When offered a job, how do you ask them to wait so you can see if you're getting another job?

Question

I've applied to around 10-15 jobs. Some are better opportunities than others. Say I get an interview and an offer from Job A that is one of the less attractive jobs, but I've just been asked to interview for one of the nicer jobs? What's the proper way to ask the people from Job A to wait for an answer from me. What's a polite length of time to mull over the offer before I need to say "yes" or "no."

FWIW, these jobs are various science technician jobs, some with Universities, some with state agencies, and a few with private companies.

Answer 1

This is the problem with applying to a bunch of places at the same time - you stand the risk of getting the offers out of the order of desireablity. The best situation is that if you told all the people you would be available at some point still in the future - Lets say June 15th to be specific. Then you have a bit more flexibility. If you said available immediately, then things are tighter.
I think you have at a minimum the time they took to offer you the job after the interview. They called in 2 days, you can easily take 2 days to respond, etc. The outer limit is, I think, about a week, but if you decide to push it, I think you should respond quickly (a day or so), with a request for that time: "Life has just become a bit hectic [all these job offers, ha!] and I would like a bit time to consider your offer, can I call you next Tuesday morning?" You might do this while making a query about the job, if you have a question. Most places probably know you are looking at other jobs, so you might just come out and say, [the truth], "I really like your offer, but a company with a long term advancement plan is holding me up, can I have a week?"

Answer 2

Never count your chickens before they're hatched. Wait until you have concrete plans. I once gave notice early (because I was pregnant) and when the pregnancy ended in a miscarriage a few weeks later, I was without a job to go back to! (At that time there was no pregnancy "leave".) I had spoken earlier than necessary just to be considerate ... If you speak early and the other job doesn't pan out, your boss may not offer you a promotion for example... or you might get passed over for something else. You never know!!! And don't worry about your boss... He'll be able to find a replacement if and when you do leave. (You will of course let him know how much you've enjoyed working there.) If you do land another job, you may be able to give more than two weeks advance notice anyway.

Answer 3

It sounds like you're expecting good results from your job search - and that's great! It's fun to have options.

As you are getting responses back from potential employers asking for interviews, be sure you ask each of them for the hiring date of the position you are interviewing for....then, set up a quick chart so you know exactly when you're going to hear back on other positions.

If you are offered a job, you'll know exactly what the start date is, and you can tell them that you'll let them know in X amount of days. That will give you time to contact employers you'd rather work for and see how the process is going and if you'll get in to interview.

Be sure you don't get stuck waiting for the perfect job and letting the job you've been offered slip away, however...(sorry about that...I sound like I'm lecturing and I don't mean to).

Most employers understand that highly sought after employees will have other options as well...and will give you a reasonable amount of time to close the book on those options...or make an offer that you can't pass up.

Good Luck!

Answer 4

You are putting the cart before the horse. Yes, you have applied to several jobs but everyone does that.

Do your research on every company, every job. Have a long list of questions for the interview. Like HR benefits, opportunity for potential, licensing requirements/dates, earned vacation,etc... It would be wonderful for you if you get to compare jobs and select the one spot that fits for you.

Have all your ducks in a row, ready to start immediately. Getting your foot in the door is the first step, don't oversell yourself like you will be a "gift to the company".

Good luck and go in prepared...

Answer 5

That is a tough call. You should have started with the most attractive job or made it clear that you have several applications in process at the time. Now, you might say that the salary is marginal and you want to look at other possibilites before signing. They might offer more.

Answer 6

Of course, but you should use etiquette when doing so... you shouldn't say hey I might have something better coming up, I'll need you to wait.... you should say something like.... thank you for offering me this position... do you mind if I take some time to go over my options and figure out what you would rather take and if it's not up to your standards take the job for the money at least and keep your options open for something better and acquire some new skills while your at it!

Answer 7

accept and use delay your start date if you can.