Should I follow up in this situation? Forum

[Anonymous User]

Hi all, I've got a bit of a situation and would appreciate any advice you've got.

I currently have a job offer from Firm A, and have been sitting on it for about a week and a half now. It runs this Friday. I'm sitting on it because, at the same time, I'm also under consideration at another firm, Firm B.

Firm B told me that it would take two weeks to get back to its candidates (from the day of my particular interview). Two weeks is one week from today, and three business days after offer from Firm A expires. I liked this other firm more than I thought I would and decided I would like an offer from it, so I explained my situation at the end of the interview - having another offer that expires before Firm B will have decided whether to extend one to me. I followed up with Firm B with the usual thank you e-mail and hinted again at my situation.

Will it hurt to e-mail Firm B again to remind them that if I don't hear anything from them, I couldn't take a job with them because I'll have accepted elsewhere? Or is that irritating and unnecessary? Will they remember my circumstances if they really liked me, and get back to me with some sort of feedback by Friday (again, if they liked me - no way for me to know that, unfortunately)? Or is it fine to remind them?

Has anyone been in a similar situation and how did that turn out?

[dead head]

I also ask to not be quoted because I'd like to delete this at some point, and would really appreciate being able to do so completely.

Why would you ever conceivably feel the need to delete this anonymous question discussing a non-unique situation?

Not going to give an opinion because non-deleted threads can conceivably provide advice to more than just the OP, and while I might have goodwill to extend to the community as a whole I have none for you in particular (especially since I you're anonymous and I have no idea who you are). Or maybe I should just provide really bad advice, instead...

[Anonymous User]

I also ask to not be quoted because I'd like to delete this at some point, and would really appreciate being able to do so completely.

Why would you ever conceivably feel the need to delete this anonymous question discussing a non-unique situation?

Not going to give an opinion because non-deleted threads can conceivably provide advice to more than just the OP, and while I might have goodwill to extend to the community as a whole I have none for you in particular (especially since I you're anonymous and I have no idea who you are). Or maybe I should just provide really bad advice, instead...

OP here. Good point. I'm a bit paranoid because this situation is unique for me, I've never been in it before and didn't realize it was common (yes, that's very naive, I'm sure, but we all were naive about the job searching process at some point, right?).

I guess a lot of people go through this, and if my asking to not quote is offensive and dumb on my part, I really do apologize. If this thread results in good advice that others like me can use in the future, I will leave it be.

[ClerkAdvisor]

This is a common situation.

Call Firm A, explains that you have finished your interviews with other firms, but are still waiting to here back from them. Then ask Firm A for an extension so that Firm B has time to get back to you. Putting any more pressure on Firm B will not be to your benefit.

[SpAcEmAn SpLiFF]

you should follow up. you're putting your offer with firm A at risk if you don't

[Anonymous User]

OP here.

Thank you, ClerkAdvisor and Spaceman. Those are the two points that I'm debating inside my head. On the one hand, if I push Firm B, they could look at it as, I'm so pushy and neurotic that I'm just not worth the trouble, and who am I to demand answers early just because I'm in a situation myself. I completely see that view on this. On the other hand, if I ask Firm A for more time (and I think, maybe I'm wrong, that they've given me plenty), they can say, no, make up your mind, and see it as me telling them that they're second to someone else.

Which is the lesser of the two evils?

I wish all this didn't feel like staring into a big black box.

Also, I'll be leaving my original post up and not deleting anything.

[SpAcEmAn SpLiFF]

i'd push firm B first. better to risk a potential job offer than a solid one

[Jchance]

i'd push firm B first. better to risk a potential job offer than a solid one

+1.

Follow up with/remind Firm B tomorrow afternoon--the day before expiration of Firm A's offer. Give Firm B at least a day to make a decision. If you have not heard back from Firm B on Friday afternoon (the day Firm A's offer expires), i'd call firm B to see what's up. If Firm B needs more time (mean they may still give u an offer), then ask Firm A for extension.

[dead head]

This is a common situation.

Call Firm A, explains that you have finished your interviews with other firms, but are still waiting to here back from them. Then ask Firm A for an extension so that Firm B has time to get back to you. Putting any more pressure on Firm B will not be to your benefit.

I'm not sure if I would do this — at least not as artlessly as described above — as it effectively communicates to firm A that you would rather go elsewhere. That's a risk you can take if you have other outstanding offers, but in your situation I'm not sure it is a great option unless you can spin it somehow to sound like you're still super interested in firm A. Much better to simply express your interest to firm B while letting them know you have a deadline: you're not pushy or neurotic for doing so. Or you can accept firm A and then retract your acceptance if you get an offer from B.

[oblig.lawl.ref]

This is a common situation.

Call Firm A, explains that you have finished your interviews with other firms, but are still waiting to here back from them. Then ask Firm A for an extension so that Firm B has time to get back to you. Putting any more pressure on Firm B will not be to your benefit.

I'm not sure if I would do this — at least not as artlessly as described above — as it effectively communicates to firm A that you would rather go elsewhere. That's a risk you can take if you have other outstanding offers, but in your situation I'm not sure it is a great option unless you can spin it somehow to sound like you're still super interested in firm A. Much better to simply express your interest to firm B while letting them know you have a deadline: you're not pushy or neurotic for doing so. Or you can accept firm A and then retract your acceptance if you get an offer from B.

Yeah, I'd agree with what others are saying. Personally, I think it's better to tell B that you have an offer elsewhere expiring very soon but you'd really like to work with them and "hope" or "would greatly appreciate it" (or something like that) if they've made a decision, they could get back to you before that offer expires.

I think B will understand the situation and may think you're a more desirable candidate as a result.

I would be more concerned about about making A think you're just waiting on another offer. If you're tactful about it maybe you could ask for an extension from A just to mull things over a little more but I'd tread lightly.