So, You Decided to Try Stall Tactics?

The Situation You’re In

You’re early in your career. This may be your second or third meaningful career transition. Company A extends an offer, and the package is competitive. The team seems strong. You can see yourself there. At the same time, Company B tells you they are finishing final interviews next week. You are interested in that role as well. You do not yet have an offer, but you believe one is possible.

You now have risk on both sides. If you accept Company A, you may miss an opportunity you prefer. If you decline Company A and Company B does not come through, you could end up with neither.

So, being a young professional, you decide to slow the process down and get creative on asking for additional time. You mention you’ll be traveling and will review the offer when you return. Or maybe you are all of a sudden camping and will be out of coverage.

You outsmarted them and got yourself some time, right? Not so fast… What you did is weaken your leverage substantially by showing immaturity in a moment where could have shined.

What’s Really Happening Inside the Company

Here’s what you didn’t realize. Company A had already completed its evaluation. They decided on you, and when the offer was extended, leadership believed the decision phase was largely complete. So, when your urgency shifted after that moment, experienced hiring managers recognized what was happening. They have seen the pattern many times in their career. They already know that a second process is nearing completion, and you are waiting to compare outcomes.

Your timing communicated that if Company B produced an offer, that option is likely ahead of Company A. At that point, Company A will likely adjust its behavior. They may reconnect with the runner-up, set a firm deadline with you to force the issue, or they may even reconsider whether they want to hire someone who is treating them as a contingent option.

Those responses are the correct ones because they are risk management decisions.

How You Should Have Handled It

There is nothing wrong with having more than one opportunity in motion. Employers expect strong candidates to attract interest. And on a side note to you, congrats for being a strong candidate.

You should have showed strength. But you chose weakness. If you are waiting on another company, say so and request a defined amount of time. Be crystal clear and allow Company A to respond with full information. They may grant the time. They may choose not to. Either way, the conversation is grounded in transparency.

Here’s an example of what to say: “Hi Director of Sales. I can absolutely see myself taking this role and being very successful at your company. I’m currently wrapping up one more interview process that should conclude by Tuesday. I’m expecting an offer there, and it’s very important to me that I get this decision right. Would you please grant me until Wednesday at 5pm to respond to your offer? I don’t want to send a message that I prefer this other company. I’ve just been very careful with my career and I want to continue that here in this situation.”

The truth shall set you free. When you act in your best interest unapologetically and transparently, you force others to respect you. When you hide the truth, others will view you as weak. And they’d be correct.