{"id":2667,"date":"2021-09-29T13:25:06","date_gmt":"2021-09-29T17:25:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog-01.ziprecruiter.com\/blog\/?p=14901"},"modified":"2022-03-31T13:25:00","modified_gmt":"2022-03-31T17:25:00","slug":"how-to-stall-a-job-offer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/jerome1greene.x10host.com\/wp\/how-to-stall-a-job-offer\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Stall a Job Offer"},"content":{"rendered":"

What to Do When Your First Job Offer Isn\u2019t Your First Choice<\/span><\/h2>\n

You\u2019re in the process of interviewing for jobs at several different places, and you haven\u2019t received an offer from your top choice. You have, however,  received one from another company, which leaves you wondering how to stall a job offer without jeopardizing your chances. It is definitely a challenge to balance a sure thing against the uncertain possibility of working at your dream job. But if you handle it with finesse, there is usually a way to stall a job offer without damaging your reputation or the opportunity. <\/span><\/p>\n

This is a nice problem to have, but it\u2019s still a problem. Your next move will depend on many different factors, such as how badly you <\/span>need a job<\/span><\/a> and how strong your chances are of receiving an offer from the other company. Here are some tips on how to delay a job offer without burning any bridges.<\/span><\/p>\n

How to Delay a Job Offer While Waiting for Another<\/span><\/h2>\n

Show Gratitude<\/span><\/h3>\n

Share your appreciation for the time and resources they have spent on you.<\/span><\/h4>\n

Make it clear that you\u2019re appreciative of the job offer. If it seems you\u2019re balking or lukewarm, they\u2019ll start to reconsider and feel less charitable about giving you extra time. Say something like, \u201cI\u2019m very excited about the offer, but need a little time to make an informed decision.\u201d Give them a specific date by which you\u2019ll respond (if you can, find out the timing from the offer you\u2019re waiting on) but always be cognizant of their time restraints.<\/span><\/p>\n

Figure Out What\u2019s Missing<\/span><\/h3>\n

Assess why you don\u2019t want this role and what might make it more desirable.<\/span><\/h4>\n

If this were your dream job, you\u2019d have probably said, \u201cyes\u201d right away. Clearly, there are some things about the job that are missing. Identify those missing elements and determine if they\u2019re non-negotiable. Is it possible to add them to the current offer? Are they even realistic?<\/span><\/p>\n

Think about whether there are unanswered questions that could help you decide. Consider all the components that make up the job offer: <\/span>salary<\/span><\/a>, hours, job responsibilities, the potential for career advancement, benefits. Don\u2019t forget the quality-of-life questions such as flexibility, workplace culture, commute times, etc. Getting clarification on the details will not only make it easier to decide, but it can also buy you some time.<\/span><\/p>\n

Be Honest<\/span><\/h3>\n

Tell them you want to make sure you have a full sense of your options.<\/span><\/h4>\n

In a previous <\/span>blog post on negotiating job offers<\/span><\/a>, we pointed out that being in this position could actually be a benefit. The employer might ask your reasons for needing to push your decision. There\u2019s nothing that says you need to only consider one company at a time, and it is a completely legitimate excuse to say that you are still meeting with other companies. But the way you deliver your answer can greatly influence the outcome.<\/span><\/p>\n

Do not make it seem like the employer is your fallback choice, even if they are. Let them know that you\u2019re in the midst of a process that you need to see through and want to carefully examine and compare all offers before making a decision.<\/span><\/p>\n

This doesn\u2019t necessarily mean that a company will give you all the time you need. Your responsibility is to try to expedite things by scheduling interviews as close together as possible and understanding the pros and cons of each company before you get an offer. If you\u2019re gracious and diplomatic, it might work in your favor by making you seem like a more desirable candidate.<\/span><\/p>\n

Be Proactive<\/span><\/h3>\n

Do what you can to move your top choice along.<\/span><\/h4>\n

Sometimes you can use multiple offers to your advantage, especially when a little gentle, diplomatic pressure is required. If you want to work for Company A, but Company B has already made an offer, you can use this to your advantage. Tell your top choice that Company B needs an answer from you, but you\u2019d much prefer to work for them. Ask if there is anything you can do to help speed up the process. If they say \u201cno,\u201d it\u2019s possible that you weren\u2019t a legitimate contender to begin with.<\/span><\/p>\n

Don\u2019t Lead Anyone On<\/span><\/h3>\n

Be upfront about your intentions and make room for other candidates.<\/span><\/h4>\n

Always be respectful of a company\u2019s time and consideration. Don\u2019t leave them on the hook if you really can\u2019t picture yourself working there. Unless you\u2019re in dire straits financially, your reason for accepting an offer should not be, \u201cbecause nothing else better came along.\u201d When you do decide, always tell them verbally, as well as in written form. Treat them with the same courtesy that you\u2019d hope to receive from them.<\/span><\/p>\n

Make Your Decision with Confidence<\/span><\/h2>\n

Now you know how to stall a job offer when waiting for other opportunities, without frustrating the company that presented the initial offer. At some point, you will need to make a choice, but giving yourself a bit more time can help you make a truly educated and informed decision. It is also a benefit to the company\u2014just as you don\u2019t want to work for a company that\u2019s not a good fit, a company doesn\u2019t want to hire someone that isn\u2019t all in. Whatever you decide, do so with grace, confidence, and your head held high.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

You haven\u2019t received a job offer from your top choice, but you get one from another company. Here’s how to stall a job offer without burning bridges.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":97,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[34,7,33,157,104,31,125,19,57],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2667","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-candidate","category-career-advice","category-employer","category-etiquette","category-hiring-process","category-job-market-insights","category-job-offer","category-job-search","category-professional-development"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/jerome1greene.x10host.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2667","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/jerome1greene.x10host.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/jerome1greene.x10host.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/jerome1greene.x10host.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/97"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/jerome1greene.x10host.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2667"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"http:\/\/jerome1greene.x10host.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2667\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3774,"href":"http:\/\/jerome1greene.x10host.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2667\/revisions\/3774"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/jerome1greene.x10host.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2667"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/jerome1greene.x10host.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2667"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/jerome1greene.x10host.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2667"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}