could use some urgent advice

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Anonymous

12/03/20 at 7:08PM UTC

Career

could use some urgent advice

I received a job offer that doesn't excite me. I was sure that I was going to a different job offer from a company that did really excite me. I presented to them yesterday and felt so strongly that I would hear good news today. However, I got the call that they really liked me, but decided they needed a quality that wasn't on the original job description. I actually received that bad news right before a different interview and had to put on my best face of confidence when I was just punched in the gut. Talk about resiliency. Anyway, is it foolish to walk away from an offer when that's all you have, and you're laid-off from work? I'm interviewing with other companies, but I'm afraid they will end with bad news like the other promising company did. I'm struggling to maintain all of the necessary qualities of a candidate and juggle presentation poise, executive presence, sharp intellect, engaged questions, storytelling - all of the things required to interview at this level. I'm tired.

5 Comments

Malissa

619

Controller in the Agricultural Industry.

12/03/20 at 8:20PM UTC

Can you sit on the offer for a day or two? Would more money make the offer more exciting? Can you address what makes this offer not exciting? Otherwise there's nothing wrong with walking away if you think that's the right decision.

Sweet Caroline

2.81k

12/03/20 at 8:25PM UTC

Take the weekend to think about it. If my choices were unemployment or a job, I would take the job.

Allison Min

Problem-Solving Product Designer in NJ

12/03/20 at 8:48PM UTC

That's so frustrating to be passed on based on a quality that was never mentioned. If you can, negotiate for at least a couple of days to think about the offer. In this crazy times, they should understand that. Some things to mull over...Will you find yourself back on the job search if you take this non-exciting job? Do you have enough in savings to keep searching? If your enthusiasm for a job/company/manager is important to you and you're financially able to keep searching, take a couple days to recuperate (interviewing is tiring!), and start again.

Amy Carothers

483

Brand Marketing and Publishing Manager

12/03/20 at 10:17PM UTC

Throwing a different spin on the replies, at the early stages, there was a reason you applied for the offered job. It might not be the one you wanted and while I'm sorry that you didn't get that one, is the rejection making you second guess this role? First of all, congratulations on getting an offer! While I agree that you should think about it over the weekend, separate the preferred job from the current. What attracted you to apply? Was it money, experience or having a job? If the latter, people rarely stay in jobs long term. They use it for the experience, salary or to have a job on their resume while looking. I've heard it's better to apply while working than unemployed. This year might have changed that stigma but having a paycheck could make a difference both emotionally and financially. It gives you time to think about what you want long term while garnering experience and a paycheck. What about learning the requested skill? If so, you might not be the right fit this time, but you can always reapply and illustrate that you took their feedback to heart and procured that knowledge. Best of luck with your decision but don't forget, congratulations are in order as well!

Anonymous

12/03/20 at 10:18PM UTC

I do think it's important to look at the realities of the job market. While a vaccine and (hopefully) a future end of Covid will change some things, many restructuring plans are permanent - My own company is currently planning one that was spurred on by Covid, but not expected to end with Covid that is more cost effective to the company and more manageable toward long-term success. If this is the new normal of the market, are you okay to say no? Do you reasonably think you will get a better offer in the next week? As of now, most extra unemployment benefits are also ending. Barring a new stimulus, are you okay on unemployment alone?