which is good for you, since confidence on their part ought to increase your value to them.
In an indirect, reading-between-the-lines sort of way, you are already negotiating. If they want you badly enough that they'd rather you not pursue interviews with the other firm, the way they get you is to improve their offer. When you tell them you need more time, they may very well ask what they need to do to get you to say yes now. Have an answer in mind.
posted by jon1270 at 9:41 AM on September 14, 2013 [2 favorites]
I think I'd say 'interview' rather than 'interviews,' since you don't want them to think you might string them along indefinitely. But the language about making a decision that will be a good fit long-term is good because it shows you're taking this seriously and are likely to stick around if they're successful in hiring you. Which is good for you, since confidence on their part ought to increase your value to them.
In an indirect, reading-between-the-lines sort of way, you are already negotiating. If they want you badly enough that they'd rather you not pursue interviews with the other firm, the way they get you is to improve their offer. When you tell them you need more time, they may very well ask what they need to do to get you to say yes now. Have an answer in mind.
posted by jon1270 at 9:41 AM on September 14, 2013 [2 favorites]
Best answer: First, congratulations on getting an offer. That's good and you should feel good about yourself and confident in your skills and marketability.
I think it's appropriate to say, "I appreciate this offer and am seriously considering it. At the same time, I have another potential situation that is likewise worthy of serious consideration, and I will need X time to make a decision that I can be confident about in the long term." If they say "no, you need to tell us now" I'd feel free to accept this offer while still pursuing the other opportunity because they have set themselves up for you to jump.
If they rescind the offer they are assholes who you don't want to work for anyway. It's totally appropriate to take a little time to consider whether a particular job is a good fit, and a place that won't give you that time is not a place that is especially concerned with fit or long-term satisfaction. Asking for more time won't make them treat you badly, but their answer to this question will reveal whether they would be likely to treat you badly or not.
posted by gauche at 9:47 AM on September 14, 2013
I think it's appropriate to say, "I appreciate this offer and am seriously considering it. At the same time, I have another potential situation that is likewise worthy of serious consideration, and I will need X time to make a decision that I can be confident about in the long term." If they say "no, you need to tell us now" I'd feel free to accept this offer while still pursuing the other opportunity because they have set themselves up for you to jump.
If they rescind the offer they are assholes who you don't want to work for anyway. It's totally appropriate to take a little time to consider whether a particular job is a good fit, and a place that won't give you that time is not a place that is especially concerned with fit or long-term satisfaction. Asking for more time won't make them treat you badly, but their answer to this question will reveal whether they would be likely to treat you badly or not.
posted by gauche at 9:47 AM on September 14, 2013
I wouldn't mention other interviews.
When I'm in these spots, I say I need to look at the whole package - salary, benefits, etc, and crunch the numbers and discuss with my spouse.
A week is a perfectly reasonable amount of time for an offer. Just tell them you need to look at the big picture and want to let them know by the end of the week.
posted by colin_l at 10:04 AM on September 14, 2013
When I'm in these spots, I say I need to look at the whole package - salary, benefits, etc, and crunch the numbers and discuss with my spouse.
A week is a perfectly reasonable amount of time for an offer. Just tell them you need to look at the big picture and want to let them know by the end of the week.
posted by colin_l at 10:04 AM on September 14, 2013
Best answer: Also, based on my experience, gigs where I felt weird pressure in the offer/recruiting process have always proved to be poor fits in under a year, and those firms have shown other problems in HR and other areas.
If you're getting a bad vibe from them, I'd take that as a red flag.
posted by colin_l at 10:06 AM on September 14, 2013 [4 favorites]
If you're getting a bad vibe from them, I'd take that as a red flag.
posted by colin_l at 10:06 AM on September 14, 2013 [4 favorites]
I wouldn't mention other interviews either. I would just say that I will need a week to look at the whole package and make a firm decision. Yes, you are taking a risk. But if they really want you, they'll at least give you a few more days.
In regards to the email over the weekend versus phone call on Monday, in my experience it really doesn't matter. Although sooner notice is better, they probably won't respond or take action on this until Monday anyway.
posted by sm1tten at 10:34 AM on September 14, 2013 [1 favorite]
In regards to the email over the weekend versus phone call on Monday, in my experience it really doesn't matter. Although sooner notice is better, they probably won't respond or take action on this until Monday anyway.
posted by sm1tten at 10:34 AM on September 14, 2013 [1 favorite]
I'm reading you're OK walking away from this offer if "push comes to shove." This is a good position to be in.
Forget the issue of asking for extra time - what's more important is determining if they will improve their offer package. Only after this prerequisite step will you know whether more time is even warranted because more importantly, you will see how attractive of an opportunity this really is.
posted by Kruger5 at 11:25 AM on September 14, 2013
Forget the issue of asking for extra time - what's more important is determining if they will improve their offer package. Only after this prerequisite step will you know whether more time is even warranted because more importantly, you will see how attractive of an opportunity this really is.
posted by Kruger5 at 11:25 AM on September 14, 2013
Best answer: JoelOnSoftware writes about exploding job offers.
Google this term for more insight. It's becoming more and more common.
posted by JoeZydeco at 12:05 PM on September 14, 2013 [5 favorites]
Google this term for more insight. It's becoming more and more common.
posted by JoeZydeco at 12:05 PM on September 14, 2013 [5 favorites]
Best answer: As a rule, any deal that requires immediate acceptance is one to walk away from. It's none of their business why a single weekend isn't enough time for you; a week is a wholly reasonable amount of time to consider a job offer. I would send a short, direct e-mail saying that this is a big decision, and you'll won't be able to make a decision until Thursday, thank you for your patience. End of e-mail. If that's a deal-breaker, then that's not a place you want to work.
That said, I agree with others that if you want to negotiate on salary, you might as well just start those negotiations now. After all, a contract is formed on the basis of an offer and an acceptance; you are not prepared to accept their offer as-is, so there's really not a deal on the table that you can agree to right now anyway. In that case, they're the ones who need extra time, not you.
posted by waldo at 12:30 PM on September 14, 2013
That said, I agree with others that if you want to negotiate on salary, you might as well just start those negotiations now. After all, a contract is formed on the basis of an offer and an acceptance; you are not prepared to accept their offer as-is, so there's really not a deal on the table that you can agree to right now anyway. In that case, they're the ones who need extra time, not you.
posted by waldo at 12:30 PM on September 14, 2013
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by mcav at 9:37 AM on September 14, 2013 [1 favorite]