Good day FGB'ers.

Anonymous

October 19,2023 at 5:10PM UTC

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Good day FGB'ers. I have been currently on the job market for over 9 months, with tons of interviews under my belt. It has been hard, but I have been lucky to have a partner who makes enough that we have been able to make ends meet on only his salary. This means I don't need to take my next job offer if it doesn't feel right to me, which again I know I'm privileged to have. I have two jobs that I think are interested in hiring me, and I definitely prefer one of them. The job that I have concerns about have asked me to do a 4th interview and I have a feeling that it may be a job offer. This will be a second interview with their managing director (its in a university medical research department as a administrator) so that has me thinking this. My question is, is there some way in an email (they are asking me for my meeting availability right now) if this is the case, or just agree to meet? I'm asking this because I want to update the department that I do want to join but give them more than a few days to counter-offer if they want. I was fired from my last position, due to a host of issues (badly managed and the other administrator was lying about me to the Department Chair, to put it briefly), so I am very skittish about starting a job where I think I will not fit in.

Any help on this would be great! And I'm happy to give more context if needed.

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AnonymousOctober 19,2023 at 5:14PM UTC
Unless you have offer in hand from your preferred employer, go ahead and meet with other potential employer unless you absolutely cannot fathom working there and then respectfully decline. If you do go ahead and meet with them, you absolutely do not have to (and nor should you) accept a potential offer on the spot. You need at least a few days - if not longer - to consider the offer, negotiate, decide to accept or decline. Even still, if you are still in process for the other role, you can accept this role if offered and if an offer comes through for the other, you can then either rescind your acceptance (if you haven't already started) or resign.
Joan Williams, Senior Talent Acquisition SpecialistOctober 19,2023 at 6:14PM UTC
Just to clarify - are you asking if you can ask them in an email if they want to meet with you again to extend an offer?
Jos WallerOctober 19,2023 at 6:43PM UTC
OP here. Yes, in a way. I want to know the context for the meeting, since I have already met with the person requesting the meeting. I was thinking on asking if there is anything that I need to prepare for this meeting (it'll be a Teams meeting) and see how they answer. Would that be a fair ask? I just don't want to waste the opportunity for the job that I really want and leave them no choice but to reject me.
Joan Williams, Senior Talent Acquisition SpecialistOctober 19,2023 at 7:32PM UTC
Yes - you can ask if there's anything you need to prepare for the meeting - that's entirely reasonable.
I doubt the Managing Director would be extending an offer. Offers are typically extended by the Recruiter.
I don't understand this: "I just don't want to waste the opportunity for the job that I really want and leave them no choice but to reject me."
How would meeting with your second choice waste the opportunity for the job you really want and force them to reject you? Can you clarify?
Jos WallerOctober 19,2023 at 7:53PM UTC
OP again. Thank you for listening, I have gone ahead and said that exactly in an email. So maybe I'll get more clarity or maybe not. We are meeting on Monday, so I guess I'll spend the weekend in suspense for now, lol.
I had this happen a few years ago. I had two jobs I was in contention for, and one of them gave me an offer that I accepted, because I needed the experience (I had just moved to the city I'm in now and needed the experience). In hindsight, it was an awful job and I had gotten fired after a year. The second position that I was going for didn't want to counter-offer, and just wished me well. I really wished at that point that I was able to give the other position a chance. So I am feeling a bit of deja vu right now, but I am in a better position not to have to say yes to anyone who gets me an offer first.
Anyways, universities can be more controlling at the departmental level and it is entirely possible that the Managing Director would be the one who presents me with the offer, possibly with the recruiter directing things in the background. I have had this happen before, so that part isn't unusual. Again thank you for listening, I may be having a bit of anxiety about the whole thing, so this really does help me .
Joan Williams, Senior Talent Acquisition SpecialistOctober 19,2023 at 10:41PM UTC
REGARDING: "I'm asking this because I want to update the department that I do want to join but give them more than a few days to counter-offer if they want. "
Are these two opportunities within the same organization? I ask because you mention "department".
Where are you in the interview process with your first choice opportunity?
AnonymousOctober 19,2023 at 10:09PM UTC
You are just being invited in for a final interview. I wouldn't get too far ahead of yourself and project your past experience on this potential position.
Instead, read the situation and taje things as they present themselves. If there is an offer wait for it, review it and negotiate if necessary and take it one step at a time. Don't jump to counter offers and "what ifs". This approach never serves anyone well. If you don't fit in you'll know soon enough. No reason to expect that. And certainly no reason to plan for it.
AnonymousOctober 20,2023 at 1:55PM UTC
Don't over-think this. I'm not sure why you projecting all the hypotheticals here. You can exert some control of the timing if there are offers. You can take a bit of time to decide. You don't have to jump on the offer immediately. Most offers allow time to take a moment.
Try and calm down and not anticipate the next move.