What should my response be to this potential employer?

[krunchykrome]

Backgorund info: I applied to two different positions last week at company A and company B. I dont want the job at company A as it requires a lot of travel and a long commute to work. I really want the job at company B.

Company A: offered me a position quickly; however, this job requires quite a commute.

Company B: told me that "you are one of the strongest candidates they have seen" and they are still deciding on who they want to hire. They asked me to inform them if I receive any other offers. I tell them I received another offer from a company and they told me to wait until today(Friday) and they would make a decision. I just got an email today saying "Are you going to accept the position with the other company? We are still deciding on the position."

I was using the offer from company A to use as potential leverage if I got the job at company B. It seems as though company B is trying to determine how bad I want the job so that they may use that as leverage for me.

What should my response be to the email that I received today?

 

[Turin39789]

Originally posted by: krunchykrome
Backgorund info: I applied to two different positions last week at company A and company B. I dont want the job at company A as it requires a lot of travel and a long commute to work. I really want the job at company B.

Company A: offered me a position quickly; however, this job requires quite a commute.

Company B: told me that "you are one of the strongest candidates they have seen" and they are still deciding on who they want to hire. They asked me to inform them if I receive any other offers. I tell them I received another offer from a company and they told me to wait until today(Friday) and they would make a decision. I just got an email today saying "Are you going to accept the position with the other company? We are still deciding on the position."

I was using the offer from company A to use as potential leverage if I got the job at company B. It seems as though company B is trying to determine how bad I want the job so that they may use that as leverage for me.

What should my response be to the email that I received today?

I'm considering all options and your position is one of the strongest I have seen.

 

[jagec]

Hmm, in this case it might be best to be honest and say "The other position is open immediately, and has good pay/benefits/whatever, but the commute is very long, and (whatever minor complaint you have about the other position). As such, I would PREFER to work for your company, but need to know fairly soon whether or not a position is open for me, so that I can get back to the other company."

 

[krunchykrome]

Originally posted by: Turin39789

Originally posted by: krunchykrome
Backgorund info: I applied to two different positions last week at company A and company B. I dont want the job at company A as it requires a lot of travel and a long commute to work. I really want the job at company B.

Company A: offered me a position quickly; however, this job requires quite a commute.

Company B: told me that "you are one of the strongest candidates they have seen" and they are still deciding on who they want to hire. They asked me to inform them if I receive any other offers. I tell them I received another offer from a company and they told me to wait until today(Friday) and they would make a decision. I just got an email today saying "Are you going to accept the position with the other company? We are still deciding on the position."

I was using the offer from company A to use as potential leverage if I got the job at company B. It seems as though company B is trying to determine how bad I want the job so that they may use that as leverage for me.

What should my response be to the email that I received today?

I'm considering all options and your position is one of the strongest I have seen.

Here's the thing; when company B told me that they would wait until today to decide, I responded to them and said that I will ask Company to give me until Friday for me to decide if I will accept their offer. So company B knows that I must decide whether or not to go with company A today.

 

[Dirigible]

When I got my current job, I was in the same situation. I told company B that I'd prefer to work for them but unless I heard in time I would go with company A. Company B hustled and gave me an offer.

I definitely would have gone with company A if they hadn't, though. Your decision must be based on what you would actually do in the various eventualities.

Edit: I used the phone instead of email and talked to the head of the department - someone who could actually get something done. If they want you, they should be able to get something done. If they get nothing done, there's a good chance they don't really want you (although some companies are just really slow).

 

[krunchykrome]

Originally posted by: jagec
Hmm, in this case it might be best to be honest and say "The other position is open immediately, and has good pay/benefits/whatever, but the commute is very long, and (whatever minor complaint you have about the other position). As such, I would PREFER to work for your company, but need to know fairly soon whether or not a position is open for me, so that I can get back to the other company."

I like the advice to be honest.

I was thinking about saying something like:

"I have declined the other position because I would very much prefer to work for your company. I like the fact that your the position with your company does not require a long commute, and I felt as though the position at your company would be a better match for my career goals."

Not in those exact words, but something like that. Basically, I have to let them know that they are the company I really want to work for. Now I dont have much room to negotiate with salary compensation.

 

[jagec]

Originally posted by: krunchykrome
I like the advice to be honest.

I was thinking about saying something like:

"I have declined the other position because I would very much prefer to work for your company. I like the fact that your the position with your company does not require a long commute, and I felt as though the position at your company would be a better match for my career goals."

Not in those exact words, but something like that. Basically, I have to let them know that they are the company I really want to work for. Now I dont have much room to negotiate with salary compensation.

That's pretty good, BUT I really wouldn't tell them that you've already declined the other position (have you?) Make it clear that you really want to work for them, but also make it clear that they don't have you in a vise.

 

[thepd7]

Originally posted by: krunchykrome

Originally posted by: jagec
Hmm, in this case it might be best to be honest and say "The other position is open immediately, and has good pay/benefits/whatever, but the commute is very long, and (whatever minor complaint you have about the other position). As such, I would PREFER to work for your company, but need to know fairly soon whether or not a position is open for me, so that I can get back to the other company."

I like the advice to be honest.

I was thinking about saying something like:

"I have declined the other position because I would very much prefer to work for your company. I like the fact that your the position with your company does not require a long commute, and I felt as though the position at your company would be a better match for my career goals."

Not in those exact words, but something like that. Basically, I have to let them know that they are the company I really want to work for. Now I dont have much room to negotiate with salary compensation.

I wouldn't mention the commute, some people would completely understand and some would think you are an idiot for not just relocating or caring that much about driving an hour (or whatever it is). I tend to agree with you about commutes but I would never TELL a company it factored in to my decision making.

The second part is what I would go with.

 

[krunchykrome]

Originally posted by: jagec

Originally posted by: krunchykrome
I like the advice to be honest.

I was thinking about saying something like:

"I have declined the other position because I would very much prefer to work for your company. I like the fact that your the position with your company does not require a long commute, and I felt as though the position at your company would be a better match for my career goals."

Not in those exact words, but something like that. Basically, I have to let them know that they are the company I really want to work for. Now I dont have much room to negotiate with salary compensation.

That's pretty good, BUT I really wouldn't tell them that you've already declined the other position (have you?) Make it clear that you really want to work for them, but also make it clear that they don't have you in a vise.

I have not yet declined the other offer, but I did tell both companies that I would make a decision regarding company A by Friday (today).

I just got off the phone with my gf and she advised me to say something to company B like:

"I declined the offer from Company A. I did not want to commit to them without considering my other options. I look forward to hearing from (Company B)".

 

[purbeast0]

just curious ... where is your new position located?

 

[purbeast0]

Originally posted by: thepd7

Originally posted by: krunchykrome

Originally posted by: jagec
Hmm, in this case it might be best to be honest and say "The other position is open immediately, and has good pay/benefits/whatever, but the commute is very long, and (whatever minor complaint you have about the other position). As such, I would PREFER to work for your company, but need to know fairly soon whether or not a position is open for me, so that I can get back to the other company."

I like the advice to be honest.

I was thinking about saying something like:

"I have declined the other position because I would very much prefer to work for your company. I like the fact that your the position with your company does not require a long commute, and I felt as though the position at your company would be a better match for my career goals."

Not in those exact words, but something like that. Basically, I have to let them know that they are the company I really want to work for. Now I dont have much room to negotiate with salary compensation.

I wouldn't mention the commute, some people would completely understand and some would think you are an idiot for not just relocating or caring that much about driving an hour (or whatever it is). I tend to agree with you about commutes but I would never TELL a company it factored in to my decision making.

The second part is what I would go with.

trust me, around here, people completely understand the whole commute thing. it's commonly a reason that is one of the few when people get new jobs in this area.

 

[krunchykrome]

Originally posted by: purbeast0
just curious ... where is your new position located?

Right off of Broken Land Pkwy. 5 minutes from where I live.

 

[purbeast0]

Originally posted by: krunchykrome

Originally posted by: purbeast0
just curious ... where is your new position located?

Right off of Broken Land Pkwy. 5 minutes from where I live.

No, I mean the long commute one, you gonna be going towards DC or Baltimore?

If it's towards DC I would feel bad for you, cause I come up 95 in the morning and I would hate to have to go the other way

 

[isasir]

Originally posted by: jagec
Hmm, in this case it might be best to be honest and say "The other position is open immediately, and has good pay/benefits/whatever, but the commute is very long, and (whatever minor complaint you have about the other position). As such, I would PREFER to work for your company, but need to know fairly soon whether or not a position is open for me, so that I can get back to the other company."

This is what I would've done in such a situation.

 

[krunchykrome]

Originally posted by: purbeast0

Originally posted by: krunchykrome

Originally posted by: purbeast0
just curious ... where is your new position located?

Right off of Broken Land Pkwy. 5 minutes from where I live.

No, I mean the long commute one, you gonna be going towards DC or Baltimore?

If it's towards DC I would feel bad for you, cause I come up 95 in the morning and I would hate to have to go the other way

Company A, the one that already offered me a position....they are located in Belair. I have to get onto 695 during morning and afternoon rush hours, and I know they get backed up.

 

[purbeast0]

Originally posted by: krunchykrome

Originally posted by: purbeast0

Originally posted by: krunchykrome

Originally posted by: purbeast0
just curious ... where is your new position located?

Right off of Broken Land Pkwy. 5 minutes from where I live.

No, I mean the long commute one, you gonna be going towards DC or Baltimore?

If it's towards DC I would feel bad for you, cause I come up 95 in the morning and I would hate to have to go the other way

Company A, the one that already offered me a position....they are located in Belair. I have to get onto 695 during morning and afternoon rush hours, and I know they get backed up.

aah damn yah that is pretty far from columbia. that + traffic = i wouldn't take it.

 

[JackBurton]

Originally posted by: Turin39789

I'm considering all options and your position is one of the strongest I have seen.

LOL, that is great.

 

[Nymphaea]

Originally posted by: jagec
Hmm, in this case it might be best to be honest and say "The other position is open immediately, and has good pay/benefits/whatever, but the commute is very long, and (whatever minor complaint you have about the other position). As such, I would PREFER to work for your company, but need to know fairly soon whether or not a position is open for me, so that I can get back to the other company."

Agree. Be straightforward and honest to their response.

 

[FDF12389]

Don't tell them you have declined company A. Let them know your are reviewing company A's offer and you are leary about the commute, request an offer letter from them(via fax or email) and then call them for a hiring negotiation meeting after you receive the letter.

 

[spidey07]

It depends on where you think you are. Generally if a company wants you they will not waste time - it's very difficult to find the right people for the job. If you've got the skills and believe you are a good fit, then a verbal offer would already have been made. What I'm trying to say is if they really wanted you, they'd get you.

The straight forward approach is good, but asking for time to evaluate an offer from company A is acceptible. But you're in a bind because you gave a deadline. If company A strong arms you, and you really don't want the job then you can decline or ask for more time - your choice. If company A really wants you they'll make you an offer you may not be able to refuse.

DO NOT give company B a deadline, but something soft like posted by Jagec is a great approach.

 

[wiredspider]

Why would you say you declined the other offer? Leverage...

 

[Schfifty Five]

the moment you tell Comp B that you declined Comp A, they will have all the power.

 

[alkemyst]

Like others said above you can't really give a deadline, you can only ask when they are going to do the hiring.

No need to leverage an offer against another. I would just state that you are actively interviewing and have found $x / benefits to be the fair compensation for this line of work.

As soon as you only give a $ figure they are usually going to know you are probably new to looking or have no other offers. Backend compensation can be much more valuable than pay rate.

My brother's company pays 10% each year 100% vested to a retirement fund. They have 100% medical/dental/vision/life insurance covered. They get 50% match to 401K contributions up to the limits of the federally set cap. 15 days a year vacation time to start with an additional 5 days per year to a 45 day cap (30 of which can be used in any year together if desired)....

I did the model for my salary if I got hired there. My current company would have to nearly double my pay for me to have the same net and even then I still lose the vacation and retirement benefits.