Current Events > question about job hunting from you successful CE folk

(+) Yeah! (+)

so i interviewed with a company earlier this month and it went really well, got a call from the HR person basically telling me that they wanted to make me an offer and just needed to get approval from corporate.

during the wait i ended up getting another interview from one of their direct competitors for a very similar type of job, went in for that yesterday, and the interview went very well imo.

just got a call a few minutes ago from company #1, they left a voicemail and it sounds like an offer.

im interested in working with both companies but i want to see if #2 will lead anywhere because it's kind of a prestigious place and may pay better. so what do i say when i call back company #1, i dont want to reject an offer, but idk how to word that i am waiting to see if another company will make an offer too lol
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please advise
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Take the offer, and if company #2 comes at you a week later with something better then quit job #1 go with #2
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when you respond to #1 you should be responding with a counter-offer anyway. Zanzibar (got his name wrong) posted a good topic about counter-offers yesterday. that will buy you some extra time while you wait on #2

edit: topic is here https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/boards/400-current-events/76658722
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Negotiation: What is it?

Harpie posted...

Take the offer, and if company #2 comes at you a week later with something better then quit job #1 go with #2

that's a shitty thing to do, i dont want to burn bridges especially since these are both direct competitors in the same industry

Giant_Aspirin posted...

when you respond to #1 you should be responding with a counter-offer anyway.

i plan to, will check out that topic now ty

FairyLeviathan posted...

Negotiation: What is it?

thing is that i just interviewed with company 2 yesterday, i dont have an offer to use as leverage, hell i might not even get one
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You don't need an offer to use as leverage, just the assumption of one.

FairyLeviathan posted...

You don't need an offer to use as leverage, just the assumption of one.

good point

gonna call the HR person back in 5 min, wish me luck
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A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.

You can take what you know you already got, or drop them for a decent chance at the place you'd rather work.

That's your choice.

Take up the first company offer. I had countless interviews that would make me think that it went great.
Now i got a job i wanted but i accepted their offer right away and rejected the interview from another company. You have to show interest in their offer or they might prefer another candidate

Cocytus posted...

A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.

You can take what you know you already got, or drop them for a decent chance at the place you'd rather work.

That's your choice.

i mean i could also tell them i need time to review the offer and then contact the HR person for job #2 and explain the situation, kind of leaning towards that
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Before I got this job, I had accepted a job offer in Nashville, TN. Then when this place gave me a better offer, I informed the 1st company that I was staying in Austin to work for this place.

The recruiter from the staffing company was PISSED, but oh well. I had to do what I felt was best for me.
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Romulox28 posted...

i mean i could also tell them i need time to review the offer and then contact the HR person for job #2 and explain the situation, kind of leaning towards that

Then they won't consider you at all. They won't wait for you princess, they got a job to do.

Cocytus posted...

Romulox28 posted...

i mean i could also tell them i need time to review the offer and then contact the HR person for job #2 and explain the situation, kind of leaning towards that

Then they won't consider you at all. They won't wait for you princess, they got a job to do.

im the top candidate for an experienced position and they've had me on the ropes for a month, im sure they can wait a day or two
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CableZL posted...

Before I got this job, I had accepted a job offer in Nashville, TN. Then when this place gave me a better offer, I informed the 1st company that I was staying in Austin to work for this place.

The recruiter from the staffing company was PISSED, but oh well. I had to do what I felt was best for me.

I mean, literally the only reason you're there is to make money so you can live comfortably, so why wouldn't you take another job if they offered you more?

You guys, what counter offers, its actually hard to find a job in 2018
Especially decent job that you actually want. He should grab it

FairyLeviathan posted...

I mean, literally the only reason you're there is to make money so you can live comfortably, so why wouldn't you take another job if they offered you more?

Exactly. It was kinda weird. The recruiter from the 1st staffing company called me and bitched at me for like 10 minutes. After that call, I was pretty much done with anything to do with that staffing company. I immediately canceled my apartment I had lined up in Nashville, canceled the electricity service, etc. all within about 5 minutes. Then like 10 minutes later she called to apologize and see if there was anything they could do to make me change my mind.

I was like WTF, after that first call I was done with you guys and I just canceled everything in Nashville, so there's not much of a chance of me changing my mind at all at that point.
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Couple of questions

1.) Do you have a written offer from company #1 yet? Or just the voicemail?

2.) Did the recruiter specify an amount of pay in the voicemail?

If you don't have a written offer yet, then you don't have an offer. So a decision does not need to be made yet.

Secondly, you're allowed to use other offers as leverage, but I wouldn't recommend going to company #1 and being like "I have been offered X money from company #2, would you match it?" unless you have a written offer from company #2 as well.

If you're just dealing with some recruiter guy for company 1, it's okay to stall for a bit. But don't flat-out reject the offer from company 1 until you get a similar written offer from company 2.

So either way, it sounds like company 2 is the better company, but the ball is in their court until you get a written offer.

Once you get a written offer from company 1, it is okay to call company 2 and say that you have another offer in writing and that said company 1 needs to know, so you can press the HR goon for an answer and/or an expedite on a written offer (if they're pursuing that route).
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Muffinz0rz is right. Definitely get a written offer.
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Muffinz0rz posted...

1.) Do you have a written offer from company #1 yet? Or just the voicemail?

just the VM at this point, im just kind of preparing myself for future negotiations should both companies give me offers (which is possible, since my interview for job #2 went well, but who knows how many cadidates there are). obviously im not going to do anything until i get offers in writing

Muffinz0rz posted...

2.) Did the recruiter specify an amount of pay in the voicemail?

i know a ballpark range for job #1, no idea for job #2 except what's on glassdoor and the fact that i know the company pays well (prob better than #1).
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CableZL posted...

Muffinz0rz is right.

Romulox28 posted...

Muffinz0rz posted...

1.) Do you have a written offer from company #1 yet? Or just the voicemail?

just the VM at this point, im just kind of preparing myself for future negotiations should both companies give me offers (which is possible, since my interview for job #2 went well, but who knows how many cadidates there are). obviously im not going to do anything until i get offers in writing

Muffinz0rz posted...

2.) Did the recruiter specify an amount of pay in the voicemail?

i know a ballpark range for job #1, no idea for job #2 except what's on glassdoor and the fact that i know the company pays well (prob better than #1).

My reaction at this point would be to stall out until you get a written offer from #2. Obviously you don't want to stall so long that company #1 extends an offer to someone else, but they won't give another offer to someone else like six seconds after leaving you a VM basically assuring you an offer.

I would wait maybe 24 hours from the VM, then return the call and be like "hey that's great news, when can i expect something in writing?" (as well as a specific figure if possible)

Once you get that written offer, call company 2 ASAP to inform them of the written offer and try to hurry along their process.

Worst, and I mean worst case scenario, if company 2 takes too long, then accept job 1 and then quit if company 2 offers you a much better job. It would suck and would be a dick move, but if it's best for your short and/or long-term career, then you gotta do it.
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so i actually called the HR lady back, turns out she is telling me the company is still waiting on the offer for me (overseas HQ has to approve it), they are all really excited to have me on board, hope im interested, etc

i said cool, mentioned that i am still very interested but have another potential offer that may come through.

so now i have a little time, might still hit up HR tomorrow or monday for job #2 and just let them know that there is a little urgency if they are interested in having me on board.

then i need to weigh the offers assuming i get two. this will be a tough choice
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Tell them you need time to review the offer. Then tell the other company about it, theyll speed up the process for you.

And lol at taking a month to make an offer. Thats what they deserve

Also, theres nothing wrong with accepting an offer, then accepting a different one instead. Its not a shitty thing to do, this is your life. Are companies just as considerate about you? I never get why some people think they sign their soul away when they accept an offer.

I did that early on in my career. Second company offered me $12k more. First one was butthurt, but oh well I was making more money.

How's the commute situation for the second job? Just curious, I know it's something you're dealing with.
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Quit unfriending me TC
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Multiple job offers are all about creating a competition where you are the product being bought.

There are multiple ways to enter any sort of negotiations. Typically information that is in my favor and that I control that doesn't require work on their part once they learn about it, I hold back as long as I can. So in a situation like this I thank company 1 for letting me know, tell them I am still interested and wait for their offer.

Assuming an offer from company 2 isn't in yet but I receive an offer from company 1, I ask for time to review the offer and tell company 2 that I have received an offer I am seriously considering, are they still interested in hiring me. I then take an aggressive first position in my counter offer. I.e. if normally I would increase their offer by 10%, I would increase their offer by 20-25% expecting them to say no and counter. This is the point I would let them have another offer, and it was in part how I came up with my position.

In most cases they will counter offer you rather than just stopping negotiations. If they come back with 10% for instance, I would consider trying for 1 more increase, this time more modest, maybe 15% if they came back at 10%.

Meanwhile I keep pressuring company 2 to send an offer because company 1 has given me a significant concession in salary negotiations but you wanted to see what company 2 has to offer before you accept.
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Drpooplol posted...

How's the commute situation for the second job? Just curious, I know it's something you're dealing with.

job 1 - 46 miles
job 2 - 58 miles

basically my life is a joke and i'll need a new car in two years

Cleo_II posted...

Also, theres nothing wrong with accepting an offer, then accepting a different one instead. Its not a shitty thing to do, this is your life. Are companies just as considerate about you? I never get why some people think they sign their soul away when they accept an offer.

these companies are in the same industry so maybe ill cross paths with another one down the road, best not to piss them off

BignutzisBack posted...

Quit unfriending me TC

i thought we was boys
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Doesnt matter. I was also in that situation with companies in the same industry. Doubtful they will even record your decline and remember it in a couple of years. But hey its your life.

Btw, if a company treats you like shit, but offers to pay you more when you decide to leave, that just tells you that you were underpaid to begin with.

Romulox28 posted...

job 1 - 46 miles
job 2 - 58 miles

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Which job has a shorter drive?
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Nvm my question was just answered lol, go with the shorter commute
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Muffinz0rz posted...

Romulox28 posted...

job 1 - 46 miles
job 2 - 58 miles

yup, this is my life. biggest regret ever is signing that lease last month, this would have been nbd if i hadn't moved

Fluttershy462 posted...

Nvm my question was just answered lol, go with the shorter commute

it's only 12 miles shorter, although i guess that adds up. the only decent part of this commute is that both commutes are pretty much just driving on the same road for like 50 miles, very simple, and its nj so i can sail at 80mph+ if there isnt traffic
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