How long before replying to a job offer?

How long before replying to a job offer?

Author
Discussion

BruceV8

Original Poster:

3,325 posts

246 months

Thursday 17th March 2016
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I was interviewed for a role last week. It all went OK, but they said they will still be seeing candidates for a few weeks, so wouldn't be able to let any candidates know until they had finished the whole process.

There is another job that I've applied for and I'm confident I'll get to the interview. The thing is, the interview date for this 2nd job is before the notification date of the 1st. Job 2 is pretty good but Job 1 is considerably better. However, I would happily go to Job 2 if I didn't get Job 1.

If I was successful at Job 2, would it be unreasonable to hold off accepting for almost 2 weeks until I heard from Job 1? I realise I could always accept Job 2 and then withdraw if I was offered Job 1, but that seems a bit tttish.

anothernameitist

1,500 posts

134 months

Thursday 17th March 2016
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If you are offered job2 why not call up job 1 to see if you are still in the running?

BruceV8

Original Poster:

3,325 posts

246 months

Thursday 17th March 2016
quotequote all
anothernameitist said:
If you are offered job2 why not call up job 1 to see if you are still in the running?
Because Job 1 won't have seen all of the candidates and won't know who has been successful or not. I know I'm in the running right up until they make their decision.

davek_964

8,796 posts

174 months

Thursday 17th March 2016
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Is it really going to be as long as 2 weeks though? Even if the interview for job 2 is before the decision date of job 1, surely they're not going to offer you the job at the interview? And even if they did - it's likely to be at least a few days before the paperwork turned up, and most companies wouldn't expect you to accept by return of post.

Also, unless they somehow guaranteed you're still in the running for job 1, it could still be worth checking if you do get in this situation. These days, many companies will tell the successful candidate that they did get the job, but not bother with the others - no news is bad news kind of thing.

BruceV8

Original Poster:

3,325 posts

246 months

Thursday 17th March 2016
quotequote all
davek_964 said:
Is it really going to be as long as 2 weeks though? Even if the interview for job 2 is before the decision date of job 1, surely they're not going to offer you the job at the interview? And even if they did - it's likely to be at least a few days before the paperwork turned up, and most companies wouldn't expect you to accept by return of post.

Also, unless they somehow guaranteed you're still in the running for job 1, it could still be worth checking if you do get in this situation. These days, many companies will tell the successful candidate that they did get the job, but not bother with the others - no news is bad news kind of thing.
You're riht in that it probably will be less than two weeks. I'm just thinking of the worst case.

I've had dealings with Job 1 before and they are as good as their word. They always notify unsuccessful candidates.

andburg

7,213 posts

168 months

Thursday 17th March 2016
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would you feel bad accepting job 2 anyway then after 2 weeks if you get job 1 leaving? Personally I would do this, take job 2 and if offered job 1 speak to my new employer and try and negotiate a better deal or work a full notice period so they could find someone else. It's a personal thing.

anothernameitist

1,500 posts

134 months

Thursday 17th March 2016
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got to admire your confidence Bruce V8 good luck!!

BruceV8

Original Poster:

3,325 posts

246 months

Thursday 17th March 2016
quotequote all
anothernameitist said:
got to admire your confidence Bruce V8 good luck!!
It may all be hoplessly misplaced! biggrin

Flooble

5,565 posts

99 months

Thursday 17th March 2016
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Just "open negotiations" with Job 2. Ask them a few questions about the contract. Two weeks is pushing it, but you should be able to string it out for that long.

anonymous-user

53 months

Thursday 17th March 2016
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This happened to me, got a job offer I was happy with so accepted but hadn't heard back from the other. 2 weeks before starting the job I accepted, the second one offered me the job.

I withdrew from the first and accepted the second, was the better decision, only difficulty was I ended up at the first company as a customer instead of an employee, had a few interesting conversations on that one..

BruceV8

Original Poster:

3,325 posts

246 months

Friday 22nd April 2016
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Time for an update:

I was indeed offered job 2. We had some negotiations over pay etc and this has lengthened the process which, for me, was good. However we came to an agreement and they are sending me a contract next week.

Job 1 have been a bit slower in coming to a decision but they have just phoned me to say that I have been moved on to the next stage. This stage may take a bit more time and there is always the risk that I may not be successful. So now it looks like I have two options:

Withdraw from Job 2 to confidently await getting Job 1, but with the risk that I might end up with neither.

Accept Job 2, possibly start work there, and if I am offered Job 1 resign and take that. This is the safer but also the more y option.

Hmmmmm.

Flooble

5,565 posts

99 months

Friday 22nd April 2016
quotequote all
BruceV8 said:
Time for an update:

I was indeed offered job 2. We had some negotiations over pay etc and this has lengthened the process which, for me, was good. However we came to an agreement and they are sending me a contract next week.

Job 1 have been a bit slower in coming to a decision but they have just phoned me to say that I have been moved on to the next stage. This stage may take a bit more time and there is always the risk that I may not be successful. So now it looks like I have two options:

Withdraw from Job 2 to confidently await getting Job 1, but with the risk that I might end up with neither.

Accept Job 2, possibly start work there, and if I am offered Job 1 resign and take that. This is the safer but also the more y option.

Hmmmmm.
Job 1 sound like a bunch of time wasters to me. Would you even be happy working somewhere that takes so long to make a decision and every action goes through multiple long-winded stages?

BruceV8

Original Poster:

3,325 posts

246 months

Friday 22nd April 2016
quotequote all
Flooble said:
Job 1 sound like a bunch of time wasters to me. Would you even be happy working somewhere that takes so long to make a decision and every action goes through multiple long-winded stages?
Its a large public sector organisation and this length of selection more or less goes with the territory, unfortunately. It is, however, a cracking job and if I was successful would be worth the wait.

anothernameitist

1,500 posts

134 months

Friday 22nd April 2016
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Are you in work?

If not then you need to take the first offer.

If you are in work can you pull out from Job 2 and wait for Job 1 to conclude, which you might not get but at lest you have a job.

Or do the dirty of job 2 accept then leave shortly after for job 1 if successful.

BruceV8

Original Poster:

3,325 posts

246 months

Friday 22nd April 2016
quotequote all
I want to leave my current job as soon as possible. I guess all of this quandary boils down to not wanting to do the dirty on Job 2, who I know are good people, but knowing that I'll probably have to.

TheLordJohn

5,746 posts

145 months

Sunday 24th April 2016
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BruceV8 said:
I want to leave my current job as soon as possible. I guess all of this quandary boils down to not wanting to do the dirty on Job 2, who I know are good people, but knowing that I'll probably have to.
What's the problem with taking job 2, then staying with them?
And politely informing employers of job 1 that they took too long and you've taken another job.
I think taking job 2, with the full intention of jacking if you get job 1 is a s trick.
It messes around employer of job 2, the department, their HR, other people who applied for the job etc etc

BruceV8

Original Poster:

3,325 posts

246 months

Monday 25th April 2016
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TheLordJohn said:
What's the problem with taking job 2, then staying with them?
Job 1 pays nearly twice as much and doesn't involve a relocation.

MikeGoodwin

3,323 posts

116 months

Monday 25th April 2016
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Youre obviously not sure about #2, so why take it?


spud989

2,738 posts

179 months

Monday 25th April 2016
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MikeGoodwin said:
Youre obviously not sure about #2, so why take it?
Because if he can't have job 1 then this one is still better than doing what he's doing at the minute which he wants out of.