"When can you start?"
October 6, 2015 9:50 AM Subscribe
How long to job search before accepting a job offer?
I've been looking for a job for the past month and have done about 7 or 8 interviews, and have 2 follow-up interviews coming up. It's the first time that I've actually had this many callbacks and I'm not sure how to navigate it. (I have about 2 years full time experience, and the jobs I'm interviewing at , are not that competitive, they're like communications and admin jobs)
For example, I have a follow up interview this week for a job that I interviewed for about a month ago. But I have another follow up interview for a different job that I interviewed for last week, coming up two weeks from now. Ideally, I would like to be able to finish all of these processes before accepting a job offer - because some of the jobs I am interviewing for are really interesting but may not pay very well or have benefits, but some might. So I want to find out all my possibilities so that I don't end up in a dead end low paying job simply because it's the first offer I get. However, I need to start working ASAP because in a couple months I'll be out of money!
I'm sorry if there is an obvious answer here, but i'm still a n00b and that is why I need your help! Thank you my dear mefites!
I've been looking for a job for the past month and have done about 7 or 8 interviews, and have 2 follow-up interviews coming up. It's the first time that I've actually had this many callbacks and I'm not sure how to navigate it. (I have about 2 years full time experience, and the jobs I'm interviewing at , are not that competitive, they're like communications and admin jobs)
For example, I have a follow up interview this week for a job that I interviewed for about a month ago. But I have another follow up interview for a different job that I interviewed for last week, coming up two weeks from now. Ideally, I would like to be able to finish all of these processes before accepting a job offer - because some of the jobs I am interviewing for are really interesting but may not pay very well or have benefits, but some might. So I want to find out all my possibilities so that I don't end up in a dead end low paying job simply because it's the first offer I get. However, I need to start working ASAP because in a couple months I'll be out of money!
I'm sorry if there is an obvious answer here, but i'm still a n00b and that is why I need your help! Thank you my dear mefites!
Typically, when I get an offer I ask what timeframe they want to hear back in (if that information isn't included in the offer itself). If Deadline 1 is before my second interview, I call up the second place and say "I'm really interested in working for your company. I have an expiring offer - is there any way we can move up the interviewing timeline?" AND I call the first place and say "I need an extension on this offer - can I have another 1-2 weeks to decide?"
Hopefully then, the second place gets its move on so you can compare the two directly. If not, that's kind of your answer (or it's a really rigid hiring bureaucracy, in which case you'll hear when you hear).
You can also accept the first offer if you're running out of time and continue to follow the second avenue.
posted by bookdragoness at 9:59 AM on October 6, 2015 [7 favorites]
Hopefully then, the second place gets its move on so you can compare the two directly. If not, that's kind of your answer (or it's a really rigid hiring bureaucracy, in which case you'll hear when you hear).
You can also accept the first offer if you're running out of time and continue to follow the second avenue.
posted by bookdragoness at 9:59 AM on October 6, 2015 [7 favorites]
If you get an offer from Job A after you've already had the followup interview with Job B, you politely ask Job A if you can wait a few days to hear back about a few other things you have in the works. They will say yes, if they're a company worth working for.
If you hear nothing from Job B in that time, you take Job A and move on.
If you get Job A before even interviewing for Job B, you take Job A no question.
No other position that you are not at a second interview level with already comes into the equation. If Job C reaches out and asks for a first interview 20 minutes before you were about to accept Job A, you still take Job A.
posted by Sara C. at 10:06 AM on October 6, 2015 [3 favorites]
If you hear nothing from Job B in that time, you take Job A and move on.
If you get Job A before even interviewing for Job B, you take Job A no question.
No other position that you are not at a second interview level with already comes into the equation. If Job C reaches out and asks for a first interview 20 minutes before you were about to accept Job A, you still take Job A.
posted by Sara C. at 10:06 AM on October 6, 2015 [3 favorites]
Just to provide a little context to you as a n00b, I recently went through a 7 month job search, and I was absolutely convinced that I would get Jobs A, B, and C because I had multiple high-level interviews at multiple locations, and did all the same thought processes you are having, for nothing because I got one offer.
7 months, 170 resumes sent out, 20 first interviews, 7 second interviews, 3 third interviews, and exactly one job offer.
But all of the above advice is valid. Don't get caught up in the headspace of what ifs. Use the advice above when (if) the offers happen.
posted by archimago at 11:46 AM on October 6, 2015 [4 favorites]
7 months, 170 resumes sent out, 20 first interviews, 7 second interviews, 3 third interviews, and exactly one job offer.
But all of the above advice is valid. Don't get caught up in the headspace of what ifs. Use the advice above when (if) the offers happen.
posted by archimago at 11:46 AM on October 6, 2015 [4 favorites]
are not that competitive, they're like communications and admin jobs
I don't think you have as much leverage in entry-level jobs as the other posters state. When I hire for entry level I *may* give 24 hour "think it over" time but I don't have time to give a week or two - I need to start training the new hire. This is also industry dependent.
If you are broke and offered a job,take it and keep interviewing. You are far more hireable employed than unemployed, as illogical as that sounds.
posted by saucysault at 3:44 PM on October 6, 2015 [1 favorite]
I don't think you have as much leverage in entry-level jobs as the other posters state. When I hire for entry level I *may* give 24 hour "think it over" time but I don't have time to give a week or two - I need to start training the new hire. This is also industry dependent.
If you are broke and offered a job,take it and keep interviewing. You are far more hireable employed than unemployed, as illogical as that sounds.
posted by saucysault at 3:44 PM on October 6, 2015 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: thanks for your answers!
just a follow up question:
I don't think you have as much leverage in entry-level jobs as the other posters state. When I hire for entry level I *may* give 24 hour "think it over" time but I don't have time to give a week or two - I need to start training the new hire. This is also industry dependent.
This ^^ is probably the situation I am dealing with.
So my next question is, how do I keep interviewing while I'm already working a job? Do I lie and say I need time off to go to a doctor's appointment?
posted by winterportage at 7:11 AM on October 7, 2015
just a follow up question:
I don't think you have as much leverage in entry-level jobs as the other posters state. When I hire for entry level I *may* give 24 hour "think it over" time but I don't have time to give a week or two - I need to start training the new hire. This is also industry dependent.
This ^^ is probably the situation I am dealing with.
So my next question is, how do I keep interviewing while I'm already working a job? Do I lie and say I need time off to go to a doctor's appointment?
posted by winterportage at 7:11 AM on October 7, 2015
Yes, if you are already employed the people looking at your resume know that and often will try to accommodate. You may be able to stagger your hours a bit (take a late lunch/come to work early-leave early). Dress nice everyday so the days you go to interviews won't stand out. Good luck!
posted by saucysault at 9:08 AM on October 7, 2015
posted by saucysault at 9:08 AM on October 7, 2015
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Then call up the other company and tell them you have an offer from someone else. That's really all you can do to "pressure" them to accelerate the process. If they really like you, they will.
posted by Etrigan at 9:59 AM on October 6, 2015 [1 favorite]