How long can I put off giving an answer to a future employer?

Question

I'm on the market for a new job and have sent my resume out all over town. I've had a couple of interviews this week and have a couple scheduled next week. The two next week are better jobs. If I'm offered a job this week by one of the other companies, how long do I have to give them an answer? Is it unprofessional to wait until after the other two interviews?

Answer 1

Beth,

This is a good question. Some employers want a decision by the end of the week at the lastest, others give you up to a few weeks. It depends on the size of the company, position and urgency they have.

What you do is ask each employer in the interview when they will be making an offer and when they will need an answer. Note it done. Worst case, you get an offer and they want an immediate decision. But you haven't finished interviews or have heard back from others and you'd prefer this other one. Just go ahead and accept the position because you can turn around and quit it if a better offer comes along. It's perfectly legal to quit a job before you start or on the spot without notice. This aappens all the time and I've seen it several times. Keep in mind, if you accept an offer and then quit, that jilted employer will never hire you again. But you do end up with the position you want anyway and that's what matters the most.

-- Liam

Answer 2

Two weeks is standard to give notice if I have a current employer to give notice to, or one week if you have no current employer, to finish up with "personal duties" and such before you begin the new job. Sometimes, you can squeeze in a couple of interviews by then. You do want to make sure that who ever you go with, it's the best possible "match". Always tell the new employer that (if you accepted) you won't be able to start until....and give them a date, and ask if that would work for them. If they seem hesitant, let them know that you have some personal things you need to finish up, and would appreciate the extra days so that you are 100% ready to focus entirely on the new job when you start. If they want details, just say doctor's appointments, legal matters, car repair or something like that. They don't need to know that you need to have a little extra time to finish up with all interviews you have committed yourself to.

I would typically begin my new job on a Thursday. This way, I have two days to fill out paperwork, learn the basics of people I'd be working with, duties I'd have and such - which is very highly stressful. Then, I have the weekend to decompress and think over all I had learned about my new job, get it placed in order in my mind, so that Monday, I am ready to greet the new job with a ready and positive, less stressed, attitude.

Anyway, good luck to you! I hope you're happy with your job choice! I finally am happy with my employment - took kissing a lot of 'bad frogs' though before I finally landed this one!

030807 5:47

Answer 3

No it is not, you are still interviewing they expect that. Just tell them a date you have set as your deadline, like next Friday for example, you will let them know which offer you are going to take. That way they know when to expect to hear from you regarding the job.

Answer 4

No, just tell them you wont be available for hire until a certain date.

Another option is to make them aware that such and such a different company is also looking to hire you and see if they wont compete again each other to have you as an employee.