Congratulations on your job offer! After rounds of applications and interviews, being recognized as the top candidate is not a small feat. The job still has to fit your needs. Your decision is essential, so asking for more time is okay.
Phoebe Gavin, a career coach who focuses on supporting early- and mid-career professionals, said anytime you switch jobs, you’re completely changing your life and future trajectory. What is a reasonable time frame for deciding on the offer? Career experts share what you need to know.
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Some Companies Create False Urgency.
Don’t feel pressured to answer whether it’s a job you like or not. Gavin said that when an employer asks you to decide on an initial offer within 48 hours, they create artificial urgency. Gavin said they try to make you a tight deadline, so if you have other offers, you don’t have time to leverage those into genuine offers.
Once the employer decides you’re the right candidate for the job, they’ll do everything possible to secure you. A company’s recruiters are rewarded for how quickly they close job offers, so they may act like pushy salespeople to get your quick agreement.
A Week Is Standard
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Jocelyn Lai, Duolingo’s global head of talent acquisition, said that some organizations measure their recruiters on how many days they take to close a deal. You and the employer should agree on the timeline and what constitutes a good one, as well as if you are considering other job interviews concurrently. It shows that you are a strong candidate when you mention other job interviews and offers.
The standard time to accept an offer is a week but feel free to ask for more time as each candidate is different. Be transparent with your employer if you need more time. You can gain insight into a company’s culture if they are unwilling to budge on the timeline.
Happy job hunting!