Discussion on:

What do you do with a job offer while you're waiting for another offer?

In this tight job market, if you get an initial offer, grab it and start to work, and pay those bills.

In this still weak economy, few can gamble that their luck will suddenly improve...unless you KNOW you simply ARE the best qualified for the job. Ask HOW MANY resumes. If 200, take the 1st offer that surfaces. You'll be glad you did.
In this tighter market, chances are - you will not get that interview call you were expecting - unless your resume is outstanding, and only 10 people were interviewed. In a lot of cases, the better the job, the higher the competition. Know thy self - and also size up your skill set. Are you a strong player? Then, consider running your own shop. You'll be glad you did.

I went through this recently,

I had 3 offer letters pending or in hand with still yet 2 other interviews taking place . My goal was initially set on the highest salary bid while I took some time to decide on the offers . While I was thankful that several companies had chosen me as their top candidates and still yet other companies had high hopes , A long-shot company made a surprise relocation offer to add to their offer letter. This left me in a very odd position in that I was expected to start a local position
that I had interviewed with over a month passing several tense rigorous technical tribunal styled interviews which few ever passed let alone aced and then comes along a tech company in a mad dash to get talent in without ever even doing a face to face over nighting a really generous relo check .The kicker for me was the title, company industry
and the city I would be relocating to which made me choose the long shot offer.
But how to break the news to the other companies without burning bridges or offending head hunters that seemingly went out of their way for you ? Seems like there never really is a good way other than to be honest when you're the client's top pick .

This happened to me. I told the one I wanted they had 3 days to make a decision or I would have to take another offer. They came through, and all good.

Had a budy take one offer, then leave after they got the offer from the other company. This caused some bad fealings between him and the company and the recruiter involved. I think this might follow him.

before you count on the position.

Always keep good relations with any potential employer, even if not hired, you never know where a future offer will come from. This is especially true if you make a good impression. It is not always only technical skills that get jobs, often personality and other skills are important.

I went for one job (much earlier in my career)as a tech, but was hired as their supervisor (hidden job)due to my skills interacting with people. Another position I was called a year later to see if I still was available. Like I said, you never know.

This happened to me too. I was interviewing for two positions. The first people were nice and it was a good position and after the interviews I felt very confident that they would make an offer. The second people said that they were "at the beginning of their process" but I decided that this was the position I wanted. When the 1st people did in fact make an offer the next day, I called the 2nd company and told them that, while I realized that they were in the beginning of their search, I had received another offer and that I wanted to give them an opportunity, if they felt comfortable doing so, to make an offer as well. They did, I accepted and I worked there very happily for four years. The key, I think, was that I took a very respectful tone, making it clear that this was not a pressure tactic, but rather a real desire on my part to work for them if they felt the same about me as I did about them. It's a risk, but it was worth it in the end. If it hadn't worked, I still could have taken the first job.

Is it ok to disclose the terms of an offer you received to another company?

I would let them know the parameters I would need them to meet.
I consider it unethical to disclose any specifics about another offer.

Twice I have accepted offers from "fast moving" companies and then moved to a more preferred position when it was offered later: once was one week later, once was a whole month. I was surprised to be counter-offered by the company who only had me for a month, but I generally don't accept counter-offers, and didn't.

I think most would be very, very, very happy to have 2 offers. In this climate, I wouldn't even take the chances of waiting for the golden one to respond. If you have 2 to choose from, look at what they offer [not just salary and benefits but room for advancement, the boss, working conditions, type of work, co-workers, etc.]

CNN had a story of a financial analyst out of work for a year with just 1 interview. Ouch.

I would:

1) wait until you've got the job offers from the first two companies

2) once you have the job offers, call the 3rd company to inform them of your status. The information you provide could make you more desirable and up your asking price.
a) if they don't speed up the process then you're not their top candidate.
b) I wouldn't wait on them if they don't speed up.

3) when you call the 3rd company don't say "I would prefer to work for you" because that would make you cheaper.

Tell the one you're waiting for that you are going to accept another position, although you'd prefer to work there. Ask them to give you insight as to where they are headed, and if they can't give you any, they don't want you bad enough to risk passing on another job.

As previously mentioned, communicate with the favorite the situation. If you get an offer from company #2, ask them for time to consider the offer.

Once that is done, if you are out of work, accept the offer from company #2. If you are employed and there is a reasonably good chance for your favorite, wait.

If you are unemployed and you accept the offer from Company #2, if the favorite comes back with an offer that is a much sweeter deal (at least 5-10% higher), take the money from your favorite.

You will feel bad and Company #2 will feel bad, but you both will get over it.

I was in an almost the same situation about 5 months ago. But it involved 2 companies only. I was shortlisted in company A (preferred) but an offer came about a week after I was informed that I was shortlisted. I was in a bind since I really prefer company A(where but company B's offer is only good for 48 hours. I called company A about the offer & they informed me that their decision will take another week. I've been out of job for 5 months & funds is becoming scarce so I decided to take company B's offer. On my 2nd day at work at company B, company A called to inform me that I was considered for the position & was asking me to come for an interview. I told them I accepted company B's offer already. They wished me luck & asked to call them in case I change my mind. It's been 5 months now & I don't seem to be making any progress w/ company B. I have been re-thinking my position & wondering if I can call company A to see if the position/offer is still open. Do you think it's a good move for me to make that call?

I am currently unemployed and am in the process of interviewing with 2 companies.
I had a second interview with the company that I would prefer yesterday and am interviewing with the second company tomorrow after 2 phone interviews. If the company tomorrow offers me a position prior to the first and preferred company, and the offer is within my guidelines, what is the proper and acceptable response? Do I tell them that I am waiting on a decision from another company, do I accept the offer on the spot, do I ask them to give me time to digest the offer?

"It would have been almost unheard of, even a year ago, for an applicant to be entertaining two offers at once and have another potential offer on the horizon. The fact is that Im actually hearing similar stories more regularly these days"

Just to back up your assertion this very thing happened to me literally days ago. Unhappy in my position, I attended an interview and was shortly afterwards offered position with company A.

A week later I got an interview for position B, which was the one I really really wanted. Company A was pressing for a confirmation from me but I managed to stall them a little by raising some concerns I had about some negative comments about them on glassdoor.com. They let me talk with a few other people at the company and gave me a few extra days leeway, saying Friday at the latest.

I then managed to secure a final interview from company B on the same Friday, which involved me rushing out at lunchtime, tanking down the motorway and stripping off in the car park to get into my interview clothes and doing the final interview with the CEO, before returning to work and getting an offer from company B that very same day. Not only that, but in the post I got an expression of interest from company C, whose offer I had turned down due to personal circumstances earlier this year...

Pheeeeeeeew!

Although this is my first comment and will no doubt be judged on it I feel compelled to express my opinion on this.
As someone born and raised in the UK who is from a Ethnic Minority, I can't say I've ever had this 'problem'.
I'd like to see a article about the hidden racism that exist in IT towards certain Ethnic groups.
Before anyone attempt some advice you should know that I'm highly experienced and qualified.
However a recent interview this week had fankly made me consider if I'd be better served going to America where they seem to have a far more progressive non racial approach.

I attended a interview after they had pursued me for a month, which naturally made me think they were really serious.
My name doesn't sound Ethnic, so they would have had no idea nor does my accent (why should I'm born and raised here).
I'd been made aware by the recruitment agency that I was without doubt the strongest candidate with the most experience given they are the soul supplier to the company in a area that is rapidly growing in IT/Telecoms.

It was obvious from walking in to the room they were horrified that someone none white had made it through there screening process.
Of cousre everything was conducted cordially , however when I left the interview I contacted the recruiter whom despite my best effort to educate him as sutbly as I could that I didn't feel they would progress my candidacy he insisted on why I thought that.

I refused to say why saying it would be better for him to see what the feedback was before we jumped to any conclusions.
Needless to say the obligatory weekend break and feedback came on Monday to the recruiter who was told ' although X interviewed well it was felt that another candidate was better suited'.
The recruiter pressed the issue with them despite my advice telling him he could damage his own relationship with them.
The recruiter was incensed but helpless as this is client.

I'm not expecting this post to change anyone's opinion nor am I expecting sympathy.
I'm merely pointing out the Racism that is prevalent and unprovable.
So for the record this Ethnic has already since then been offered a role in the USA with Silicon Valley company.


This is why in my view the UK will never be serious in the IT world when these ideas still peculate.
It's subtle and it's damaging business opportunities and will cause further problems as the world becomes more global.
More worryingly after speaking to my Parents who retired in America it was exactly the same when he was my age saying nothing much has changed in the UK in this regard