Interview QuestionI have an interview (2nd interview -- passed the phone screen) with a company soon for an internship position (paid). They are flying me out to their location. They will be relocating me elsewhere. I also have a company that is local to my area offer me a spot. Now, I know the company I'm interviewing with knows I'm considering this local company. Do I tell them that I have an offer from them? WIll it hurt my chances or make it better (because they want me, so I must be 'good')? PS - these two companies are competitors in the market, and are dominant ones.
Hopefully someone who has more experience than I do will respond here, but my gut reaction is to not mention the offer until it gets to the point where they are making an offer to you. I think it'd be ok for you to say that you interviewed with them (if they ask), but my gut reaction is if you let them know right off the bat that you have an offer in hand with them, they are going to think, "Well, why is he/she even here when they've already gone through the process with Company B?". The offer does give you a chip to play in negotiation, and it also gives them a reason to make their mind up quickly, should they also want to make you an offer. I just think being up front about it would be showing your cards too early.
Thanks for your reply. Makes sense. They know that I have considered them. If they ask, what's the best way to respond? How about, "Yes, I have been in discussions with X, but nothing has been settled at this point." I think it' s a mistake to use one offer to get another. This second company will either want you or not. I think about the only thing you can do is to find out how soon their decision will be made, and see if that works with the time frame you have as far as getting back to X. If they push you, you can say that you' ve received an offer but have not yet accepted. Then it might be OK to say, once they' re aware of the other offer, "I have to respond to them by xxxx; when do you think your decision about this position will be made?" Don' t ask them to speed up their decision making because you need it sooner; if they want you, they' ll do so. I agree. Using an offer to "sweeten" another offer is quite acceptable, however I don' t see any benefit in mentioning it before reaching that point, unless it is to explain the need for information concerning when they expect to be making a final decision. | |
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