One offer, another possibilityHi everyone... I posted on here a while back regarding a job I was supposed to get an offer on. It was about a 50% increase in pay from where I am at now. I got a call from them yesterday to officially offer me the job. It starts at 46.5K but I don't know what the benefits are yet. I believe when they send me the paperwork, they will include information on that. I do know they offer $5000 for moving expenses. Since I don't have much to move, that should be fine. In my waiting to hear back from this job, I interviewed for another. It's closer (by a few states), the base pay is 49K and there will be 3K to 4K in bonuses for the first year which will continue and increase with the amount of years I am employed there. I don't know what the benefits are or if they pay moving expenses but it is a large company with sites around the world. I was not made an offer, but the individual who I interviewed with said, basically "I wouldn't offer you the position until you got a chance to come out and take a look around to see if this would work for you...I can fly you out if you want." I had a conference this past week so I couldn't but told him I would be in touch. He called me on Friday and left a voice message to touch base and to ask if I wanted more information sent. I called him back later that day stating I was still interested in the job and would like to come out for a site visit. I'm hoping he contacts me on Monday. So, since I was not able to contact the first company yesterday, I know I have to call them on Monday. I'm going to tell them that I am still very much interested in the job and to send me the paperwork so I can go over everything. I'm assuming it will take about a week to get that. How long do I have from receiving the paperwork and accepting? I really want to check this other place out, but I obviously don't want to lose out on a for sure thing. You have however long they give you to give them an answer.... It's not up to you, it's up to them. However, I think you can reasonably at this point say you need to review their benefit summary, the paperwork regarding the relocation arrangement, etc. This is a big, far move for you, and I can't imagine they would demand an answer before you have seen any of this in writing. Once you receive the information, again, I think it's reasonable to ask if you can have a few days to look everything over then get back to them. However, whatever time they give you, they give you. You really can't fend them off waiting for this other company to go through its process. As the Negotiation Expert here says, you have to treat each job offer independently of each other. If you don't really want the first job, decline it. But don't try to drag that process out longer than it should be, in the hopes of getting an offer from the 2nd company. Good luck! Keep in mind that you have an offer in the hand versus one you may never get. The dollar difference between the two really is minimal after taxes. Less than $1 an hour or so. You'll lose 50% or so of any bonus to taxes and that assumes of course that you actually get a bonus. Bonus is always a maybe. So, I'd say you have a great offer on the table that you'd otherwise be quite happy with, then take it and stop worrying about any possible greener grasses.
Tess At most, you can ask the folks who made the offer how soon they'd like the your answer, assuming you didn't accept the job when it was made verbally. If you did, then about all you can ask is what start date they have in mind for you. Fill out the paperwork, find out about the benefits, ask any questions you may have, but live within their time frame. Since this offer is a whopping 50% increase for you, you really don't want to loose this offer. In the meantime, should the other company make an offer, which they may or may NOT do, before the starting date for other job, you could withdrawn your acceptance, but unless the offer comes pretty quickly, I think you have to let it go. The difference in salary isn't that great, assuming you get the offer at all, and bonuses aren't guaranteed - no matter what anybody else says. The risk you could be running is that you'll lose the first offer and the second will never be made. Never try to stall one generous offer in hopes of getting an even better one! You could end up with neither! Offers and possible offers are worlds apart! Paul W. Barada The Negotiation Expert I didn't accept the offer right away. I received a package from them today (official offer and, relocation papers, house and apartment magazines etc). The package was also supposed to include information on benefits but the HR Rep forgot to add it in her rush to get in out. She is supposed to send that out this week. She said the benefits are very good. There is a 401K which the company matches up to 3%. Not the greatest but considering the company I am with now matches 0%, it's good. They also have a pension. They have quarterly raises based on performance and a year end bonus that can be up to 15% of your base salary but that is based on company performance. For the first year you get 2 weeks paid vacation with one week accrued after 6 months and the next towards the end of the year. Vacation days increase with the amount of time you are employed. Health is very good from what she said. A single person pays around $40 a month for full coverage (90/10) with a $250 deductible. It rises to $70 a month for a couple or family. Right now I am paying $19 a week for 80/20 and $500 deductible. The insurance starts from day one. As I said before they over $5000 for moving expenses which is good. I don't own much, but may have to ship my truck down there until I can buy something new(er) there. She mentioned that if I have trouble finding housing, they will set me up for a while so I can take some time to look while there. I have a conference to attend this week so I told her I would make my decision next week after discussing everything with my girl friend. If I don't hear anything from company B, I'm pretty certain I will accept the offer from this company. Jamie Jamie, sounds like a helluv an offer--fab benefits, a relocation package that most folks won't ever get offered, etc. Sounds like a no-brainer to me, FWIW! Good luck! | |
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