How do I delay accepting one job offer while waiting to see if I get an offer for another job that is my first choice?

6 Comments

1. AnonymousNovember 5,2022 at 6:15PM UTC

   Hello, I was in this very position not long ago. It’s absolutely fine to take a few days. When you get the offer, thank them for the offer and ask for it in writing, including salary and perks and say you will get back to them once you have had a read through it. Make it sound professional and upbeat. Say you’re very excited about it. And don’t forget to barter. Salary and hybrid working. Ask for it. If you don’t ask. You don’t get :) I got an extra 7k on my salary by just asking. Don’t leve it too long to reply though once you have received the offer from them. I think 2-3 days max is perfectly acceptable.

2. AnonymousNovember 5,2022 at 6:16PM UTC

   Ask for time to think. And then honestly you can change your mind. You may singe a bridge but if the dream job comes through, take it! Good luck!

3. AnonymousNovember 5,2022 at 7:37PM UTC

   I would ABSOLUTELY ask for a few days. Companies take WEEKS to make offers, it's only fair that we get a few days to evaluated them.

   I'd do two things--first, if you need benefits (and even if you don't) ask to see the full benefit package for insurance. I had one place that everything was GREAT on paper and it was a $25K raise from what I was making. Then the fine print was that the health insurance for my family was $2000/month (there goes THAT raise) AND had a $14000 deductible. Had I not asked about the cost of the insurance, I'd have missed that flag.

   Second, I don't see any issue with going to your preferred company and saying, "I've received an offer from another company and they would like an answer in 2 days. I really would like to work with you, do you know when you might be able to make a decision?"

   Honestly if they want you, they should move.

   All that being said, I think you really can only ask for about 2-3 days to make a decision. If they make an offer, sometimes you can get additional time by asking about the benefits because it might take them a day or so to get the information. My company actually set up a call with their insurance broker. I think it was a week between their initial offer, the meeting with the broker and me finally accepting their offer.

4. AnonymousNovember 6,2022 at 5:30AM UTC

   Offers usually don't expire immediately. You normally have a few days to consider the terms and negotiate.

   Since this is all dreamy because you have received an offer, much less 2 offers

   You need to wait and see about the timing. How close they come in, the terms each offer and then decide how to play them.

5. Gisele CloutierNovember 6,2022 at 1:50PM UTC

   If you do get an offer, thank them and ask for "a little time" to think about it (don't say how long) - that's a standard and reasonable request. If you're bold enough (and the phrasing is important) you could then go to the other company and say, "You've been so transparent throughout this interview process, I'd like to return that professional courtesy and let you know that I have received another offer. However, I'm still very interested in the opportunity at your firm. Can you give me an update as to where you are in the decision-making process?" You can even buy a little time with the first company by asking some fairly detailed questions, about benefits or changes in the department's make-up over the last 2 yrs, something it might take them a day or two to get the answers to.

6. AnonymousNovember 7,2022 at 3:43PM UTC

   They shouldn't ask for an answer on the spot. You should at least be given a couple of days to consider the offer and ask any questions. You could also let 1 know that you are talking to a few employers and if you receive an offer from 2, let 1 know that they are your first choice, you have an offer from 2 and need to respond to them by X date.