OT. What does a job candidate do? A dillemma...

Tommy Trojan · Post #1 » by **Tommy Trojan** » Fri May 15, 2009 10:47 pm

A candidate from a position with Company A gets interviewed and gets a job offer. Candidate accepts Company A's offer verbally. Candidate has some concerns on the level of support for the position and amount of work expected by it, where it could lead to in their professional and industry, about some unrealistic demands this job may have, and the 10 days vacation per year...after all it is a recession, and the candidate has been looking for a position for one year. Also, the position may be limited in terms of where it could lead beyond Company A. However, the position can lead to advancement in Company A because they are experiencing rapid growth. The hours will be much more than 40 hours a week.

Then out of the blue company B calls for an interview for the candidate. Position B offers much better benefits, the possibility of paid tution for graduate school, double the vacation time, and more reasonable working hours. It also leads to more opportunities outside of Company B, and professional growth and development while progressing the candidate's technical expertise.

The interview for Company B is scheduled a short time after the candidate is scheduled to sign and accept Company A's offer on paper. The candidate does not know their prospects for Company B, what the time line for hiring is, and how favorable a candidate they are.

What should the candidate do? Options: Should the candidate delay the signing of the offer with Company A until they interview with Company B? Let Company A know about a possible job prospect? Let Company B know they have an offer, and see what their interest level is?

Thanks guys

fareweatherfan · Post #2 » by **fareweatherfan** » Fri May 15, 2009 10:54 pm

In this economy, you take the sure thing.

Afterall, in my industry, a candidate would have no problem leaving Company A once he gets the job with Company B (but this depends heavily on the industry).

TheUrbanZealot · Post #3 » by **TheUrbanZealot** » Fri May 15, 2009 10:55 pm

Tommy Trojan wrote:A candidate from a position with Company A gets interviewed and gets a job offer. Candidate accepts Company A's offer verbally. Candidate has some concerns on the level of support for the position and amount of work expected by it, where it could lead to in their professional and industry, about some unrealistic demands this job may have, and the 10 days vacation per year...after all it is a recession, and the candidate has been looking for a position for one year. Also, the position may be limited in terms of where it could lead beyond Company A. However, the position can lead to advancement in Company A because they are experiencing rapid growth. The hours will be much more than 40 hours a week.

Then out of the blue company B calls for an interview for the candidate. Position B offers much better benefits, the possibility of paid tution for graduate school, double the vacation time, and more reasonable working hours. It also leads to more opportunities outside of Company B, and professional growth and development while progressing the candidate's technical expertise.

The interview for Company B is scheduled a short time after the candidate is scheduled to sign and accept Company A's offer on paper. The candidate does not know their prospects for Company B, what the time line for hiring is, and how favorable a candidate they are.

What should the candidate do? Options: Should the candidate delay the signing of the offer with Company A until they interview with Company B? Let Company A know about a possible job prospect? Let Company B know they have an offer, and see what their interest level is?

Thanks guys

The "candidate" could always sign with Company A, while notifying in advance that a day or 2 may need to be taken off within the coming weeks. Do the interview with Company B, then weigh, assuming an offer is made, the pros/cons of B vs. A.

There is no rule stating someone can't sign an offer while still looking for other jobs.

magic1fan · Post #4 » by **magic1fan** » Sat May 16, 2009 12:20 am

bottomline is you do what's best for you,because these companies will definately do what's best for them....

Sofa King · Post #5 » by **Sofa King** » Sat May 16, 2009 2:09 am

Just tell Company A to give you a little more time. Tell them theres a f*cking death in the family and they'll understand. If they say no, well you'll figure something out.

If it was me, I would just keep on thinking about WHAT IF with company B for the rest of my life.

Erik Eleven · Post #6 » by **Erik Eleven** » Sat May 16, 2009 5:10 am

TheUrbanZealot wrote:The "candidate" could always sign with Company A, while notifying in advance that a day or 2 may need to be taken off within the coming weeks. Do the interview with Company B, then weigh, assuming an offer is made, the pros/cons of B vs. A.

There is no rule stating someone can't sign an offer while still looking for other jobs.

I agree with this plan 100%.

The Candidate can't start with a maybe. Asking for more time is to say maybe. Might as well say no in that case.

Quitting as soon as after a few weeks in one place makes it a softer blow on Company A's transition period, new employee learning curve etc. If the rest of the candidate's résumé speaks longevity, there should be no future issues with doing so either.

If the Candidate accepts and signs offer sheet from Company A, and then gets a proposal from Company B a week later, one which is much better in every which way; the Candidate should just have a talk with Company A and explain why he must ask to be let free from the binding contract. Assuming they would ponder saying no, Candidate A would not be a happy employee to have around anyway so they would of course let the Candidate go, even if they didn't want to.

The Candidate might also not get an attractive offer from Company B, so no risks should be taken with Company A until there's tangible reason to do so, whenever that is. Neither Company would make business decisions based on such assumptions, and neither should the Candidate.

/.02

Sofa King · Post #7 » by **Sofa King** » Sat May 16, 2009 5:45 am

Hmmm... Erik Eleven makes a great point.

Also I would like to add, get job with Company A and sleep with as many hot chicks in that company as you can and THEN get job with Company B.

Post #8 » by **Slava** » Sat May 16, 2009 9:01 am

Agree with what E11 said. There's nothing wrong in seeking whats best for yourself.

kevin_405 · Post #9 » by **kevin_405** » Sat May 16, 2009 6:52 pm

Tell Company A u are in the middle of some work in ur previous company u would like to complete and ask for a longer lead time before u start.. Company A will usually accept thinking u are being professional.

Tell Company B if they could take a quicker decision as u have another offer..

lakerz12 · Post #10 » by **lakerz12** » Sat May 16, 2009 8:05 pm

tell Company A and Company B to suck it and start your own Company C.

TheUrbanZealot · Post #11 » by **TheUrbanZealot** » Sat May 16, 2009 8:17 pm

kevin_405 wrote:Tell Company A u are in the middle of some work in ur previous company u would like to complete and ask for a longer lead time before u start.. Company A will usually accept thinking u are being professional.

Tell Company B if they could take a quicker decision as u have another offer..

By unwritten rule, you never tell a company you are "still involved" with another company in some capacity unless you have no intentions of being at the company you are telling. You always line your ducks up first. You can sign an offer letter, and then see what happens with the other company 1st as far as an offer, THEN decide if it's worth re-committing to the existing company.

You never, ever should put yourself at jeopardy of losing job due to conflicting interests. Granted, we're at-will here in CA anyways, but you always want to solidify a job first before notifying said job of outside interests...