Holding off on a job offer for more than a week

Jonathan_Powell

Hi all
Last week was a little crazy. I went from having no jobs in the pipeline to having 4. I recently completed a final interview and at various stages with the rest. The one where I done the final interview, if they do offer a job, what's the best way to tell them I'm interviewing elsewhere and want to know the outcome of those before committing?

I'm under the the impression that there is an excess in talent so they are probably in a position where they can simply move onto someone else but they are not at the top of my list to join (assuming I'm offered the role). 

Any tips on how to best manage the situation? 

k3lvc

For me (and may be an unpopular opinion) but you think overnight, accept and then if one of the others comes to fruition you decline the original offer. Surely they don't need to tell them that you're interviewing elsewhere - they'll know that anyone looking for work should have a number of irons in the fire

TELLIT01

Don't tell them you effectively would prefer another job.  Simply ask them to send a copy of the contract of employment as that will buy you a couple of extra days.  You don't say if you are currently employed, but if you are that will give even more time for the results of other interview to come through.

Even if you accept the job you can turn it down at a later date if a better offer comes through.  My wife was in a similar position but only had 2 jobs offers.  Accepted one and then was offered the 2nd about 10 days later.  She contacted the first company, apologised for any problems it may cause and left it at that.

Smodlet

It may seem... "dishonourable", for want of a better word, to accept a job and then decline it if offered a better one but really, who are you hurting?  You might cause the first employer a little inconvenience but, just as you have more than one option so, you can bet, do they.  If you decline their offer, they will just contact their second choice, won't they?  Who is going to fight your corner but you?

My advice would be to do what is best for you, always.  Best of luck.

[Deleted User]

Be honest. Appreciate this is hyperthertical for you at the moment. If you don't want the job end of, say so. (ie Don't settle for second best in first place if you are not buzzing and need to ask the question you have then you do not have the right position) I was offered a Telesales role after second interview on a Thursday at 2pm being called all manor of things 9am the following Monday (very personally I realised the interviewer realised another company was in the mix) and brought the start date forward by a whole month - the kindest thing was as it being offered was to say no way but nope. As it took a further 23 hours to get the job offer I wanted from the company I more saw Christmas 2020 with. The lady claimed my acceptance meant everyone was declined on the Thursday and they would need to run recruitment all over again, being she was a sales woman and clearly eager to start someone, I have no idea how I was going to put her off and learnt a valuable lesson alongside hearing we don't offer the job again to anyone who turns us down - don't want job; don't engage or lead on. It's pretty cruel.

Smodlet

Deleted User said:

Be honest. Appreciate this is hyperthertical for you at the moment. If you don't want the job end of, say so. (ie Don't settle for second best in first place if you are not buzzing and need to ask the question you have then you do not have the right position) I was offered a Telesales role after second interview on a Thursday at 2pm being called all manor of things 9am the following Monday (very personally I realised the interviewer realised another company was in the mix) and brought the start date forward by a whole month - the kindest thing was as it being offered was to say no way but nope. As it took a further 23 hours to get the job offer I wanted from the company I more saw Christmas 2020 with. The lady claimed my acceptance meant everyone was declined on the Thursday and they would need to run recruitment all over again, being she was a sales woman and clearly eager to start someone, I have no idea how I was going to put her off and learnt a valuable lesson alongside hearing we don't offer the job again to anyone who turns us down - don't want job; don't engage or lead on. It's pretty cruel.

Your written English is appalling; I hope it is not a requirement in your job.  I am sorry but I want to go through every one of your posts with a red pen:  I don't care if you are dyslexic; it's called the internet.

The word is hypothetical.  You were called all manner, not "manor" (that is a posh house) of things.

Dox

Deleted User said:

Be honest. Appreciate this is hyperthertical for you at the moment. If you don't want the job end of, say so. (ie Don't settle for second best in first place if you are not buzzing and need to ask the question you have then you do not have the right position) I was offered a Telesales role after second interview on a Thursday at 2pm being called all manor of things 9am the following Monday (very personally I realised the interviewer realised another company was in the mix) and brought the start date forward by a whole month - the kindest thing was as it being offered was to say no way but nope. As it took a further 23 hours to get the job offer I wanted from the company I more saw Christmas 2020 with. The lady claimed my acceptance meant everyone was declined on the Thursday and they would need to run recruitment all over again, being she was a sales woman and clearly eager to start someone, I have no idea how I was going to put her off and learnt a valuable lesson alongside hearing we don't offer the job again to anyone who turns us down - don't want job; don't engage or lead on. It's pretty cruel.

Yet another example of how you've had recent personal experience of absolutely every known scenario...

OP, you can safely ignore this 'advice'. Even if a company does turn down all other applicants - very silly - they can always go back to their second choice and say the post is unexpectedly vacant.

AskAsk

good to hear that you have jobs in the pipeline as people are struggling to get jobs at the moment.
i wouldn't say that i am attending other interviews as no one wants to be put on hold while you do this.  you can say so during an interview, but after you have been offered a job, you shouldn't say that is why you are not accepting their offer.
just say that you are considering their offer and that you are waiting for a decision from your other interviews so that you can make a decision when they have come through.
i know it is a small difference between attending interviews and waiting for the offer letters, but pyschologically speaking, it will come over better.

Jonathan_Powell

Thanks all. So, they got back to me today offering £2k less than the "upper limit" quoted on the phone. All in all it's significantly less than what I was on previously but beggars can't be choosers. I also interviewed for the number one job I want today (my second interview) but they have two further stages so don't seeing that getting wrapped up this week or next.

I told the person over the phone to send the contract through, all sounded good but would need a couple weeks before I can start to buy me some time (unemployed at the moment). 

yellow1231231

TELLIT01 said:

Don't tell them you effectively would prefer another job.  Simply ask them to send a copy of the contract of employment as that will buy you a couple of extra days.  You don't say if you are currently employed, but if you are that will give even more time for the results of other interview to come through.

Even if you accept the job you can turn it down at a later date if a better offer comes through.  My wife was in a similar position but only had 2 jobs offers.  Accepted one and then was offered the 2nd about 10 days later.  She contacted the first company, apologised for any problems it may cause and left it at that.

well it depends if you value honoring you commitments in a straight forward way and not acting in a duplicitous way

yellow1231231

Deleted User said:

Be honest. Appreciate this is hyperthertical for you at the moment. If you don't want the job end of, say so. (ie Don't settle for second best in first place if you are not buzzing and need to ask the question you have then you do not have the right position) I was offered a Telesales role after second interview on a Thursday at 2pm being called all manor of things 9am the following Monday (very personally I realised the interviewer realised another company was in the mix) and brought the start date forward by a whole month - the kindest thing was as it being offered was to say no way but nope. As it took a further 23 hours to get the job offer I wanted from the company I more saw Christmas 2020 with. The lady claimed my acceptance meant everyone was declined on the Thursday and they would need to run recruitment all over again, being she was a sales woman and clearly eager to start someone, I have no idea how I was going to put her off and learnt a valuable lesson alongside hearing we don't offer the job again to anyone who turns us down - don't want job; don't engage or lead on. It's pretty cruel.

i understand my grammars not great but i have no idea what you are saying.