Best practices for following up on a job offer?

October 1, 2015 6:56 AM

I interviewed for a position with a big and well-known international firm. Last Wednesday I was told by the HR person that they wanted to make an offer, and that while they were having trouble meeting my salary demands, she was aiming to send an offer to me by end of the week or latest beginning of this week. Now that it's Thursday and I haven't heard anything, is it better to follow up again (and at least potentially get closure if the offer has fallen through), or sit tight and keep waiting?

I've currently got a job and am not really under pressure to quickly land another -- so the usual advice to "forget about it and just keep applying to other jobs" -- isn't so relevant here. My only interest in moving the process along is because I need to make some decisions about my current job and can't hold off much longer.

posted by ladybird to Work & Money (8 answers total)

I would keep waiting. If they're struggling to meet your salary demands, there's most likely some kind of budget discussion going on that requires a number of levels of approval. If you don't hear back by mid-week next week, I might send up a small, friendly flare.
posted by xingcat at 6:58 AM on October 1, 2015 [5 favorites]

Every time somebody has said to me "You can expect a written/formal job offer by XXXXX," it has come somewhere between two days and two weeks after that.

Don't worry yet, but a friendly check-in is okay.
posted by entropone at 7:12 AM on October 1, 2015 [3 favorites]

I wouldn't remind them yet. I have yet to work at a company where HR makes offers in a timely fashion. If you haven't heard anything by the end of next week, then you might kindly remind them (in a small way) of your existence.
posted by frumiousb at 7:16 AM on October 1, 2015 [1 favorite]

You always have to assume you didn't get the job, until you actually have an offer in hand and an agreement. Checking in to get closure is something with no upside, and only downside; it's on you to manage your emotions. That said, I think checking in, once, could put this back on their radar or at least not hurt you... but I would wait until mid-week next week, like xingcat suggests.
posted by J. Wilson at 7:17 AM on October 1, 2015 [1 favorite]

Response by poster: Not to threadsit, but just in case it influences answers:

Checking in to get closure is something with no upside, and only downside; it's on you to manage your emotions.

Agree, but my emotions are not my motivation here. I have to make decisions about my current job which will have impacts on many people; e.g., agreeing to take on certain projects while knowing that I'll be leaving soon would be a dick move, so I'm just trying not to be a dick to the people I work with (who I actually like).

Ok will go away now.
posted by ladybird at 7:35 AM on October 1, 2015 [2 favorites]

I feel you, but nothing that you can or will do will make this go faster. (Worst case scenario: something you do will make this go slower, actually.)

But I wouldn't be able to sit on my hands either, and I think this is either a "Oh hi, just wanted to check in on this before I headed out for the weekend, thanks so much" 3:30 on Friday email, or a "Hi there, just poking my head in to check in" Monday 10 a.m. email. Like "checking this off my list of things because I am efficient yet also friendly and cool" style.
posted by RJ Reynolds at 7:43 AM on October 1, 2015 [3 favorites]

I think you have to agree to take on projects at your current job that you normally would, until you actually have the job. Just assume you didn't get it. If you do get it, you'll find a way to work that out.

They're going to hire you when they're ready and not before, and the more I think about it, the more I'm convinced you can't hasten that.
posted by J. Wilson at 5:14 AM on October 2, 2015

Response by poster: Thanks for posting again, J. Wilson, it prompted me to follow up. I found out just this morning (they called me, I didn't approach them!) that they decided to offer the position to someone else (salary was obviously the deciding factor). Oh well! I appreciate everyone's input and wisdom all the same.
posted by ladybird at 7:21 AM on October 2, 2015