Overlapping job offer and interview - what to do?!

hyperfunk_d

Hey all,

Well, I am 99% sure that tomorrow (Tuesday) I will be offered a job (good news!), but on Wednesday I have a 2nd interview for a job that I think will be slightly better in pay and role... my question is what to do with regards to the first job as I think they will want me to start immediately.

What are your opinions on asking for a week (approx) delay on the 1st job offer?

In the event that the 2nd company from Weds drag their heels for ages about letting me know, would it be really wrong to say that I need a decision fairly quickly due to another job offer?

I obviously want the best outcome, but dont want to annoy either or both companies! Help - what would you do?!

Cheers!

xxhayley_hxx

You accept the first job offer and tell them nothing. Offically they will have to send you an offer letter in the post and for you to sign contracts.

By then you would have had the next interview, in that interview you tell them you already have a job offer on the table.

Not only does this show job number 2 you're in demand, it will put urgency on the situation if they want you and therefore speed processes up.

Do you openly admit to number 1 you have another interview, there may be a close 2nd.

HOPEFULLY if you get job number 2 you will have two job offers on the table, giving you the perfect opportunity to play them off each other and get the best package.

PS. When you accept the offer if they want you to start ASAP you could always tell a white lie and say you're on holiday for a 1 / 2 weeks.

cazziebo

What she said! :T

Congratulations - great position to be in. Once an employer has gone through a long - and often very expensive - recruitment process, they are very unwilling to do so again. They will know which candidate they want. At this point, you as the chosen candidate, are in the stronger position.

If you are quite confident about job number two, tell co no 2 you have an offer and it's only fair you get back to the company quickly. This will make you more attractive as a candidate - the fact someone else wants to employ you reinforces that. (if you were an out and out no it wouldn't make a difference!) If the offer comes back substantially better, tell company 1 you have another offer. They will more than likely better it.

You then choose the job which excites you more.

Well done - great to read such a positive story here!

nicky376

Well done for being in this situation. I was in sort of the same myself a few weeks ago with 3 interview in 2 weeks. What I'd decided to do as the interview were on Monday, Friday and the following Friday in the last couple of weeks of January, was tell the first two that I couldn't start until February if I got informed of a job offer. This would have allowed me time to attend the last interview and mention that I already had job offers. I was planning to also say that their's was the job I really wanted, so could they please let me know their decision asap so that I could inform the other companies.

As it turned out I didn't get the first two, so this planning was needless. Hopefully as I'm in a pool of candidates for the 3rd, I might actually have a job soon. Best of luck with yours.

Sharon87

I had a similar position last year. 2 job, 2 interviews. One was going down a route I wanted the other was less of what route I wanted to go down, but still a good job. I knew the interview for my least preferable job went better. Luckily though only one offered me a job, I wouldn't have known what I would have wanted even now! I did enjoy the job I got and it led to further work once the contract was up, so all was not lost!

hyperfunk_d

Thanks for the replies everyone! As it happens I have been delayed an extra day on the 1st job, so I will hear tomorrow, but i'm still virtually 100% about getting it... as a few of you said, fingers crossed I can play the two off against each other if I am successful with both!

Will keep you posted on what happens

Thanks again!