Ask The Friendslist: Job Offers

[tcepsa]

This is currently a hypothetical situation, but it could become much less hypothetical in the next few days:

I've been interviewing for a new position and I've had a couple that have gone very well and that I got very positive feedback on. I suspect I may be getting an offer from at least one of them--which seemed like a pretty awesome place--by the end of this week. Problem is that I have another very shiny prospect lined up for an interview at the end of next week, and I really would like for that one to at least have a chance! What's the protocol (if any) for if I do get an offer letter and still want to give the sooper-shiny-seeming job an interview?

Comments

[divinerose.livejournal.com]

If the Very Shiny job is the one I pointed you towards, you could either try and bump up the interview, or ask when you would know either way. When I got my offer, it was a week later. When my friend Leigh went to interview, she had an offer on her answering machine by the time she got home the same day. Mine was delayed to someone being out of the office or something. But I think they have a fast turn around. You could always call Very Shiny and ask, I'm sure this isn't the first time it's happened.

[tcepsa.livejournal.com]

It is, and I will. Problem is I already kind of did (in a "please let me know if you have anything open sooner!" kind of way) and I strongly want to avoid coming across as an asshole, a la "Give me an interview now or go screw yourselves!" (One, the person I've been corresponding with has been incredibly helpful, and Two, I really DO want that position from what I've heard so far... but I really want the one that I just interviewed for today as well, and it seems like an offer in the hand is worth two in the bush, and the one I interviewed for today is almost as shiny as the Very Shiny one, for some of the same reasons, and some different reasons. Aaaaa brain go splodey now!)

Right now my current inclination is to basically follow Elkor's suggestion, explain the situation that I feel likely that I'll have an offer by the end of the week that I'd rather not keep waiting for another week, and if they can move up my interview that would be great, and if they can't and I don't get the offer I'd be happy to come and talk to them next week, but if the offer does come I'll probably take it. Except that seems kind of crass/blunt/straight up presumptuous (I don't know that I'm going to get the offer and I'm arguing myself in circles so I'm going to take a break now and put it on the back burner for a bit).

I hope the project is going well for you!

[elkor.livejournal.com]

and Two, I really DO want that position from what I've heard so far..

Tell them that.

"From what I have heard of it, I am really interested in this position. I'd really like the opportunity to talk to you about this opportunity as soon as possible. However, a previous interview has indicated they may be getting me an offer as soon as the end of this week. Just as I'm sure you wouldn't want to be asked to wait a week from a prospective employer, I don't feel it is appropriate to ask them to wait a week. Is there any way we can move this forward?"

You'll have to accept that the answer may be "no" in which case you might have to walk away from Shiny job in favor of OTT.

These are the hard decisions that makes being a grown up suck.