Need advice on a job offer/negotiation!

[thepd7]

Well, I graduated in May with my BS in Electrical Engineering from UT Dallas. My GPA was decent (3.6) but I didn't have an internship. I had been applying to a lot of different companies all summer but I just never heard back from anyone, not one interview. IMO it was meant to be since I changed a lot over the summer and learned a lot about myself but that's besides the point.

So I got a call from a company I had applied to last thursday 9/27. The guy asked if I would be interested in a certain position (he had to ask since I hadn't specifically applied for it). I said yes, he said they would be making calls for on site interviews the next week. Monday I got the call and set up the interview for wednesday (10/3). It went really well, even then I wasn't expecting to hear back for 1-3 weeks (normal from what I had heard). Thursday (the next day) at about 6 pm they called and said they were moving forward with an offer, I got the offer by email friday and the packet with all the details in the mail saturday. Deadline on the offer is friday, 10/12.

The complication: I am also interested in a company in Austin but they can't interview me until friday so I need to ask company 1 for an extension. What is the best way? By phone or email? Also, if someone could post a general format I would REALLY appreciate it.

Other thing: I am also looking to negotiate salary or vacation days with company 1. I understand that vacation days might not be negotiable since it is a large company and I am fresh out of school but I would rather negotiate more vacation than more money. Is there a particular way/format for that as well?

Thanks in advance for all your help ATOT!


Cliffs:
1. Been looking for a job since may
2. Got an offer from company 1 but still interested in company 2.
3. Need to ask for an extension from company 1, format and medium?
4. Also might need to negotiate vacation/salary with company 1, format and medium of that as well?
5. THANKS!




Update: phone interview with company 2 didn't go as well as I had hoped, I am not big on programming and they asked me 2 programming questions for the technical portion. Gross. I didn't completely bomb but I didn't feel like I presented myself as well as I know I can. Oh well, maybe it's the confirmation I need to stay with company 1.



update2:

Had an on campus pre-screen interview with company 3, great interview but the company is really small and I want to manage engineers eventually (hopefully sooner rather than later). This company is so small (~25) that there is no oppourtunity to do that. So nothing wrong with either of us just our long term goals don't mesh well.

Also, talked to a contact at Company 1 and she said that they rarely negotiate at all. Hopefully that's not the case but we will see. I am not going to get greedy but I think that $1.3 more is not unreasonable.

I also got some more details on the benefits at company 1: medical would be about $1100 for a PPO with dental and vision. 100% 401k matching up to 4% vested immediately, plus all the other standard big company perks. So it's looking really good.

I asked for an extension and they gave me until 10/17, hopefully company 2 has gotten back to me by then, I expected to hear from them today but it doesn't suprise me that they are taking long since that has been their MO so far.

 

[darthsidious]

I work in austin in analog IC design, and I know most of the EE companies here. If you are willing to PM me the name of the comapny, I might be able to give you better advice.

About vacation, most companies will not be flexible about giving you more official vacation, IMO. However, you can get some extra vacation through comp time (i.e. time to compensate you for when you have to work extra hard on projects, for example before tapeouts, at your managers' discretion).

For an extension, I would say phone. Given you are a recent college graduate, they will probably be flexible in giving you more time to decide. Just tell them that while you appreciate thier offer, you need some time to talk with other companies as well. This would be a faux paus for someone already employed, but as you just graduated, it is expected that you are interviewing at multiple places at once.

Good luck with your descision.

 

[thepd7]

Originally posted by: darthsidious
I work in austin in analog IC design, and I know most of the EE companies here. If you are willing to PM me the name of the comapny, I might be able to give you better advice.

About vacation, most companies will not be flexible about giving you more official vacation, IMO. However, you can get some extra vacation through comp time (i.e. time to compensate you for when you have to work extra hard on projects, for example before tapeouts, at your managers' discretion).

For an extension, I would say phone. Given you are a recent college graduate, they will probably be flexible in giving you more time to decide. Just tell them that while you appreciate thier offer, you need some time to talk with other companies as well. This would be a faux paus for someone already employed, but as you just graduated, it is expected that you are interviewing at multiple places at once.

Good luck with your descision.

Thanks and ygpm.

 

[LS20]

email to have extension request in writing, and call to talk in person. if your interview is friday, though, then you will need atleast 2 wk extension.. which may be stretching it.. unless you can get austin to get you an instant answer. if it is the case, though, you can enhance yourself / leverage 1 against the other

 

[thepd7]

Originally posted by: LS20
email to have extension request in writing, and call to talk in person. if your interview is friday, though, then you will need atleast 2 wk extension.. which may be stretching it.. unless you can get austin to get you an instant answer. if it is the case, though, you can enhance yourself / leverage 1 against the other

There is no way they will grant a 2 week extension because there is no way I will ask for one, they went from interest to offer in a week.

If company 2 won't get back to me within 3 business days of an interview after knowing my situation then they aren't worth my time.

edit for arrogance: please read my below post to see why there is no logical reason company 2 couldn't get back to me within 3 days. I didn't mean this post the way it came off, but the basic principal still holds: I am worth it and right now only 1 company is recognizing that.

 

[bonkers325]

call them and tell them you need a 2-3 week extension because you are waiting on pending offers. and when you do your other interview, be sure you let the guy know that you have an offer on the table, but are still interested in their company and would like to hear back from him ASAP.

 

[AbsolutDealage]

I would probably take more money and then ask about taking time without pay. I think most companies vacation policy is pretty set in stone.

 

[bonkers325]

Originally posted by: thepd7

Originally posted by: LS20
email to have extension request in writing, and call to talk in person. if your interview is friday, though, then you will need atleast 2 wk extension.. which may be stretching it.. unless you can get austin to get you an instant answer. if it is the case, though, you can enhance yourself / leverage 1 against the other

There is no way they will grant a 2 week extension because there is no way I will ask for one, they went from interest to offer in a week.

If company 2 won't get back to me within 3 business days of an interview after knowing my situation then they aren't worth my time.

thats pretty unreasonable considering that you probably arent the only candidate to interview with them. there might be others waiting to interview with them in the following week and they simply cant make an offer until the process is done.

i interviewed at several mid-large sized firms for entry-level positions and im sure that i was one of dozens of applicants. i got offers from some within a week or so and didnt hear back from others until a few weeks after i took an offer.

also, if you are already thinking along the lines of "it isnt worth my time" then you are in for a rude awakening, because lots of the stuff that is involved in the engineering process isnt worth an engineer's time, but its still part of the process. respect the process or you will end up hating your job

 

[LS20]

Originally posted by: thepd7

If company 2 won't get back to me within 3 business days of an interview after knowing my situation then they aren't worth my time.

zomg. you are so cool.

you should tell them that. now.

"hey. i havent interviewed. but give me 2x my other offer. otherwise, you arent worth my time. you have my contact info."

 

[thepd7]

Originally posted by: bonkers325

Originally posted by: thepd7

Originally posted by: LS20
email to have extension request in writing, and call to talk in person. if your interview is friday, though, then you will need atleast 2 wk extension.. which may be stretching it.. unless you can get austin to get you an instant answer. if it is the case, though, you can enhance yourself / leverage 1 against the other

There is no way they will grant a 2 week extension because there is no way I will ask for one, they went from interest to offer in a week.

If company 2 won't get back to me within 3 business days of an interview after knowing my situation then they aren't worth my time.

thats pretty unreasonable considering that you probably arent the only candidate to interview with them. there might be others waiting to interview with them in the following week and they simply cant make an offer until the process is done.

i interviewed at several mid-large sized firms for entry-level positions and im sure that i was one of dozens of applicants. i got offers from some within a week or so and didnt hear back from others until a few weeks after i took an offer.

also, if you are already thinking along the lines of "it isnt worth my time" then you are in for a rude awakening, because lots of the stuff that is involved in the engineering process isnt worth an engineer's time, but its still part of the process. respect the process or you will end up hating your job

Sorry for my arrogance, I walk the fine line between arrogance and confidence often.

The reason (which I didn't mention) that they should be able to get back to me within 3 days is because they interview many on the same day, ie they won't interview me earlier because they only do set days and friday is one of them. So the other candidates you are talking about will all be there too, meaning they will see me vs. all the others on the same day. If it takes them more than 3 days after that then they are no longer a company I am interested in.

Plus, company 2 has been dragging it's feet for almost 3 weeks. I have been emailing/calling once a week and just heard back recently since first contact over 3 weeks before.

So the point is, one company is treating me like they really want me there, and the other is jerking me around. ONLY reason I am still considering company 2 is because I have 2 friends in the same program there that I am applying for.

 

[thepd7]

Originally posted by: AbsolutDealage
I would probably take more money and then ask about taking time without pay. I think most companies vacation policy is pretty set in stone.

Yes if I can't get more vacation then I will negotiate salary, but I don't need more money than they are offering, the offer is very generous, however I would like more vacation.

It can't hurt to try, I guess.

 

[Reckoner]

Hahaha, gotta love fresh grads.

 

[thepd7]

Originally posted by: LS20

Originally posted by: thepd7

If company 2 won't get back to me within 3 business days of an interview after knowing my situation then they aren't worth my time.

zomg. you are so cool.

you should tell them that. now.

"hey. i havent interviewed. but give me 2x my other offer. otherwise, you arent worth my time. you have my contact info."

Haha already did that they said yes and made me drop my pants so they could suck me off, too!

 

[thepd7]

Originally posted by: PaulNEPats
Hahaha, gotta love fresh grads.

You like to love on fresh grads? That's gross, dude, what are you, 50?

 

[Special K]

I work in Austin in digital IC design, if you PM me I might be able to give some advice

 

[thepd7]

Originally posted by: Special K

Originally posted by: darthsidious
I work in austin in analog IC design, and I know most of the EE companies here. If you are willing to PM me the name of the comapny, I might be able to give you better advice.

About vacation, most companies will not be flexible about giving you more official vacation, IMO. However, you can get some extra vacation through comp time (i.e. time to compensate you for when you have to work extra hard on projects, for example before tapeouts, at your managers' discretion).

For an extension, I would say phone. Given you are a recent college graduate, they will probably be flexible in giving you more time to decide. Just tell them that while you appreciate thier offer, you need some time to talk with other companies as well. This would be a faux paus for someone already employed, but as you just graduated, it is expected that you are interviewing at multiple places at once.

Good luck with your descision.

I work in Austin in digital IC design, if you PM me I might be able to give some advice

Not sure if that's for me or darth.

If it's for me: Halo thar big boy!

If it's for darth: Austin ATOT meet up?

 

[Special K]

Originally posted by: thepd7

Originally posted by: Special K

Originally posted by: darthsidious
I work in austin in analog IC design, and I know most of the EE companies here. If you are willing to PM me the name of the comapny, I might be able to give you better advice.

About vacation, most companies will not be flexible about giving you more official vacation, IMO. However, you can get some extra vacation through comp time (i.e. time to compensate you for when you have to work extra hard on projects, for example before tapeouts, at your managers' discretion).

For an extension, I would say phone. Given you are a recent college graduate, they will probably be flexible in giving you more time to decide. Just tell them that while you appreciate thier offer, you need some time to talk with other companies as well. This would be a faux paus for someone already employed, but as you just graduated, it is expected that you are interviewing at multiple places at once.

Good luck with your descision.

I work in Austin in digital IC design, if you PM me I might be able to give some advice

Not sure if that's for me or darth.

If it's for me: Halo thar big boy!

If it's for darth: Austin ATOT meet up?

It was intended for you - I guess I shouldn't have quoted darth

 

[thepd7]

Update: phone interview with company 2 didn't go as well as I had hoped, I am not big on programming and they asked me 2 programming questions for the technical portion. Gross. I didn't completely bomb but I didn't feel like I presented myself as well as I know I can. Oh well, maybe it's the confirmation I need to stay with company 1.

 

[thepd7]

update2:

Had an on campus pre-screen interview with company 3, great interview but the company is really small and I want to manage engineers eventually (hopefully sooner rather than later). This company is so small (~25) that there is no oppourtunity to do that. So nothing wrong with either of us just our long term goals don't mesh well.

Also, talked to a contact at Company 1 and she said that they rarely negotiate at all. Hopefully that's not the case but we will see. I am not going to get greedy but I think that $1.3 more is not unreasonable.

I also got some more details on the benefits at company 1: medical would be about $1100 for a PPO with dental and vision. 100% 401k matching up to 4% vested immediately, plus all the other standard big company perks. So it's looking really good.

I asked for an extension and they gave me until 10/17, hopefully company 2 has gotten back to me by then, I expected to hear from them today but it doesn't suprise me that they are taking long since that has been their MO so far.