After getting an offer, how long can I keep an employer hanging?

[Fandango 1,440]

I disagree LisaD.

Bidding wars rarely yeild positive results. For further affirmatation of this, query Paul Barada on Monster.com. He is an employment expert, and strongly recommends against this tactic.

Link: http://community.monster.com/Forums/ShowFo...aspx?ForumID=51

Gupt: Post an anonymous question there, you will see.

Ok, a bidding war may NOT ensue, but at the end of the day, Gupt is a businessman, and taking the first offer, using stall tactics...'I need to speak with my wife'....looks weak.

It's all by the by, because I would have told them at the interview. A true businessman knows his worth, and would shop him/herself around to see where the best offer is. Moving firms is a big deal, so before one gets settled somewhere else, one normally would look around. Every employer should realize this, and there's no need for secrecy or stall tactics....that implies drama or weakness....and tbh won't help at all.

Gupt, how about saying summat like 'I will get back to you in 5 days' and then when you interview with the other place, tell them you have an offer on the table, and if they are interested, they should consider making an offer before your deadline for acceptance on the other firm?

That's what I'd do

Lisa,

Any self respecting company appreciates a family man or woman. This trait is indicative of stability, a highly desirable quality of an employee. Would you not agree?

Everyone shoots opinions from the hip on VJ, without substantial backstopping of experience. I only react to issues that come from experience and success from it. Let the buyer beware.

They're not hiring a family...they're hiring you...as an employer I'd much rather hear summat like 'I will get back to you' instead of 'I need to speak to my wife, and she's out of town, and this that and the other' You're selling yourself, you don't need to justify what your decision making process is. You're the one calling the shots, not them.

You may disagree, and that's fine....just giving you a different perspective to chew on.

oh, btw...this has been my tactic my whole professional life...no matter what kind of job I was going for. I've negotiated myself splits of 20% higher than offer...so take it or leave it

[William33 110]

I disagree LisaD.

Bidding wars rarely yeild positive results. For further affirmatation of this, query Paul Barada on Monster.com. He is an employment expert, and strongly recommends against this tactic.

Link: http://community.monster.com/Forums/ShowFo...aspx?ForumID=51

Gupt: Post an anonymous question there, you will see.

Ok, a bidding war may NOT ensue, but at the end of the day, Gupt is a businessman, and taking the first offer, using stall tactics...'I need to speak with my wife'....looks weak.

It's all by the by, because I would have told them at the interview. A true businessman knows his worth, and would shop him/herself around to see where the best offer is. Moving firms is a big deal, so before one gets settled somewhere else, one normally would look around. Every employer should realize this, and there's no need for secrecy or stall tactics....that implies drama or weakness....and tbh won't help at all.

Gupt, how about saying summat like 'I will get back to you in 5 days' and then when you interview with the other place, tell them you have an offer on the table, and if they are interested, they should consider making an offer before your deadline for acceptance on the other firm?

That's what I'd do

Lisa,

Any self respecting company appreciates a family man or woman. This trait is indicative of stability, a highly desirable quality of an employee. Would you not agree?

Everyone shoots opinions from the hip on VJ, without substantial backstopping of experience. I only react to issues that come from experience and success from it. Let the buyer beware.

They're not hiring a family...they're hiring you...as an employer I'd much rather hear summat like 'I will get back to you' instead of 'I need to speak to my wife, and she's out of town, and this that and the other' You're selling yourself, you don't need to justify what your decision making process is. You're the one calling the shots, not them.

You may disagree, and that's fine....just giving you a different perspective to chew on.

oh, btw...this has been my tactic my whole professional life...no matter what kind of job I was going for. I've negotiated myself splits of 20% higher than offer...so take it or leave it

I yield to that thinking, for some cases.

Conversely, I suppose it depends on the level one is at in their career. At the 100k+ level, you need to work it any way you can, in an effort to land the ideal position. More times than not, the family stability angle is quite effective. I am in a job that respected such a stall tactic.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Thank you for the ideas, everybody!

[Ban Hammer 14,573]

I'd say that's more businesslike than fannying about with stall tactics...

And I guess telling them I am entertaining other offers after I waste a few days in stall tactics would look even worse.

perhaps......as listed above, 2-3 days is a good figure to go with before you accept. just be sure to get everything in writing.......

[Widge 0]

Having interviewed prospective employees on many occasions the response they have to an offer is fairly critical so my approach to the situation would be to be very clear on where you want to end up at the end of the day

with regard to this job if you lose it and don't get another successful interview will you be happy to stay in the current job for however long it takes ?

my advice would be don't stall (any such tactics as suggested here wife/time to decide indicate wimpish behaviour - the firm offering the job want YOU but they also expect you to want THEM so any such provaracating indicates a) indecision on your part B) no desire to join .... neither qualities an employer wants.

my second piece of advice would be to avoid recieving the offer personally i.e if your expecting it by phone get an answer machine and use it or if it comes by letter you can buy a day or two by postal delay ......... this is all the time you can realistically get yourself and still be the enthusiastic "right" candidate they interviewed.

Of course there is nothing to say you can't take this job and continue interviewing and perhaps make it the shortest entry on your CV

Good luck in whatever you decide.

[Mags 112]

You could always accept the first job offer and, if the other (better) job comes along and you wish to take that one instead, say to the first potential employers that you are sorry but a better offer has come your way.

You ARE being honest that way...

[MichelleandCraig 1]

That was my thought too, Sian. Not very nice, maybe, but honest and hey...in the end, you gotta do what's right for YOU. At least if you take another job it's not like you'd have to use the first one for a reference or anything...what? after a week of working there?

Like I said, I *am* aware that it's not a good thing to do to an employer, and I've never done it myself. Depending on how much better the next offer is/was though, I think I could bring myself to not worry too too much about the big guys... I'm sure they have other prospective employees they were/are looking at, and I'm sure one would be more than happy to accept the position should you not decide to stay.

At any rate, good luck with whatever you choose, and good job getting rid of one of your regrets of 2006 so early in 2007 (well, technically you still have time to do it in 2006 I guess, and.... wasn't that you that said you regretted not leaving your employer last year?) M.

Edited December 29, 2006 by MichelleandCraig

[Mags 112]

I agree Michelle. Where I used to work they had this happen to them all the time. They weren't very bothered about it, they would just take on the person next on the list instead.

Employers are used to this sort of thing. *shrugs*

I say go for it Gupt. This way, if the second job doesn't pan out you'll still have the first one. Gotta look after number one y'know!

[Pinocchio Liberal 268]

Call "B" company tell them "A" company made you an offer and you need "A" to decide right away, get them biddin on your ####### Gupt.

[diadromous mermaid 36]

Hmmm. Not sure I agree with much offered thus far, and being a business person and corporate CEO, myself, I'd appreciate the most honest and direct approach from a prospective hire, especially one that the company is courting seriously. After all, the change the company is making is intended for the long-term, and I'd appreciate knowing if there is anything that could throw acceptance of an offer that the company has made, asunder.

As far as I can see 2- 3 days, at this time of the year, brings you smack into New Year's, Gupt. I doubt that many companies would find it odd if you were to suggest that in view of a couple of other offers on the table, you'd like to give them all some careful deliberation (not with an interest to encourage a bidding war, mind you, but rather in view of determining the best fit for the long-term for you and the company alike) and that your answer would be forthcoming by the first or second business day of 2007. The extra couple of days gives the company some understanding that you are a hot property and that there are other companies courting you, and an opportunity to evaluate what, if anything, they might be inclined to throw your way to make the deal go through, without being pressured on the spot.

Best of luck to you.

Edited December 29, 2006 by diadromous mermaid

[ChristinaM 0]

Wise words, Diaddie.

Good luck, Gupt!

[almaty 19]

brother arijit, i know you are not happy at your current job...sounds like a slam dunk unless there are variables they do not meet your criteria with this offer

[Yodrak 7]

Gupt,

Tell the employer why you need some time to make a decision, how much time you think you'll need, and ask if they can live with that. Then be guided on your next step by their response.

If your reason is something that you feel is inappropriate to give the potential employer, just keep waiting until they make the decision for you.

Yodrak

Any ideas? I have heard varied answers ranging from 2 days to 2 weeks before I respond to a job offer. Personally, I've never dragged it beyond 2-3 days but this time I may need to. Your thoughts?

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Diaddie & Yodrak,

Thanks for the advice.

[Yodrak 7]

peezy,

Better yet, suggest to them when you expect to be able to respond, giving yourself the time you want - say 10 days. That would avoid the ambiguous "ASAP" response. And in the case of the 5 day response, they might be inclined to answer your 10 with 7 (for example), gaining something over what they otherwise answered.

Yodrak

How about asking them "when do you need to hear back from me on this offer?" I've done this before two different times, once they gave me the ambiguous "ASAP" and the second they responded with "how about by next Friday?" which ultimately gave me 5 additional working days.