What is one best practice for telling a company you have another offer during the interview process?
To help you best convey the news of another offer during a job interview, we asked hiring managers and experienced recruiters this question for their best advice. From being upfront about where your interest is to leveraging the offer to negotiate additional benefits, there are several best practices for telling a company you have another offer during the interview process.
Here are seven ways to tell a company you have another offer:
- Be Up-front About Where Your Interest Is
- Break The News in a Timely Manner
- Don’t Appear as Using The Offer to Apply Pressure
- Show Gratitude in Presenting The Information
- Inform In-Person
- Be Candid and Transparent
- Leverage The Offer to Negotiate Additional Benefits
How to Tell a Company You Have Another Offer
Be Up-front About Where Your Interest Is
As you are interviewing, you might have an occasion where you receive an offer from one company while still interviewing with another. This can be exciting and challenging.
If you are interested in Company A (interviewing), then tell them that you have received an offer from Company B.
“While I am much more interested in the opportunity you present (A), you need to know that I have received an offer from another (B). Can you share with me what my current status is with your organization (A) so that I know how to manage the offer from B. While I think I can put it off for a few days, I am not sure how much longer I can do that. Can you tell me where I stand and where you are in the process?”
This message conveys to Company A that if they don’t hurry and make a decision or tell you that you are in the top two to three candidates, they will lose you. You need the information to make a decision on what to do with the offer from Company B.
Pam Venne, The Venne Group
Break The News in a Timely Manner
Deliver the news of a competing job offer in a timely manner. The sooner the other company discovers the contending offer, the quicker they can provide a new salary proposal. Additionally, you will need time to compare the offers and decide between the two – so give yourself a head start by dealing with the situation head-on.
Amrita Saigal, Kudos
Don’t Appear as Using The Offer to Apply Pressure
Emphasize your interest in this particular opportunity, but always let the interviewer know when you are also in discussions with other companies. When you are expecting an offer, let your recruiter know, so that it doesn’t come out of left field.
You should send a note or give them a call and in the spirit of transparency share with them that you remain excited about this opportunity but you are expecting to receive an offer from another company in whatever time frame. When you do receive the offer, reach out to the recruiter and let them know you have an offer in hand and that you will need to decide by whatever date.
The goal is to not use the offer as a way to apply pressure but instead showcase that you are the type of person who doesn’t play games and can be counted on to be direct and honest. You will be surprised how this approach results in companies wanting to speed up the interview process so they can compete.
Venesa Klein, Mixbook
Show Gratitude in Presenting The Information
One best practice for informing a company about another offer mid-interview process is still showing gratitude. Always be thankful for the opportunity with them first and foremost. Manners are a two-way street after all. The company will be more sympathetic to the news after they are first addressed.
Sean Byrne, Sweetkick
Inform In-Person
The best practice for telling a company you have another job offer is to do it directly – by phone or during a meeting. For sure, you shouldn’t be writing emails or sending text messages. This is unprofessional and may be perceived as disrespectful to the recruiter, which in turn may exclude you as a candidate for future hiring or business contacts. Phone or direct conversation allows you to clarify the situation and explain your reasons and motives. It’s also the opportunity to thank the company for considering you as a candidate and giving you a chance to be part of the recruitment process. An honest conversation with the recruiter will also allow them to comment on the situation. And who knows, maybe they will offer you better working conditions.
Remember, when informing about another job offer, your goal is still to keep good relations with the company, assure the possibility of future cooperation and maintain business relations.
Nina Paczka, Resume Now
Be Candid and Transparent
Looking for a new job tends to bring about a bit of anxiety, but that doesn’t have to be the case. Remember, that if one opportunity doesn’t pan out, there will likely be others that follow. With this in mind, it is best to lay all of your cards out on the table, because at the end of the day, an interview is no more than a negotiation. Informing a company of another potential offer may spur them to compromise on a matter that was previously up in the air, or better yet, increase the salary or benefits offered. This type of negotiation tool can often work in the candidate’s favor.
Joshua Klemmetson, Klemmetson Communications LLC
Leverage The Offer to Negotiate Additional Benefits
Leverage a competing offer to negotiate additional benefits in your contract. For example, many people today enjoy working from home, so adding an extra remote day or two could help save on expenses and time to meet your needs. There’s no such thing as a perfect career – but competing offers can help us leverage more of the benefits we prioritize in a particular position.
Breanne Millette, BISOULOVELY
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