Curious what other think is a reasonable response to this scenario.
Company 1 - working with an external recruiter who was referred to me by my last company that I left a few weeks ago. The recruiter is nice but is now being pretty pushy about an offer I received this morning. This company is a great opportunity but the commute is terrible; doable but really not ideal.
Company 2 - No recruiter, would allow me to switch to a more fascinating industry with a new technology that I'm pretty excited about. I have a final interview on Thursday to meet with the CEO and President. I like this oppportunity more and the commute would be great, but no offer yet.
Compensation for both are pretty close so money won't be playing that big of a factor.
What do I tell the recruiter today? She's aware I'm interviewing and keeping my options open. I haven't told her yet about my meeting on Thursday so I was going to lead with that, but what would be a reasonable amount of time to ask to hold off on signing this offer?
how long job offer has been available through recruiter? how many canidates does she have?
Ms. Recruiter, I really appreciate your assistance and persistance in finding a good fit for me and the company. This is a big decision that I'm not only making for myself, but for my family. I need some time to consider all of my options and discuss them with my family before I make any decision. Again, thank you very much for your help, but I need some more time to do all of my due diligence.
The company originally wanted me to start on 9/18 due to a big project but I said that was way too soon, I'd need 10/2 possibly 9/25. So the offer is for a 9/25 start date which is alright, still not ideal.
I'm going to call the recruiter back today and say that I have a final interview first thing thursday morning and I should be in a better position to accept/reject the offer by end of week. Is that reasonable?
I'd also make sure the 2nd company knew the situation and if they felt like you were a good fit, to expedite their offer.
If they're pushier than that - and it might not be the recruiter only, could just as easily be the company wanting to fill this role ASAP - then you might want to reconsider that spot anyway. Doesn't sound like you're too into it, to be honest.
I've seen written offers come through with stuff different from expectations all the time.
Yes you are leading them on a little, but you're not committing either. Besides I would be $1 there is something in that letter that needs explaining or tweaking. This buys you the time you need, and moves the process further down the path.
If they're pushier than that - and it might not be the recruiter only, could just as easily be the company wanting to fill this role ASAP - then you might want to reconsider that spot anyway. Doesn't sound like you're too into it, to be honest.
I'm split to be honest. The company is very well positioned in they industry but the commute would blow. It would change my current lifestyle a lot, mainly with my 2 year old and not seeing her as much and putting a lot of time management pressure on my wife who also works 40 minutes away.
It's the first offer, so naturally I think this may be the only one, but it's also a good company so that makes it hard. I got myself out of a really bad scenario so I'm super hesitant right now.
Of course. The offer Friday was still contingent on references so I wasn't going to seize interviewing.
We discussed but they can't do it. They can do a bit of a flex schedule in regards to when I start and end my day, but that still doesn't help with the commute time and it wouldn't kick in until after my initial 90 day period.
I also wouldn't have verbally accepted. At this point, in their eyes - you've taken the job, you're just waiting on the particulars. Telling them you'll take it, but you're still interviewing basically gives them the impression you're not 100% sold on their job either.
I've hired a lot of people - one sign for me is always when I'm unable to get a projected start date at the point of verbal acceptance. There's usually a ton of paperwork to work out since I've always worked for big companies, but IMO when someone is ready to take a job, they have in mind when they want to start. If I can't get a date (or down to a 2 week range), then IMO they haven't taken the job yet.
Worst I was ever burnt was when a new hire insisted he needed an extra 2 weeks (wanted to start 1 month out) because he needed a vacation and owed his current employer 2 weeks. We worked out a start date, he signed his offer letter, all was well - and 3 days before he was supposed to start I got a call saying that he was blown away by another offer and decided to take that job instead. Set us back 2 months as we also lost the backup candidate that we really liked, for a project that was already behind to begin with.
I started a new job earlier this year that's about 12 minutes from my house and my life is so much better. Made a huge difference for me and the fam.
In the scenario I just laid out, what you don't want to have happen is that you turn this down and then don't get the other one.
If you wouldn't take job #1 anyway, well then turn it down.
Of course the recruiter is going to be pushy - they're essentially commissioned salespeople once it gets to the offer stage, and it's their job to deliver the candidate for the company. Everybody wants to do their job and do it well.
As a recruiter, I always tell my candidates that all I ask is for open and honest communication. If you said I have this option, and I want to see through the interview process, I can't be upset at that. The only downside is that your offer might have an expiration date. Its kind of like proposing to your girlfriend. If you present the ring you kind of want a response right away.
When did you get the offer date wise?
Now as for this next interview goes, you need to make it aware that you have been interviewing and that you have an outstanding offer on the table at the end of the interview. You do this by saying, I am very interested in this position, and I wouldn't have taken this interview if it wasn't my top choice. That way they know if they want you they have to move fast and it might get you an offer on the spot. Or, they might tell you they aren't ready to make a move for some period of time.
I would suggest doing both those things.
It really gets down to how much you want this job #1 in my personal opinion.
Sorry, I already took that gig.
IMO - that's being strongarmed. If the recruiter is responsible, then the company shouldn't be using her. It's just as likely they're to blame as she is.
Just remember - hot job market, and you don't want to be one of those flip-floppers who jump from one job to the next, you want to be at this one a couple of years at least. Be sure you're going to be happy wherever you go, and don't assume there won't be other opportunities if you decide this one isn't really for you.
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I really didn't want to verbally accept, but felt I had no choice. They wouldn't give me anything in writing without it and it's something I discussed I was taken aback by with the recruiter. Every other offer I ever got has come in writing with a date to accept. It's just been strange.
IMO - that's being strongarmed. If the recruiter is responsible, then the company shouldn't be using her. It's just as likely they're to blame as she is.
Just remember - hot job market, and you don't want to be one of those flip-floppers who jump from one job to the next, you want to be at this one a couple of years at least. Be sure you're going to be happy wherever you go, and don't assume there won't be other opportunities if you decide this one isn't really for you.
I can't get a written offer from a company until they verbally accept. However, I always make sure that the person I am recruiting is going to accept an offer that eventually gets offered to them.
Now, what I would have done in your case, is sent you an email with the particulars, and say this is the offer as it stands, once you except I can get you a physical offer letter from said company. I will see how much time I can buy you, but the offer is not going to be there forever.
Realistically I don't see why the offer won't be there on Thursday. They can give you 2 days to decide. Need to tell the second company you have an offer on the table though, and they will let you know where you stand real quick.
If you tell them you still have another round of interviews it gives them some leverage, don't reveal too much
I would push for the job with the better commute with all other things sounding equal.
Good luck, the other advice you have so far is mostly what I'd agree with. Commutes are killers though IMO and if my company ever made my job a "go into an office job" I'd look for a new job.
I agree with this. Let the second opportunity play out first. If you "lose" the first opportunity because of their lack of patience, then that job wasn't meant to be and as one other poster said, you learned a valuable lesson about that place. We have all moved jobs, and the first place should understand that you are vetting all possibilities. If they don't understand that, you do not want to work there.
Ive been a "fly on the wall" in this thread so to speak. But I now feel compelled to say something.
1) It seems to me that your recruiter is pushing you into this job. Id ask myself WHY? I don't think its the company being inpatient I do feel it is the recruiter.
2) If the company doesn't want to give you the offer in writing before a verbal, that tells me they don't want to commit to anything as far as what they are offering you. Is it really that big of a deal to get the offer in writing, or are they telling you one thing by word of mouth and when a written offer comes is it totally different? That is the only reason I could see for not putting it in writing
3) I have done the commute thing, I did it for the money. I will tell you from experience that all the money in the world will never get back the time you lost with your child.
4) I have to go back to the Written Offer or lack there of, that just reading this thread is a HUGE RED FLAG for me, the recruiter pushing you for an answer basically yesterday is another HUGE RED FLAG. Think long and hard before you make any commitment, especially about this particular job. The recruiting and the pushing of her for you to commit is rather unusual, I would have to ask why it is such a big deal to have the answer now instead of 2 days form now. I would bet dollars to dounuts you will knock her off her game and she just might cave with the real answer
Good Luck I have been where you are and it isn't fun to be pushed into something your not sure about
I talked to the recruiter for Company 1 again today after they called and left a message this morning. The recruiter wanted an update on what my thought process is after I already committed to giving them my answer by mid day Friday. I finally said that other things have come up and I'd be foolish not to entertain them. The recruiter calls me every day and it's really off putting. I get wanting to have a pulse on things especially since it effects getting paid, but man is this putting a bad taste in my mouth. The recruiter then went ahead and said "if I knew the hesitation I wouldn't have asked for a written offer". It took everything I had not to lose my cool but I can't believe this much is being made over having something in writing. So damn strange.
Yeah definitely don't do that. Great way to burn bridges.
One thing I'll say, working for someone else is always pretty mercenary. Probably more so than you think. If you did back out of offer and then a year later you were still the bees knees and bringing in the clients and new business or developing new products that were profitable or something else that's good for the company, you'd be forgiven any prior minor indiscretions.
I'd say that's accurate, probably now more than ever with my daughter. I wouldn't handle not seeing her much during the week very well. The plan was to suck it up if I had to but I'm realizing that will just make me miserable. I wish the company was 30 minutes closer but it is what it is at this point.
You pretty clearly don't love the opportunity, it would make sense to pursue opp #2 and perhaps even others after that, makes more sense than accepting the first offer if you can hold out financially. There will be more opps.