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Have a job offer, waiting on another...Do I contact them?
2

Have a job offer, waiting on another...Do I contact them?

Have a job offer, waiting on another...Do I contact them?

(OP)
Hi all,

Am in a situation where I will be shortly receiving a verbal job offer, followed by the hard copy.  I am also confident that another company will be making an offer, but they are a huge corp and I don't foresee the offer coming within the time I will be evaluating the other offer.

My question is, is it acceptable to contact the hiring manager at the larger corp and let him know that I have another offer that I am currently evaluating?

My instincts say that all he can say is 'Sorry we can't pull the offer ahead / You weren't the right person'....That being said I don't think I have anything to lose by contacting the big corp to try and get another offer, especially since the job is also very desirable.

Thanks.
OFB

RE: Have a job offer, waiting on another...Do I contact them?

I would tell them. If they are really interested in you, they will pull the offer together. If not, or if they have another candidate they like, you will at least find out where you stand.

-The future's so bright I gotta wear shades!
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RE: Have a job offer, waiting on another...Do I contact them?

When I interview I also let the HR person know that I am interviewing at other companies.  I also ask what their process is and the time it might take to get a firm offer if I am the chosen candidate for the position.  That way I have some idea and can plan.  Once you get the first offer letter I would contact the HR rep and let them know you will be taking "X" amount of days to decide.  Typically, I've seen HR letting candidates have a week to ponder the offer.

Heckler
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(In reference to David Beckham) "He can't kick with his left foot, he can't tackle, he can't head the ball and he doesn't score many goals. Apart from that, he's all right."  -- George Best

RE: Have a job offer, waiting on another...Do I contact them?

If you really think you are in the running for the second job, then I would say wait until you have a definite offer (not a "we'll be sending you something sometime" offer).  For two reason:  to find out if they are interested and can make any offer at that time, and if not, to let them know you're no longer available.

RE: Have a job offer, waiting on another...Do I contact them?

In similar situations I have asked:

"If you can't tell if you'll be making me an offer, can you at least tell me if you won't?

RE: Have a job offer, waiting on another...Do I contact them?

(OP)
Thanks everyone, am planning on letting the other company know that I have an offer and will be evaluating it til X date.

I really do like what you said MintJulep, that may be how I word it.

Thanks again.
OFB

RE: Have a job offer, waiting on another...Do I contact them?

A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.....

If offer is made from first company - ask if you can have a few days.  Contact second company and ask for the job - NOW.

If not a solid offer take the first job....

IF second company EVER comes through -- then you have another decision to make....

You need a job - not two possible offers!!

RE: Have a job offer, waiting on another...Do I contact them?

Mike,
You took the words out of my mouth, literally.
The French version is: "don't run after two rabbits at the same time".

RE: Have a job offer, waiting on another...Do I contact them?

I like kill 2 birds with one stone better hahha.  Good luck.. I think is a good idea to ask for a few days to think about it and contact the other company whether or not they are going to give you an offer.  Didnt they ask what do you expect to make during the interview?  I think both companies will offer you the # you said on the interview. If you like the other company better (the one that hasnt given u an offer), then I guess you should as for some time.  If you like both companies equally, I say take the 1st offer and forget about the other one.  You will be making about the same amount of money I think (unless you told them different # during interview).

RE: Have a job offer, waiting on another...Do I contact them?

(OP)
Update:

I will be receiving the 1st companies hard copy offer tomorrow, I have contacted the second company stating that I am currently reviewing another offer until X date.

My next question is, for the first offer from the first company we verbally negotiated the salary and package, picked a tentative start date.  If the 2nd company has a great offer and I decide to take that, am I binded in any way to the first offer?

My take is the verbal agreement was only on the details of the offer, the signed hard copy would be the employment agreement (which I wouldn't dream of renegging on).

OFB

RE: Have a job offer, waiting on another...Do I contact them?

Like they say, if it isn't in the contract, it doesn't count. If there isn't a contract, I guess it doesn't count either?

"Do not worry about your problems with mathematics, I assure you mine are far greater."   
Albert Einstein
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RE: Have a job offer, waiting on another...Do I contact them?

in most cases a verbal agreement can be a legally binding contract.  But of course, with verbal agreements, it comes down to what / how you remember it as well as how your prospective employer remembers it.  I would guess that in this case, it would be impossible to force you to take a job simply because you had a verbal contract.  However, your prospective employer may indeed feel that you have made an agreement and is expecting you to honor it.  If you reject it, you will have burned that bridge.

RE: Have a job offer, waiting on another...Do I contact them?

Look for two words in the offer: "AT WILL" meaning that they can kick you out any time and that you can quit any time.
When you do get two offers, you can ask and get 4 weeks of vacation instead of two. If they need you that bad, they'll throw in the additional time off.

Hope you'll pull it off.

RE: Have a job offer, waiting on another...Do I contact them?

I seem to recal that "a written contract isn't worth the paper it's written on"  essentially unless you have proof of the verbal contract (e.g. video tape with audio) then it's pretty much meaningless.

RE: Have a job offer, waiting on another...Do I contact them?

I think you mean the following which implies that an oral agreement can be just as legal as a written one...

"Texaco vs. Penzoil case
It has been said, "An oral contract is as good as the paper it's written on," but this is not always the case. For example, In 1984 after Getty Oil was sold to Pennzoil in a handshake deal, Texaco made a higher offer, and the company was sold to Texaco, but a lawsuit by Pennzoil put them in a winning position, being awarded $11.1 billion, later reduced to $9.1 billion, but increased again by interest and penalties."

RE: Have a job offer, waiting on another...Do I contact them?

What is or is not binding from an employment standpoint depends completely on your location. For example, if you are in the US, some states are "right to work" states, which basically means that either you or your employer can terminate your employment at any time, for any reason, with no notice. (I'm not saying this is good business practice, its just the way it is). In these areas there are no real or binding employment contracts.

RE: Have a job offer, waiting on another...Do I contact them?

actually, I am in a "right to work" state and do have an employment contract.  In fact, it is stated right in the contract that termination can occur any time.  However, the contract does guarantee other things such as starting salary, amount of vacation and sick time, starting job description etc.  So, at least for these things it is both "real and binding".  

RE: Have a job offer, waiting on another...Do I contact them?

Even a written job offer is only of so much value.  My wife works for the state/county via the School District.  A while back they had funding problems.  They had sent out a job offer to someone and literally the day before they were due to start (late in the day as I recal) HR phoned that person and told them the position had been eliminated.

Effectively they got layed off without even having starting the job, ouch!

RE: Have a job offer, waiting on another...Do I contact them?

KENAT,

Yes, that can happen.

In that case, the other conditions of the employment contract is still in force - such as layoff pay, employee assistance, etc, depending on the contract of course.

"Do not worry about your problems with mathematics, I assure you mine are far greater."   
Albert Einstein
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RE: Have a job offer, waiting on another...Do I contact them?

Well, they have a 6 month probation during which even they, a government union job, can 'fire at will'.  So the person got nothing.  I suspect this or similar would be the same in most cases.  Layoff pay, if any, is usually based on length of service isn't it?

RE: Have a job offer, waiting on another...Do I contact them?

My contract stated that they have to give me 2 weeks notice. So, they need to give me two week's notice before they let me go.

So, if my start date is April 1st, they have to pay me until April 14th, along with my pro-rated vacation pay. If it is currently March 25th, and they call me to let me know that I am let go, and not to come in, that is okay - they still have to pay me the 2 weeks plus pro-rated vacation pay.

Fire at will, or "at will employment" only means that they can eliminate me from the company. The emploment contract signed is still in force and it usually spells out how they can eliminate me. And vice versa of course.

"Do not worry about your problems with mathematics, I assure you mine are far greater."   
Albert Einstein
Have you read FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies to make the best use of Eng-Tips Forums?

RE: Have a job offer, waiting on another...Do I contact them?

Maybe fire at will was the wrong term due to it's legal conitations.

In effect they can let the person go at any point during the probation period without any notice, reason or notification if I understand correctly.

Do make sure to read and understand any letter of offer.  In fact I don't think I've ever actually had the full contract before I actually started.  This was normally part of the paperwork I had to do on my first day.

RE: Have a job offer, waiting on another...Do I contact them?

KENAT,

Yes, usually, they can terminate the contract, as per the terms of the contract, beginning at any time, after the contract has been signed.





"Do not worry about your problems with mathematics, I assure you mine are far greater."   
Albert Einstein
Have you read FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies to make the best use of Eng-Tips Forums?

RE: Have a job offer, waiting on another...Do I contact them?

Take the first Offer. Start working. If the other offer shows up and you decide that it is better, politely inform the first company you decided to work at company #2. Never look back.

RE: Have a job offer, waiting on another...Do I contact them?

Some time ago I was on a job hunt. I received one offer locally and accepted it. Another remote large-company offer came in and they were chagrined that I had accepted another offer. I reported that they were too slow, two months slow.

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