How do you tell an employer you won't accept the offer right away.

[chad stevens]

Hello.
I was just wondering if any of you have the experience of having many interviews at once and let's say one employer wants to hire you right away and you know you promised another one to attend an interview next week in a position that can be just as interesting or even more so. How can you tell a pushy employer in a nice way that you would like to attend all interviews within 2 weeks before you commit to his/hers? And what if they give you just a week time and will seem annoyed if you don't sign right away?
Thanks.
CHAD

[John Coxey]

Chad:
- Once you get the offer letter (in writing), you call the employer and let them know you need two weeks to decide.
- This is industry standard. They don't like it - tough!!! Most (if not all) offer letters state a time period before the offer is revoked.
- If they ask why you need extra time, tell them that you are considering other offers. If they get pushy, ask them to put another US$10K on the table and you will sign that afternoon.
- If they complain. Tell them you thought they wanted agressive employees. After all, you are a "go getter" -- isn't this what they want? Note: The conversation will probably never get this far. Usually, the employer will understand, they may gripe, but they will understand.
Just make sure you got the offer in writing. Nothing matters until you get the offer in writing.
John Coxey
([e-mail])

[Mark Herschberg]

I'd take a slightly different approach. As John noted, two weeks is standard. Some companies want a response sooner. If the push you for it, ask them why. often they say they need someone ASAP. To me that's a red flag that they aren't so good at planning--either they didn't see the need for this job soon enough, or they aren't offering enough to be able to fill it easily.
If you need more then 2 weeks, explain why. Asking for another 2 weeks may be pushing it. Asking for more then 2 is asking a lot. But asking for an extra 1-2 is doable. When they ask why, tell them the truth. If they are concerned, play to their ego. Companies which trust their employees and feel they are making a good offer don't worry about the competition. Companies which unbid their employees know this and are worried that you'll discover the truth. Point this out to them and mention how you're sure that if they gave you a fair offer, they should ahve nothing to worry about, that more information on you part shouldn't make their offer appear any worse, and may even make it look better.
I concur completely on the offer being in writing. You can ask for the two weeks from when it's written.
--Mark

[chad stevens]

John and Mark, thanks for your replies. Check this out, maybe you have the answer to this...
The reason I was asking was because I was in that situation last year. I had told them in my first interview with them that I had attended another interview elsewhere (with company1). They had asked me if it was interesting and I said yes. They had asked me if I was interested in working with this company and I said yes, but I would like to meet the tech team and find out more about the project in the second interview. They rushed a second interview later that week, before company 1 actually even got back to me anything else. Then 2 days later they told me to come in to meet higher management. Let me tell you, they had written up an offer and were feeding it to me to sign it then and there! They were SO aggressive and invaded my space, one sat on my right, the other on my left, really close to me! I told them I was unaware I was being offered anything that day so I wanted time to think about it (This was on Thursday). They told me they needed people ASAP for the client. They asked me if I could decide for Friday, the next day, I said I needed the weekend and probably Tuesday was ok. Then they gave me cell numbers to contact them for any questions I may have or if I was to say yes I accept so the official papers would be done. Anyhow, Monday I went to my other interview. I explained to them what happened. Unfortunately, that company was large and downsizing that week and so no one was to be hired, but they would only know by Wednesday. On Monday, I called that aggressive company and asked them some further details of the contract and the human resource person starting pushing me to give me an answer preferably by the morning. Tuesday morning after the other interview, I had called the HR person back requesting an additional day and she seemed a little disapproving of what I was doing, she said, "Well, we can't wait that long, we can't give you another day, I mean it's a great project in a good team and a good salary so there is no need to hesitate". What a tone! I didn't know what to think anymore.. I knew I was going to accept because the project was ok compared to anything else out there. When I finally accepted, the tech team was surprised at how fast I was hired, that's what they told me! I also found out another resource was hired, same position and team as me, he was interviewed 2 weeks before me and only started 2 weeks after me.
Now as far as salary it wasn't that low, they gave me what I asked for, now was it too little i asked for? I don't know but they used this against me to sign. "We are giving you what you asked" I was confused to why they had pushed me to sign on the spot and why the HR person was so crude with me on the phone about giving me one more day! All they had given me was 2 business days really to think about it! The team was a good one and the project was semi-interesting.. but there was a lot of work in short bursts of time. Maybe I am clueless or there is something I didn't catch in all that deal.

[Mark Herschberg]

I'd be very skeptical. Companies which need to use high pressure tactics do so because they fear that if you take the time to think about it, you'll realize it's a crappy deal. When the pressure you ask them why. When they say they need someone to start ASAP, ask them why? When they say because of a great customer need ask them why? Keep asking them why to figure out how they screwed up and didn't see the train coming. most won't admit to this. in fact, usually there isn't a real train, they just need some phantom menace (sorry, I couldn't resist) to pressure you.
Also, it's not clear that they conceeded anything on the salary. For all you know, they may have been willing to pay $5K more. (Search in this forum under my user number and "salary" for my advice about negoiating a salary.) In the end, they conceed nothing--both sides agree to terms, if they don't like them, don't a gree to them. few favors are done by strangers, especially in business.

--Mark

[M.C. Horn]

You did not mention whether this was a contract or perm position. If it was a contract, many times the staffing firm wants to generate revenue as quickly as possible. I have been pushed similarly because I was actually finishing up someone else's contract, and the agency needed to shove someone in there quickly to generate revenue. I didn't mind because it got me closer to home, and my family. Also the market was tough, very tough. If it was a perm position with a good company, you should wonder a bit.

[chad stevens]

Mark and M.C. Horn :
Thanks for your replies, Mark I will check out your information of salaries and M.C. Horn
for your info, it was a permanent position! I wonder.

[Guennadiy VANIN]

Brilliant idea. Now to any job offer I shall be responding: "Wait 3 weeks" and observe red flags and increases in salary.

Originally posted by M.C. Horn:
If it was a perm position with a good company, you should wonder a bit.

Do you mean: it is OK if it is not perm with a good company, but if it is you should wonder? To wonder about what?

Originally posted by John Coxey:
- Once you get the offer letter (in writing),
.....
Just make sure you got the offer in writing. Nothing matters until you get the offer in writing.

This is not correct: there are
- verbal agreements, and/or
- working relations by fact, like marriage (either you do it or you don't).
Until recent changes in Legislature, in Portugal, after 3 months of salary without contract you were considered to be in permanent relationship/position. That's simple: either contract or perm position.
There is another reason why I do not care: Any term contradicting the legislature is automatically invalid. Why should I care?
I have never seen an offer in my life. All the other cases I was called and told to start working tomorrow. At last employment I have seen a contract after 6 months of working and as it happened just because they wanted to lay me off (and I thought they want to regularize the relations because by the law I am in perm position after 3 months without contract, as I considered me to be)
[ January 15, 2003: Message edited by: yidanneuG ninaV ]