I have tried to stagger my interview requests appropriately. I finished up one panel interview yesterday with Company X, and had another panel interview with Company Y today. I am in the process of setting up a panel interview with Company Z which will hopefully be later this week or next (they are slow). The HR recruiter from Company X already left me a voicemail stating he got an update from the team. I missed his call but I'll know tomorrow whether I got an offer from Company X. I am expected (it was discussed beforehand) to give a verbal acceptance of the offer or not when given. If a verbal acceptance is given, they proceed to reference checking stage. I actually don't like this because it's like I have to commit to them but they didn't finish their end of the process yet. I know I did well in my panel interview with Company Y today. What should I say to Company X recruiter tomorrow if they give me an offer? Can I give a verbal acceptance but then rescind it if I later get an offer from Company Y? Or what can I say exactly to Company X so that I can get competing offers to review and not have to commit Company X until after reference checks are complete?