Job Offer - Can They Do This?

[Magic Mom]

Hi Everyone! I have a situation that I would love some input on.

About 3 weeks ago I interviewed for a job. I just finished my Master's degree, so I have interviewed for many jobs!! On Wednesday, I got a call from the one I interviewed for 3 weeks ago, offering me the position. I was at work when I got the call, so it was not the best time for me to process everything. I asked if I could have until Friday or possibly over the weekend to make a decision. She seemed shocked and annoyed by this, which really turned me off because my understanding is that taking time to think about it is perfectly acceptable. I called back this afternoon with a list of questions, and then asked if it was still okay if I took the weekend to make my decision. This time she told me they they really need to get someone in there, but did say that I could have until Tuesday. When I got off the phone I went out for a run, and came back at 430PM. I had a voicemail from the lady from 4PM saying that they decided they can't wait and would like me to call them back with an answer by 5, and if I didn't get the voicemail in time to call first thing Tuesday morning (Monday is Labor Day).

I am very on the fence about this position and have another position that I have been interviewing for. I feel very bullied by the place that offered me a job, but I don't want to lose the offer because I am afraid that the other one won't come through. I called back around 450 after talking it over with my fiance and my dad and got the voicemail. I left a message saying that I would accept the position.

I just feel like they did something unethical and I feel taken advantage of and bullied. It is not a great way to start a job. Are they allowed to do what they just did to me? Also, when I call on Tuesday morning can they take back their offer if they are annoyed with me for not being able to get back to them before they left the office today?

Help!!!

You weren't bullied. They didn't do anything unethical. And they did not take advantage of you. They offered you a job and asked you to respond sooner rather than later.

It is a possibility that they would rescind the offer, but probably not. You left the message and they did give you until Tuesday, even though they weren't happy about it.

 

[cornflake]

I don't see the problem in having until Tuesday to decide. They had a chance to mull things over before offering you the job, didn't they?

They sound really pushy, I'd probably take it, but if the other job came thru I'd leave pushypeople Inc. and take that one. I'm like that.

And she had the time before she applied, the time before, during and after they interviewed her and the three weeks until the offer to decide.

How are they 'pushy'? How long are they supposed to wait for one random person to decide whether to take a job they're offering?

As noted by many others, what if they wait nearly a week and then she declines - and their second choice is unavailable or they want a week or etc.? They're running a business. Whomever accepts the offer isn't going to start the next day, then they have to be trained, do paperwork, etc. How long are they supposed to wait for one random person? Snowflake syndrome.

 

[bellebud]

Snowflake syndrome.

OP - I don't mean this in a mean way, but I have to agree w/ this. Your first post hit me a little funny, but I ignored it. Saying you *just got your Masters!!* And *had many interviews!!*

I know you were excited and proud, as you should be, but... do you know how many people w/ Masters are out of work right now? It's a great accomplishment for you, but honestly, you're 1 person out of many who hold Masters and are job hunting. Most jobs are going to come down to more than holding a Masters these days, because so many people already do. That's just the 1st step. You've got to get them to like you and want you... which they apparently did, until you asked for more time.

I honestly hope it all works out for you, and the employers, in the end.

 

[runwad]

OP at my company they offered the person the job and they accepted; said they'd give their 2 week notice at their current job, then called back maybe 4 days later and declined, said the current job made them a better offer they're staying put. Just saying...maybe they too were waiting for another offer to come thru and we were none the wiser

 

[cari12]

Hi Everyone! I have a situation that I would love some input on.

About 3 weeks ago I interviewed for a job. I just finished my Master's degree, so I have interviewed for many jobs!! On Wednesday, I got a call from the one I interviewed for 3 weeks ago, offering me the position. I was at work when I got the call, so it was not the best time for me to process everything. I asked if I could have until Friday or possibly over the weekend to make a decision. She seemed shocked and annoyed by this, which really turned me off because my understanding is that taking time to think about it is perfectly acceptable. I called back this afternoon with a list of questions, and then asked if it was still okay if I took the weekend to make my decision. This time she told me they they really need to get someone in there, but did say that I could have until Tuesday. When I got off the phone I went out for a run, and came back at 430PM. I had a voicemail from the lady from 4PM saying that they decided they can't wait and would like me to call them back with an answer by 5, and if I didn't get the voicemail in time to call first thing Tuesday morning (Monday is Labor Day).

I am very on the fence about this position and have another position that I have been interviewing for. I feel very bullied by the place that offered me a job, but I don't want to lose the offer because I am afraid that the other one won't come through. I called back around 450 after talking it over with my fiance and my dad and got the voicemail. I left a message saying that I would accept the position.

I just feel like they did something unethical and I feel taken advantage of and bullied. It is not a great way to start a job. Are they allowed to do what they just did to me? Also, when I call on Tuesday morning can they take back their offer if they are annoyed with me for not being able to get back to them before they left the office today?

Help!!!

They are probably wondering about your interest and committment to the job (and rightly so if you are on the fence). There are probably other candidates that would love the job. They may also be wondering if this lack of enthusiasm will continue after you've started the position or if you will leave them high and dry if a better opportunity came along. When a company hires, they want to know you are committed and happy to be working for them. You have probably now made them second guess their decision.

 

[cari12]

In my company several important positions have only 1 slot. So if we post an ad when an employee gives 2 week notice, it takes longer than 2 weeks to hire a replacement. So when we chose a candidate, we want them to start as soon as possible. Often a corporate VP has to go to the site and fill in the vacant position until it is filled. The last thing they want to hear is the candidate needs a week to decide.

Once you had the details you asked about, I don't understand why it would take you 3 extra days to decide. You should have know what was acceptable to you and either accepted or declined once you had the details.

No law is broken doing this. The only possible claim when an employee withdraws a job is called detrimental reliance. However you have to have accepted the position and then it is withdrawn for a detrimental reliance claim.

I agree with this. You have had plenty of time after the interview to decide if this was something you wanted if they were to offer it to you. Everytime I have interviewed for a job, I pretty much knew after the interview whether the company was for me or not.

 

[cari12]

Exactly!!!

OP - you interviewed 3 weeks ago and have had plenty of time to think about whether or not you wanted the job. As an employer, I would've expected that three weeks would be enough time to make a decision. Even with your questions, you should've known iimmediately whether it would be make or break based on the answers you received. It's not like you interviewed yesterday and they offered it to you today!

You should be grateful that they're even still considering you. If someone came back to me with that response, I would think that they were not that interested or serious if they needed close to an additional week to make a decision. It would also make me wonder if this person was capable of making quick decisions in a business setting.

Nobody pushed you ... three weeks is plenty of time to have reached some kind of decision. And don't be surprised if they decided to offer the position to someone else when you call on Tuesday.

 

[DisMike]

You have a lot to learn. 1 day is reasonable. Almost a week, if it had been me offering the job, I would have rescinded the offer and said "thanks a lot". Especially with this job market.

 

[Art 1]

You have a lot to learn. 1 day is reasonable. Almost a week, if it had been me offering the job, I would have rescinded the offer and said "thanks a lot". Especially with this job market.

I agree and would have done the same.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

Wait... in this economy, you are "taking time to think about it"?

 

[goofy!]

I don't think the company did anything wrong with asking for an answer within a few days.

OP, if you're waiting for other offers I wouldn't sit back and wait. I'd call the other people you interviewed with and let them know you got another offer but they are your 1st choice. If another company wants you they'll come up with an offer quickly. Of course it's too late to do any of that now. Hopefully you learned something through this.

Which could be a very likely scenario at the OP's business. The 2nd place candidate might possibly have called, explaining that they have another offer on the table but the OP's business is their #1 choice. They might have called to see where they sat in the interview process.

So, now they have a potential employee who does not know if they want to work for them and is dragging the process along and their 2nd choice who is chomping at the bit to come work for them. The 2nd place person probably just jumped to #1 and precipitated the business to call the OP and tell her that they needed an answer. They do not want to lose candidate #2.

OP - the job interview process is your first assignment.

You had 3 weeks to research the company, to ask the questions and decide whether or not you wanted to work for them. Even without an offer, you can do your research and ask questions. The majority of companies see that as a positive, that you are eager to work for them.

The fact that you were not prepared to give an answer within the customary, reasonable and professional time frame of 24-48 hours probably shows the company that they might have made a mistake offering the job to you in the first place.

And if there is a 2nd potential employee that is equally qualified (very likely in this economy) breathing down their necks to get an answer, they company is going to push you for an answer as they do not want to lose the other person if you turn the offer down.

Nothing bullying or pushy about the offer. In fact, they went above and beyond professional courtesy by giving you almost a week to decide.

 

[TaraPA]

Snowflake syndrome.

I was just waiting for someone to say this!

 

[Magic Mom]

They are probably wondering about your interest and committment to the job.

And her ability to make a timely decision.

 

[kellyg403]

OP, I agree with the others. Depending on the position, there may be training involved. Companies usually will need a committed candidate, because from a business standpoint, why should they invest in someone who appears to not be as interested as they are.

I once had a candidate who called after a job offer with some questions. It was within 24 hours. We discussed her questions and at the end of the conversation she accepted the position. She wanted to make the decision, but she wanted to know clearly what the position entailed. I think at the very least, once you asked for clarifying answers to your questions, your decision should have been easy to make.

It was not bullying, or even being pushy to me. Once a candidate has a 'me' attitude, it is difficult to imagine they will be part of the 'team' atmosphere that most companies are looking for. IMHO.

Kelly

 

[sookie]

I think a lot depends on the level of this job. If it is an entry level job then yes I can see wanting an answer quickly. If it is an upper/mid level management job that has had some negotiations with salary, benefits etc and has entailed a lot of interviews and searching then they may be willing to wait a week for the right candidate.

If the salary and benefits wasn't given to the candidate until the job offer then it is also usual to be given a time period to think it over. A week is long, you can ask for a week but be prepared for them to ask for shorter and then you have to decide are you willing to loose the job in order to have more time.

i think every job i have interviewed for in the past 7 years salary was not discussed until the offer. then usually some negotiation and some agreements regarding fringe bennies were also made. usually 3-4 days to get all the needed information. but my last job took a good 4 -5 weeks to negotiate and accept. it involved a relocation. but it was worth it!

 

[Coconut36]

i think every job i have interviewed for in the past 10 years salary was not discussed until the offer. then usually some negotiation and some agreements regarding fringe bennies were also made. my last job took a good 4 -5 weeks to negotiate and accept. but it was worth it!

That is interesting..most interviews I was a part and when I was hired the salary and benefits were discussed at the end of the interview with potential candidates. Generally an introduction to our pay scale, explanation on how it worked and high level information regarding benefits, 401k..etc. Enough that it wouldn't require more than 1-2 days after receiving a formal offer to decide if it was the right fit. A company does not benefit themselves in the hiring process by trying to be mysterious about things like that.

I also think negotiating a job and saying "give me more time" are different. If you are actively negotiating they know you are interested and that is not the same as asking questions and then asking for more time to decide. I have never heard of a company though going 4-5 weeks in negotiations even for high level positions (I used to work for an international Fortune 500 and that would not have been done).

 

[sookie]

That is interesting..most interviews I was a part and when I was hired the salary and benefits were discussed at the end of the interview.

I also think negotiating a job and saying "give me more time" are different. If you are actively negotiating they know you are interested and that is not the same as asking questions and then asking for more time to decide. I have never heard of a company though going 4-5 weeks in negotiations even for high level positions (I used to work for an international Fortune 500 and that would not have been done).

I actually edited on above for clarity! lol
I think I did hit all the "high points" with this job that I just moved into - when it comes to negotiating fring and benefits especially. Mostly, because I knew what to ask for (early positions, I didn't). That was part of it. It's with a large corporation too so I think there was some navigating on the part of the HR rep to get "permission" for the different things I requested (which were standard for the industry). So, it can and does take a while sometimes!! I have to admit though that during negotiations I was afraid they would say "forget it!" and just decide to rescind! I also think though that I was successful in my negotiations because my background was a good fit for the position and I'm an exceptional candidate for the job. If I was even entry level in my field I probably wouldn't have gotten a lot of the things I asked for. So it is kind of different - entry level to higher level in whatever profession you are seeking employment in.

 

[prncess674]

At almost every job interview I have ever gone on in my life, the salary and benefits and terms of employment were laid out at the interview.

That is interesting..most interviews I was a part and when I was hired the salary and benefits were discussed at the end of the interview with potential candidates. Generally an introduction to our pay scale, explanation on how it worked and high level information regarding benefits, 401k..etc. Enough that it wouldn't require more than 1-2 days after receiving a formal offer to decide if it was the right fit. A company does not benefit themselves in the hiring process by trying to be mysterious about things like that.

I think your experiences may be true if you are applying for a government, administrative, hourly or entry level job. These jobs have a very clear pay structure. If you are applying for professional level jobs, pay can vary widely and good companies KNOW you are going to negotiate. For example I had an offer on the table and the HR person presented the offer and I just assumed that this was the opening offer, we only negotiate UP from there. I negotiated more vacation days, a large signing bonus and $10K more in salary.

To the OP:
What were you still mulling over? Did you let the HR rep know what your hesitations were. If you are really hoping for greener pastures with the hope of another offer, then this probably isn't the right job for you. If the salary was lower than you expected, let them know that you were expecting X and maybe they can compensate with a signing bonus or additional vacation.

 

[Allison]

Frankly I would be very turned off by someone who waited two days to ask questions and then wanted to wait another four days to give an answer.

 

[Coconut36]

I think your experiences may be true if you are applying for a government, administrative, hourly or entry level job. These jobs have a very clear pay structure. If you are applying for professional level jobs, pay can vary widely and good companies KNOW you are going to negotiate. For example I had an offer on the table and the HR person presented the offer and I just assumed that this was the opening offer, we only negotiate UP from there. I negotiated more vacation days, a large signing bonus and $10K more in salary.

To the OP:
What were you still mulling over? Did you let the HR rep know what your hesitations were. If you are really hoping for greener pastures with the hope of another offer, then this probably isn't the right job for you. If the salary was lower than you expected, let them know that you were expecting X and maybe they can compensate with a signing bonus or additional vacation.

Yeah no..I was a technology professional and we were hiring upper level (like me Lead level) professionals for the job. the top candidates generally went through 2-3 interviews (at least one of them being a technical interview) and there was adequate time to discuss salary and benefits.

These were not entry level positions and I can say that I never saw them go 4-5 weeks in negotiations as it was pretty straightforward that the job pays X salary.

Maybe the bottom line was that they didn't negotiate much to begin with. As I also mentioned we generally had a top 3 set of very qualified candidates and if one wasn't interested/wanted to negotiate they moved on to the next candidate that didn't want to.

Technology was a highly competitive field at least at my company (and mine was desired company to work for) and from about 2001 on it was an employers job market as jobs got very tight when outsourcing started to increase greatly.