Tricky situation.

Tricky situation.

I had 2 interviews at one company and 1 interview at another company.

I’m waiting for the offer from the first company (of course, not 100% guaranteed) which I know I would love to accept. It pays ~15k more than my current role and seems like the hiring manager is really awesome.

I just had another initial interview today and I know I’m going to be contacted to set up a second interview soon. This role seems like a great fit too, and pays ~25k more than I currently make.

What happens if I get the offer from the first company and I haven’t heard back from the second one yet?

do I tell them “oh wait I’m waiting to hear the decision from a different company.” Seems like they would just be like “well good luck bye.”

Or alternatively ask the second company for their decision upon receipt of the first company’s offer? Then I feel like they would just say “well we’re still deciding so it’s up to you if you want to chance it.”

Am I just being anxious for no reason? Help!

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12 Comments

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  1. Anonymous

    This potential delimma is posted weekly on this site. Very common.

    The best advice offered is always lock down the sure thing. That means it's only a sure thing if you receive a written offer detailing all the agreed upon terms, including title, compensation package abd start date.

    If you receive a better written offer that you'd rather take you can ALWAYS rescind your acceptance or step down and move to the new company.

    Remember, this is Business. You do what's best for you, your family and career. The business will do what's best for them.

  2. Anonymous

    This is great advice!

  3. Crystal Howell

    Sit tight, keep your options open. Right now, all is speculation, when the phone rings with an offer, you can accept. If something better comes along #2, then rescind #1, and 3.

    Remember, you are in the driver seat. Patience is a virtue.

  4. Anonymous

    As a recruiter I always advised my applicants if something comes up and you’re expecting another offer or receive one please let me know.

    In some cases if you were the right candidate, we’d be able to move the process along to hire but, the obstacle was always the timing of approval, which was out of the hiring manager‘s hands as well.

    I would suggest you move forward with all your interviews, second interviews etc

    and when you have an offer in hand if you haven’t received the offer from the company you really want to work for, let them know,

    if something can be done they will do it, if they can’t then maybe there are other candidates under consideration that they’re not conveying that to you and me sadly,

    as a recruiter I didn’t always get the full stories sometimes, I had no information and it was unprofessional to leave me hanging as well but it happened very very very often .

    A lot of individuals think that the recruiter isn’t getting back to them I can tell you 99% of the time I was in the dark and there were times that managers were secretly interviewing referrals or internal candidates and they preferred to leave applicants hanging, my integrity never would’ve allowed me to do that.

    I always had the applicants best interest at heart, so I would say to you, do what you have to do because this could drag on and I wouldn’t want to see you pass up another opportunity.

    it is very common these days to accept an offer and then have to decline later because they had a better offer.

    do what’s best for you.

  5. Rey Martinez

    don't tell them anything.just take the first one and wait the second may not call

  6. Lisa McCartney

    Here is my two cents: If you are looking solely at money , the saying is better to have the bird in the hand than two in the bushes... meaning make sure they are sure things first.

    However, what about work/life balance? What about company values? What about the people you would be working with ~ do you vibe? While money is important, especially with the economy now, it is not the only decision. What happens if you take the job that pays more but would be happier with the other? This needs to be considered and it is something that we can't answer for you.

  7. Anonymous

    Accept the offer that comes to you. If a better one comes, rescind your acceptance of the other and take the one you want. Companies don't hesitate to do what's best for them so do the same.

  8. BeaBoss645203

    Better to accept what is offered first. You may never hear from the first company .

  9. Anonymous

    You haven't actually received an offer from either company yet. Now, with that said, I would hope offer #1

  10. TK

    nothing wrong with asking the company who hasn't made the offer yet where they are at decision making. if you're giving two weeks notice for a job, that gives them 2 weeks to catch up if they're goin to make an offer also.

  11. Anonymous

    Take the first job offered…and don’t be hesitant to move on if you receive a second, better offer.

    The first company that hires you will have other candidates in the pipeline if you move on.

  12. Liz Milne

    Honestly, you're counting your chickens before your eggs have been laid!

    I would wait and see: I often find that when I stress about things like this, I only get one of the offers anyway (or neither! :( ) If you do end up in a position where you've been offered one and you're waiting to hear from the other, start going through the accept and start process, but don't sign anything - then, when there is no time left, reach out to the other and say, 'Hey, I've had another offer, but I'd really like to work for you if I'm still in contention: are you in a position to let me know if I've been successful at the moment?'

    Hopefully that will keep all parties happy and land you the best possible job?

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