1 job offer coming today, 1 may come by the end of August - need advice

[NewJeffCT]

I am involved with two headhunters for 2 jobs. I had 2nd interviews for both jobs last week. Both jobs are financial reporting & accounting type jobs.

For the first job, Headhunter A called me today to say that he expects me to get an offer from Company A. It is a small to mid sized manufacturing company.

For the 2nd job, I was told by the Hiring Director that she did not have anything at my level available as of last week, but that she has tentative approval for higher levels positions & expects me to be one of the people that will fill that position, which she hopes to have by the end of August. It is an insurance company.

I definitely prefer the 2nd job, as I know I could hit the ground running & do well. I was contacted by both headhunters through my resume being on monster.com, so I did not sign anything with them.

I dislike my current job quite a bit, though it is fairly stable. I've never worked in a manufacturing environment before, so I would have a greater learning curve at Company A.

If I accept the job at Company A and tell them I can start in 3 weeks, would I be under any obligation to them or the headhunter if I later on get an offer from the 2nd job? Other than feeling guilty, of course.

I'm about to head out of work, so will reply to posts after 6pm EST.

Thanks!!!

[ET Awful]

1. You wouldn't be under any obligation unless they had already paid

a fee to the headhunter, which isn't likely since those fees are normally only due after you've been with the company for 90 days.

It wouldn't exactly be professional to cancel after accepting but there wouldn't be any obligation.

Headhunter A might not want to work with you in the future though.

[stopbush]

2. As you presently have a job, I would advise sitting tight to see

what the offer is for option B.

Worst case scenario - neither new job pans out, but you still have your present job and the knowledge that you're a desirable candidate.

[ramapo]

3. No

If you feel Company A offers you a better situation than you currently are in then I would accept the position with the three-week notice.

If Company B comes thru then you have an unpleasant phone call to make to Company A/Headhunter. I've done it and I've had it done to me. Nobody should be faulted for taking advantage of a better opportunity no matter what the timing.

It is also possible that you start at Company A and Company B comes up with an offer two weeks later. Another unpleasant conversation but you certainly should not turn down Company B just because you feel badly about leaving Company A. Remember if Company A doesn't think you're working out, they'd let you go.

My advice is to think of how much loyalty and consideration that any company gives an employee when that employee has been deemed expendable. We all know the answer, it is none.

Good luck.

[NewJeffCT]

5. I could always try for 3 1/2 weeks notice

since I won't get the offer from Company A until tomorrow (officially)

that way, I could say I'll start around Labor Day and it will give Company B time to come up with an offer.

Another concern with Company A is that they are a manufacturer, which is not the most stable of positions right now. But, they'll likely have a need for US based & knowledgeable accounting types for at least several more years, even if they move all their manufacturing to China. (i.e., meaning the "salaried" workers will probably last longer than the people working on the floor)

[I Have A Dream]

6. I agree. It would be unfortunate if you had to tell company A...

that you received an offer that's more in line with your long-term professional goals, but if this is what happens, then so be it.

Try to be as professional as you can, but you need to take care of yourself here because most companies wouldn't hesitate to do what's best for them.

I had this happen to me one time when I hired someone. It was inconvenient, but I understood. If I didn't, that would have been my problem -- not hers. The thing that made it better was that she really didn't like the fact that she had to do this, and she showed her appreciation for our offer to her.

[livetohike]

4. Right now you do not have a written offer from anyone, right?

I would say that when you receive an offer in writing, they may require you to sign on the dotted line, so to speak, that you accept the offer and will start on a certain day.

Meanwhile, an offer from company B may or may not happen.

Been there and done that, by the way, so I am inclined to say that if you are truly unhappy where you are, then go for Company A if a written offer should happen.

Headhunters say a lot of things and don't deliver most of the time, in my opinion :-).

[NewJeffCT]

7. kick for Tuesday crowd

thanks

[I Have A Dream]

8. Kick for afternoon crowd.

:kick:

[Lilyhoney]

9. Go to

astrologyzone.com and see what Susan Miller has to say.

Sounds silly, perhapse. But she might be able to help you make up your mind.

Good luck!

[leftofthedial]

10. employers have no loyalty and no ethics

they'll screw you and any other employee without compunction

accept the first offer, then if you get the 2nd offer, take it.

unless of course, you have to pay the first headhunter in that scenario. Then, do the math and decide if it's worth it.

not too long ago, I would have advised differently, but things have changed.