A bird in the hand?
August 18, 2024 5:16 PM Subscribe
Imminent job offer vs upcoming interview. How do I approach this?
I will almost certainly be offered a new job with a start date of 1 Sep - effectively I was headhunted but there is still a bunch of red tape that has to be cut through before an offer can actually be made. That’s on their side and for them to wade through. Alongside this, however, I have been applying elsewhere and now have an interview at a global NPO later in Sep for a really cool-sounding job that pays well more than the other.
I’ve asked that the interview for global NPO be moved earlier but that’s not possible as they will only make decision, of course, once they’ve spoken to all candidates.
Is there a way to say to the headhunt offer “I want to see other interview processes
through” without turning them off my candidacy? Do I ask for time to decide- 3 weeks is very long though, right? Or do I decline and back myself for future roles (a no go area for me and my personality and the high unemployment rate here)?
Should I rather just ask that I delay my start date to 1 Oct?
What else am not thinking of?
Both roles are fairly similar but global NPO is slightly more up my ally. And both are hybrid, thank goodness. I’ve worked at the headhunt company before, so it’s also a case of how much is going back to where you were before a good thing or not (I left for health reasons but am better now).
How does a person navigate these things?
I will almost certainly be offered a new job with a start date of 1 Sep - effectively I was headhunted but there is still a bunch of red tape that has to be cut through before an offer can actually be made. That’s on their side and for them to wade through. Alongside this, however, I have been applying elsewhere and now have an interview at a global NPO later in Sep for a really cool-sounding job that pays well more than the other.
I’ve asked that the interview for global NPO be moved earlier but that’s not possible as they will only make decision, of course, once they’ve spoken to all candidates.
Is there a way to say to the headhunt offer “I want to see other interview processes
through” without turning them off my candidacy? Do I ask for time to decide- 3 weeks is very long though, right? Or do I decline and back myself for future roles (a no go area for me and my personality and the high unemployment rate here)?
Should I rather just ask that I delay my start date to 1 Oct?
What else am not thinking of?
Both roles are fairly similar but global NPO is slightly more up my ally. And both are hybrid, thank goodness. I’ve worked at the headhunt company before, so it’s also a case of how much is going back to where you were before a good thing or not (I left for health reasons but am better now).
How does a person navigate these things?
It happens a lot. Not all the time but it happens that people are applying to jobs, they take one and not long after that their other networking and efforts come to fruition. It’s a drag but not the end of the world.
Say nothing, I wouldn’t negotiate a later start date at all, that doesn’t help them all that much and makes them feel like they were being extra accommodating while you had ulterior motives.
posted by vunder at 8:35 PM on August 18
Say nothing, I wouldn’t negotiate a later start date at all, that doesn’t help them all that much and makes them feel like they were being extra accommodating while you had ulterior motives.
posted by vunder at 8:35 PM on August 18
Start and then resign when [or if] you are offered the other job. "I've been offered another position that pays well more than this one and would be a fool not to take it." (They can't really fault you for that.)
posted by heatherlogan at 8:46 PM on August 18
posted by heatherlogan at 8:46 PM on August 18
It would not surprise me at all to find out that the NPO has a multi stage hiring process, and is getting everything together so that they can hire someone when they have the budget next year. Do not plan anything that involves them moving quickly.
As such, if you are offered this current job go ahead and take it. Worst case you have to turn around and quit (it happens), more likely you have a job and can chill out while the NPO dawdles along.
posted by Tell Me No Lies at 8:55 PM on August 18 [2 favorites]
As such, if you are offered this current job go ahead and take it. Worst case you have to turn around and quit (it happens), more likely you have a job and can chill out while the NPO dawdles along.
posted by Tell Me No Lies at 8:55 PM on August 18 [2 favorites]
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Things you can do after you have a formal job offer: ask for a later start date* (and pull out at the last minute if you get the other job). Start (and then quit if you get the other job). Neither of these will endear you to the hiring team, but they're both things that happen from time to time.
*If the other place won't even start to interview you until late September, if things go well what on earth makes you think they'll be done with their entire hiring process and give you a formal offer by Oct 1? Unlikely.
Are you employed right now? If not, my vote is keep your mouth shut until you have a formal offer, start the job, and then quit later if you need to. Gainful employment gives you options.
posted by phunniemee at 6:40 PM on August 18 [11 favorites]