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

[elkor.livejournal.com]

A week is a long time to sit on an offer On The Table (OTT). It's probably the limit you'd want to wait without making it obvious that you are, indeed, sitting on their offer hoping for something better.

Problem is that I have another very shiny prospect lined up for an interview at the end of next week,

Call Very Shiny job and tell them you are probably going to get an offer at the end of this week, and is there any way to move the interview up? Because, while you are very interested in their position, you can't in good conscience turn down OTT job offer without a competing offer, or keep OTT job waiting that long.

'Cause you don't know whether Very Shiny will be able to give you an offer that day, or even by the following monday. Some places could take up to a week after interviewing, at which point OTT will have been waiting for two weeks.

Also, keep in mind that until you accept their offer in writing, they can withdraw it at any time. (technically they can withdraw it after you accept, but that's bad form). So, if you wait two weeks, they may decide/find another candidate.

If they get you the offer on Friday, it is certainly reasonable to say "I need the weekend to consider", or even "I have travel plans this weekend. Is it alright to get back to you by Wednesday?" or some equivelant.

But, when you get the offer, you should either accept or tell them when they will have an answer by.

[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.

[belushi81x.livejournal.com]

If the first job call or whatever to make an offer, they might offer a deadline.... if they don't ask for one.

If you do it politely and you dont' get too "im looking for toher jobs" in their face, they're probably used to it.

Also.... those types aren't known for getting back to you quickly, so it mayb e a non-issue.

-Dave

[arashinomoui.livejournal.com]

Talked to my friend who had worked previously at your Northern-most possibility, he enjoyed his time there, a great time for a code-monkey, as long as you don't have aspirations for management.

If you know the specific dept let me know, as he says they can vary a vast amount. Many of the programs are Navy oriented, so very hierarchial in structure and personality.