Can pot. employers ask for this infoHi all, Can a potential employer ask you to furnish proof of a job offer that you already have with another company? They want to see it in writing, as if they don't believe me. Has this happened to anyone else before? I'm wondering if this is professional. Do they want to see it so that they can match it? I'm afraid that they might say, "Wow!, this is amazing but we can't pay you this amount!" I just don't want to miss out on a great opportunity. Money is not everything but... I wouldn't have a problem working for either company. They are both great places to work. Any tips on negotiation would be helpful as well.
They can ask for anything they want. How do the even know you have another offer? If you told them, maybe they're just calling your bluff.
Employers can ask you for anything,but this is strange. I think it is unprofessional. It sounds like they don't trust you(not a great way to start a new position) I would not show them the offer letter. Accept the other job. offer. So, I'm guessing that you said to them that you had another offer, perhaps in an effort to get them to bring up their offer? Sure they can ask. Sure you can refuse. But if you refuse, you should be prepared to take that other offer because I'm betting these guys will move on. Totally up to you.
Tess
I didn't tell them I had another offer. They actually asked me. I didn't want to seem rude to a potential employer and say "None of your business (in others words)." They called me today to let me know they are still interested in me and that they will call me later this week to set up some testing (already had the phone interview) for the middle of this week and then a face-to-face interview for next week. This was actually the recruiter for the company calling. She just asked me how my job search was coming along and if I had any other offers on the table because if I do they will speed up the interview process and make me an offer. Do you all think she is calling my bluff, like someone said? What does all this mean? And being that I did tell her I have another offer, why does she want to see proof of that? Are they playing games with me? What do you think?
Just my $.02, but if it were me, I would find out exactly why she wantsthis information and if I felt it to be in my best interests to forwardthe offer letter, I would redact everything EXCEPT: 1. the actual line that stating that an offer is being extended (e.g.“We are pleased to extend you offer to become our new XXX); and 2. the date of the letter, the company letterhead etc. and the author’s name. I would explain to her that I am fine disclosing parts of the offerletter but given that the letter was in an A and B vein, that isbetween me and the other company, I am not comfortable disclosing it inits entirety. If she didn’t deem that to be sufficient, I would say pound sand (notin those exact words of course) and accept the other offer.
Sounds like they're worried about some competition. This may work out very well for you.
Sounds to me like they may have had, indeed probably have had, other candidates in the past who claimed to have other offers on the table in an attempt to get this company to pay more/speed up the process/whatever, and those turned out to be bogus offers. Don't take it personally--they just don't want to be held against the wall for a mythical offer. It's probably very similar to when employers ask candidates to verify their current income--they want to be sure you're making what you said you are. Hey, you're honest, but not everyone is. Lots of people lie about how much they currently make, how many other offers they have and how much they're for.... I'd redact the salary information and other quasi-confidential info, as someone else suggests. But don't black out so much that it looks like you're trying to hide something--you're not the government! Of course they can request proof! You don't have to provide it, but they don't have to hire you, either. If you're interested in the job, give 'em the proof they've requested. Where's the harm in that? Paul W. Barada The Negotiation Expert What would constitute proof, anyway? Couldn't you just gin up an offer letter from anyone on your PC? Years ago, I had an admin ask me for a recipt for a taxi fare on my travel expense report. The form said "if available". We considered that to mean not required. The next time I came back from a trip, I turned in my ER and handed the admin a whole pad fo blank taxi recipts. I told him to just make one out as needed, for the entire group. His mouth dropped, he was speechless. He quit asking for 'optional' things. | |
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