One of the most common questions I get asked is about job offers. Specifically when you have a job offer from say Company A, but you really want to work for Company B. You are still in the interview process and waiting for them to make a decision or offer.
What should you do? Let the other company know? Pray to the job gods? Smoke signal?
Let’s go over it.
I have Job Offer, should I tell the Other Company?
First off, congrats. It’s not easy getting a job offer these days and you should feel proud you are wanted.
You are not the only person that has been this situation. Many people wonder if they should inform a potential employer about another job offer to speed up the interview process. My advice, do NOT do it.
From personal experience, 95% of the time, when I’ve informed Company B about another job offer to try to speed-up the interview process, it backfired.
Companies either ghosted me, said they couldn’t speed up, or dropped me from consideration.
Recruiters and hiring managers often don’t care about your other offers, especially in a tough job market. Which we are currently in right now.
Even in hot job markets I find hiring managers and recruiters can be offended that are interviewing other places. They will act like b*tchy little girls. Yeah, like that aren’t interviewing other people.
If you’re really interested in working for another company, keep quiet about other job offers on the table. Interview like everything is normal and don’t let on where you are in the process with other companies.
Only once in my career did a company match an offer after I informed them of a competing offer. Essentially with so many people looking for work, they just move on to the next candidate.
Some career coaches might suggest being honest, claiming companies will rush to hire exceptional candidates. Assuming you are one.
While this can happen, it’s not as common. Especially give the competitive job market.
Bu there is a time limit on my Job Offer!
Yes, this sucks as you really want to go work for Company B.
My advice, if you can’t get a job offer from Company B always take the what is on the table.
Yes, that’s right while Company A might not be the dream job, they are offering you something that Company B is not. A Job.
That is the goal here, right? Getting a job.
I’ve seen too many job seekers wait for something that doesn’t happen, rather than taking the opportunity being given to them at the present moment.
Should I Tell a Company About Another Job Offer?
Remember, the job search process is often like a black hole. You get little feedback from companies.
Even though GreenJobs.com is a recruiting firm, and I’d like all the candidates we work with to be honest and inform us, I still would advise against sharing too much information. As well as taking a job that you are being offered.
If your butt is in the seat of a new job, it’s safe to say that you should be good in stopping your job search process.
Until this happens, keep other job offers to yourself.
This has been my advice for years and will continue to be.
If you have questions or thoughts, leave a comment below. I’d be interested in hearing experiences from job seekers.
