Two jobs, one offer -- what do you do?

[anders2144]

I am on the hunt for a job and interviewed last week for a PR job I don't especially want and interviewed yesterday for a journalism job I definitely want (same salary, same city for both).

The problem: the PR folks just called and left me a message with a job offer. I'm not supposed to hear from the journalism crew until next Monday, and that's probably just to schedule another interview.

Is it possible to put the PR folks on hold by asking for time to think things over? Do I contact the journalism crew and tell them of my pickle ("I was offered this other job today but I would rather work for you") and hope it lights a fire under their asses? If you're in a position to hire people does that kind of thing impress you -- "this person really wants to work here" -- or just annoy you -- "this person is forcing my hand."

Any and all advice is welcome...and needed....

 

[Jake_Taylor]

Tell the newspaper people the situation. They understand and if they don't then that's something you'd want to know before going to work for them anyway. If you're the leading candidate they might speed up the process to avoid losing you.

 

[dixiehack]

Thank the PR folks profusely, then ask them for some time to discuss this with your family. If you don't have a SO, invent one for the occasion. If you haven't talked specifics concerning salary, benefits, etc., do so now. It will give you something to legitimately mull over. At the very least, if they won't give you the weekend they should give you until Friday to decide, which might buy you enough time at the paper.

And if the PR job is anywhere near me, hook a brother up. I'm desperate.

 

[Just_An_SID]

With the offer in hand, you need to decide whether or not it is worth it to wait for the other job to decide.

From your post, it sounds like regardless of whether the other job comes across with an offer, that you might not want the PR job. If this is the case, turn it down and move on.

If you want the PR job, but not as much as the other job, then call the other place and let them know the situation. (do this ONLY if they have already talked to you about the job). Tell them you would prefer to work for them but don't want the other job to get away from you. If they want you (or are more than mildly interested), they will speed things up.

If you aren't sure what job you prefer, then don't do anything to screw up the offer that you have. Having been at the other end of this situation, you are only going to **** off the person who has offered you the job and might lose out on the offer if you wait too long.

Good luck.

 

[SoCalScribe]

I've been in similar situations and tried to drag it out, but the place making the offer usually sniffs it out and starts pressing you to decide (aka pick them) before you get an offer from a place you assumedly like better.

You've just gotta hope the newspaper is willing to speed up their timetable for you. If the PR place presses you, definitely start asking a bunch of arcane questions about benefits, etc., to slow them down.

 

[HeinekenMan]

I've always found that a straightforward and honest approach works best. Tell the PR folks your situation and ask how much time they can give you. Then go to the paper and explain the situation and go from there. When you drop the news on the PR front, there's a chance that they'll sweeten the deal. They might also show just how much they suck.

 

[JayFarrar]

I'd for sure get all the details hammered out before I told the PR people yes. Money, benefits, perks, everything. If all that was acceptable, then I'd go the PR route. Better quality of life since you wouldn't have the suckass newspaper hours and while pay is the same now, your pay potential is better down the line in PR.
You can always keep your name in the rotation by stringing for the paper and if the PR thing didn't work out, you could hit the paper up for a full-time gig.
Just one person's thought.

 

[GlenQuagmire]

Re: Two jobs, one offer -- what do you do?

Take one.

Screw that. Take both.

 

[gumbojumbo]

Consider the knowledge and advice you've received in the professional world as well as in college and high school from people you know and weigh the pros and cons and go with instinct?

 

[Just_An_SID]

You've just gotta hope the newspaper is willing to speed up their timetable for you. If the PR place presses you, definitely start asking a bunch of arcane questions about benefits, etc., to slow them down.

I wouldn't do this because the PR people probably aren't stupid and they will figure this out relatively quickly. The honest approach is better. It might even create a better working situation at the PR place, especially if they really want you.

 

[Twoback]

I'd for sure get all the details hammered out before I told the PR people yes. Money, benefits, perks, everything. If all that was acceptable, then I'd go the PR route. Better quality of life since you wouldn't have the suckass newspaper hours and while pay is the same now, your pay potential is better down the line in PR.

Pure myth.

 

[SEWnSO]

So, vicious, you only thought you were confused before! Take all the advice and then pray!

 

[anders2144]

I appreciate all the advice, but I do feel a bit like my head is going to explode.

I tried stalling with the PR job but they took that as the green light and left me a voicemail asking for my start date. !!!

The journalism job called all of my references yesterday, which I think is a good sign. Is it time to throw down with them? The PR job is at a non-profit, so I think the odds of them sweetening the deal is slim to none -- they just don't have the finances to throw around.

I guess I'll be flying by the seat of my pants on this one.

 

[Gold]

Is it just me, or is there something wrong with leaving a) a job offer, and b) a starting date on a voice mail message. That seems really, really unprofessional to me and that might be reason enough not to take the PR job.

Thoughts?

 

[Cristiano_Ronaldo]

If the PR firm really wants you, they'll wait. If you're a so-so candidate, then they'll move on. I'd ask them to give you another week to consult family members, SO and so forth.

 

[leo1]

Is it just me, or is there something wrong with leaving a) a job offer, and b) a starting date on a voice mail message.  That seems really, really unprofessional to me and that might be reason enough not to take the PR job.

Thoughts? 

gold, i think you're right. unless, of course, the guy didn't clearly communicate with the person he talked to at the PR place. if he was all coy and vague and confused the heck out of the person on the other end of the phone, that person was probably just too busy to bother sorting through the bizarre conversation.

 

[Hank_Scorpio]

You can't really string the PR firm along for a week. Especially now that theythink you've accepted. Call them back and say you need three days to mull this over with family.

If you string the PR firm along too long, then you take the risk of the job offer being withdrawn. And then if the newspaper doesn't offer, you're stuck.


It's a good position to be in to have two potential job offers. Sometimes you just have to go with your gut instinct and hope its the right decision (rather than screw up and not get either).

 

[anders2144]

Hank, I think you're right about not stringing anyone along extensively. I've talked to the PR folks and I have through the weekend to consider the offer, which is what I was hoping for. Now I just need the other job to make me an offer and all this ridiculousness will be worth it.

And leo, this coy, vague "guy" is a gal.

 

[outofplace]

Hank, I think you're right about not stringing anyone along extensively. I've talked to the PR folks and I have through the weekend to consider the offer, which is what I was hoping for. Now I just need the other job to make me an offer and all this ridiculousness will be worth it.

And leo, this coy, vague "guy" is a gal.

Oh, then the guy you were talking to shouldn't have had a problem. Most men are used to not understanding what women are trying to tell us. :)

 

[leo1]

Hank, I think you're right about not stringing anyone along extensively. I've talked to the PR folks and I have through the weekend to consider the offer, which is what I was hoping for. Now I just need the other job to make me an offer and all this ridiculousness will be worth it.

And leo, this coy, vague "guy" is a gal.

hey vf, don't shoot the messenger. i'm just saying that unless you were coy and vague, it's a huge red flag for someone to 'misunderstand' what you said and ask about a start date when the reason you called was to try and delay the decision a couple days. how can anyone misunderstand that? my guess would be that you were vague or coy. if not, then the employer must have problems and that's not a good sign if the person somehow didn't get it.