Question
I am currently involved in two interviews. One is a bit stalled and the other is moving too fast. That is, one employer is moving about a week or two ahead of the other. Both have promise but I would like to slow down the faster-track interview tactfully to provide me with time to assess the other job properly. Any suggestions on how to manage the time line?
Nick’s Reply
Nice work — two deals cooking at once in today’s economy! I’d try the simple approach first. I’m sure your work schedule is very busy. Tactfully explain to the faster company that you are very interested in the opportunity and excited about continuing your discussions. Then beg off their schedule a bit.
How to Say It
“I take my work responsibilities seriously, and I can’t leave my employer in a tight spot during this very busy time. But I look forward to my next meeting with you. Could we schedule our next meeting the week of…? I guess I’m telling you that if you hire me, my job would always come first.”
(That last part might sound a bit smug! Tweak it to suit you!)
You could also explain that you are wrapping up an important project and that you could not start until such-and-such a date even if they decided to hire you and you accepted the job. This slows things down a bit more.
More interviews
Finally, if the company wraps this up quickly and makes an offer, you can put the deal on pause another way. Thank them enthusiastically and, if the money is to your satisfaction, say that. Express your interest, then ask to meet with a couple of other people in the company before you make a decision. I think this is usually the best approach.
For example, if the job is in sales, ask to meet with the operations manager and the finance manager. Explain that before accepting a job, you always check out the departments peripheral but close to sales before you make a commitment.
How to Say It
“I’d like to see how those teams affect and are affected by the sales operation, and I’d like to learn what the company’s other strengths are.”
This shows a breadth of thinking that should impress any smart manager.
Judge the risks
Of course, you could instead try to speed up the slow poke, but I’ve rarely seen that work. Requesting a slight delay is asking for a courtesy; trying to speed things up is usually viewed as presumptuous.
There is risk in all these tactics, of course. The company may be in a rush, or the manager may be put off by your attempt to control the schedule — but you can’t do anything about that. The risk is that they end your interviews. You must decide whether this approach is worth the level of control it may give you.
However, remember that if you get the postponements you ask for, it’s your responsibility to stick to the schedule you are granted. At some point, you will have to make a decision and a choice, and you may never get the offers nicely lined up anyway.
Buying time might be important, but pausing to gather important information before you make a decision may turn out to be even more important. After you explore those peripheral departments you may not like what you learn, and that may lead you to Turn down that job offer.
What can you do when faced with the quandary of staggered hiring processes? Has this happened to you? Is it possible to slow down your interviews?
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Especially in this job market, I would not do anything to slow down the hiring process. I am not sure the individual that submitted the question understands their good fortune. Attempting to delay what looks like an inevitable offer is risky. I can understand wanting the chance to assess both opportunities with their decision-making process; however, going with the sure thing is the best approach. Again, in this current job market, where hundreds if not thousand of applicants apply to each posting, nothing is certain; it’s very plausible that both potential opportunities could fall apart.
I’ve found that no offers are ‘inevitable’. Our question subject could do the appropriate due diligence, but the point is to get the offer to your satisfaction first. There are also periods of time taken for reference/employment checks (that’s about a week) and citizenship plus drug testing. Also my experience is that if a job is ‘stalled’ there’s usually a reason why, from fundraising to deciding they don’t need it. Move expeditiously with the offer that looks like it will happen.
I have no trouble telling the slow company that you have another offer when you get one and see if they can decide. You can also accept the first offer you get and if a better one comes along, quit and take it. Loyalty gets you nowhere these days
@J Taggart: I was waiting for someone to suggest this. When offers come in one at a time, decide on each one you have in hand. If a better one comes along, it’s not an ethical decision. It’s business.
Take ’em both, when they’re offered.
OverEmployment.
Double your income.
Manage your time.
Quit whining and hedge your bet on yourself.
Nuthin’ matters any more but you. There is no loyalty any more on any side.
Take ’em both.
“… I hate you all, I thank no one but myself … ”
— Al Bundy
I’m retired now, but years ago when I found myself unemployed, I had three things going (none were “permanent” – all were contract gigs). I got an offer from the one that was the lowest money (I figured). When that happened and I contacted the other two, the one I really wanted came through almost immediately with an offer. That “headhunter” and I agreed, those guys were just waiting for some reason to decide. I happily accepted and enjoyed (mostly) what turned out to be a 9 month gig, after which I moved into my last permanent job.