Balancing Job Offers

[GasX]

I have been interviewing pretty regularly for a while as I am a contractor in my current position and am interested in permanent employment (and better benefits). I interviewed for a position 2 weeks ago and the senior guy I met with closed the interview with the question, "If we don't think you are a perfect fit for this position would you be interested in something that is a better match to your skillset?" (as an aside, I do not have a lot of the specific experience this job listing described but have a ton of industry experience and am more than qualified) I found it hard to gauge if this was a brush off or a genuine statement of interest in finding a job suited to my skills.

Cut to last Wednesday.

I interviewed with another company and was given a tremendous amount of respect by the interviewers and was given the impression they would high high expectations for me and would seek to provide a constant challenge and opportunities for me. I got a call on Friday with a verbal offer from company number one. I received an offer letter via email yesterday and hope to get the letter proper today. They expect a response either today or tomorrow at the latest.

On Monday, I sent an e-mail to the VP of company #1 saying that I have an offer and that I am still interested in her company but that I have an offer on the table and have to make a decision.

I received a phone call at 8:00 this morning from the guy in paragraph #1 who asked me the hard to interpret question. He asked exactly where I was in the process and what compensation I was looking at. He is meeting with the VP today to figure out what they can offer me and promised to call by the end of the day.

This leaves me with a call to company two today to see if they can up the ante. Any thoughts on the approach? My plan is to ask for a better title and for them to see if they can bump the salary a bit. The offered title is Senior Manager of Outsourcing and I am going to see if they can make it an Associate Director position. The concern is that the better title may be associated with another level of benefits and compensation that they can't or won't offer to me...

cliff notes
have an offer
getting another offer
want to get the first offer improved

 

[austin316]

i don't know what the hell i'm talking about.

 

[memo]

i say if you can somehow get the second job to have more benefits go for it. this may be bad advice, but i'd sneak in that i have a job offer from cmpany #1 and see what they say. it may work in your favor or they may get really upset that you mentioned it. had it happen both ways for me. looks like your in a good position because you can use one company to leverage the other

 

[GasX]

Originally posted by: austin316
what is the pay like? very curious because I will be entering this field next year.

did you need to quote my message?

You say you are joining this field next year but I never mentioned what industry I am in. In this case "outsourcing" is hiring companies to conduct clinical research trials for drug companies. Job #2 is working at one of these companies instead of hiring them...

 

[Darkstar757]

all about the $

 

[DeeKnow]

i was in a situation like that 6 months ago ... started looking outside, found one company that was ready to make me an offer, then my current employer came with a proposal for a new job that was pretty attractive.

what I did was told both about the other position I was negotiating, but did not make any demands... happily both took the hint and came back with slight improvements... that might work for you. sometimes pushing hard can get negative results.

as it turned out, i decided to stay with my current co and take the new position... and I'm glad i did

 

[GasX]

Just spoke to the guy at Job #2. They couldn't meet my salary expectations and wont be making an offer. I asked Job #1 to see if they could give me a better title. Hopefully that doesn't lead to them rescinding the offer (doubtful but possible).

Looks like tomorrow I accept Job #1

 

[KLin]

Originally posted by: Mwilding
Just spoke to the guy at Job #2. They couldn't meet my salary expectations and wont be making an offer. I asked Job #1 to see if they could give me a better title. Hopefully that doesn't lead to them rescinding the offer (doubtful but possible).

Looks like tomorrow I accept Job #1

who cares what your title is when they're showing you the money?

 

[Ameesh]

Originally posted by: Mwilding
Just spoke to the guy at Job #2. They couldn't meet my salary expectations and wont be making an offer. I asked Job #1 to see if they could give me a better title. Hopefully that doesn't lead to them rescinding the offer (doubtful but possible).

Looks like tomorrow I accept Job #1

i seriously doubt they will rescind the offer. i think you played the negotiantion well. hope job #1 sweetens the pot for you. good luck.

 

[GasX]

Originally posted by: KLin

Originally posted by: Mwilding
Just spoke to the guy at Job #2. They couldn't meet my salary expectations and wont be making an offer. I asked Job #1 to see if they could give me a better title. Hopefully that doesn't lead to them rescinding the offer (doubtful but possible).

Looks like tomorrow I accept Job #1

who cares what your title is when they're showing you the money?

2 1/2 years ago I left a manager position to become a Director. This position is a Sr. Manager level and I am asking to make it Associate Director. It's a little complicated because the Director position was a sales job and salesmen invariable have inflated job titles... I am making more in this job, but I don't want my resume to be too much of a roller coaster titlewise. Upwards and onwards is the goal...