How do I stall this job offer?

[AgualusasLover]

job 1: I’m up for promotion at work, alongside two colleagues and one external person. There is possibly one more interview to be had, so perhaps 1-1.5 weeks left in the process. I really would like this job. I have a very good shot, but obviously you never know. I’ve been here for 3 years and this would be my second promotion (if successful).

Job 2: Around the same time an equivalent role at one of our biggest competitors came up and I applied as a back up. They have now offered me the job, I’m just waiting for the terms. This is a great opportunity if I didn’t already work where I do - think moving one magic circle law firm to another (but non fee earning). I would literally bite their hand off. It is a contract, but that’s ok for me.

I’ve worked at a competitor before and we all work in very similar ways and both are great ‘names’ for the CV.

Issue is job 2 need an answer, they know I have a longer notice period than they would have liked given contract timings, but of course I want to know the outcome of the internal process. I would take the internal role if offered, but if I didn’t already work here job 2 would be too good an opportunity to turn down.

All other things are likely similar, commute/pay/bonus/perks.

Whoops, what I am asking is how long can I reasonably stall and how?

p.s. I applied for role 2 as these roles are very rare

Could you tell your current employer that you’ve been offered another role that you’d be happy to accept, but remaining with them would be preferable to you and ask if they can speed the process?

Accept the job and if the job at your current firm comes up , withdraw.

I’d tell current company that I’m under offer from a competitor and see if that encourages them to speed up the process. If not then take job 2

My direct line manager knows. I also had an external offer at Christmas that they know I turned down (coffee chat that turned into an offer) and I am not sure how that reflects on me - it’s a bit irrational.

I do think I have a good chance and am seriously being considered, but at least one of my colleagues is as likely to get it as me, and I worry that if I tell them about this they might just be like ‘well, that makes it easy.’ This might also be me being irrational.

This may be the only option, but feels unfair and would burn my bridges at an exceptional firm.

Given that the commute, remuneration package etc. is similar, and that the type of company is also similar, I would take job 2.

Actually, what I'd do, before accepting job 2, is book a meeting with your line manager, then explain that since entering into the internal promotion application a competitor has offered you an attractive role. Explain that there are no negatives in your current role, that you'd really like to stay but that the other company has offered you an equivalent role to the promotion.

This puts you in a really strong negotiating position. They will know that if they want to keep you, they will need to offer you the promotion and very soon, not in a week or two. You could share that you need to make a decision by Wednesday (or whenever it is), which is effectively giving your current employer a deadline. Then if they come back with an offer, great. If they don't, you can accept job 2 and move on.

What I absolutely wouldn't do is stall the new company, or be slow in responding to them. They could recind the offer at any time.

Do you think it ever prejudices them? I’m concerned I could have got it, but if I tell them then they will just be like ‘well now we don’t have to decide.’ Or are hiring managers generally just more professional than this and still want the best person (assuming that is me).

Thanks @BatshitIsTheOnlyExplanation this makes sense, and honestly my manager desperately wants me to get the job internally but already said that if I really want the external she will try to expedite an early exit for me as far as possible.

I’ll have the HR call with the details on Wedn and then speak to my team and see what happens.

My line managers manager is the one recruiting the role, not my own manager - otherwise the job would be mine 😀

Don't do this, it's unprofessional and you would rule yourself out with employer 2 in future if you do this.

Sometimes being a "flight risk" can expedite decision making. If they want you, that is. I agree that it's best to tell the new boss where you are at though.

Turns out hiring manager is OOO until Thursday, but my manager suggested I put time in with the HM on Friday and just explain that I need to make a decision swiftly and how close to the end of the process are we etc. She thinks it will be a positive conversation and not construed negatively at all.

p.s. I am on my laptop for which I cannot use my other username.

I would take up the definite offer you already have. What is stopping you from doing that? Genuinely curious as to what's holding you back there.

I don't think there's any guarantee you will get the other role or that it will be decided in the time frame you have in mind. It all sounds very vague - there might be a further interview, but it's not booked yet?

I am holding back because all things being equal I would prefer to do the same job at my current organisation. They really are equal from almost all perspective from the day to day to the perks. From any other perspective, I would absolutely have accepted and handed in my notice already.

Timing here has been bad, one interview with HM then she was off on leave whilst the next interview happened, but now HM and that person have to discuss who to put through to final, which cannot happen until earliest Thurs due to AL so the actual final will be Friday or early next week.

(For tech fail reasons, this is the OP but on my laptop I cannot remember my Agualusa log in details).

You're waiting to get terms from the new company? Surely you can't make a decision until you've got them anyway?

Congratulations on the offer!

Yes, but they wanted to speak today and I stalled until tomorrow. Expect I have to give a decision before end of week, especially given it’s a contract.

I think I just have the conversation here and then let it ride out and I’ll have to decide whether to stay in the process or not.

I am aware of the other internal candidates and the external one and we all have something different to bring to it. Many of the team have assumed I will get it, in that they’ve emailed me to say they hope I’ve applied as they think I am the perfect candidate - and a large number of the leadership team endorsed me without my asking so I am in a good position (still of course, absolutely no guarantee and they may prefer what others bring to the table).

I would just be really disappointed to miss out here if I was the successful candidate.

If I was coming from anywhere else, the external role would be the most amazing opportunity (it still is, but the same opportunity).

<Sigh> my current company have still not even made a decision about final interview. In the meantime, the new company have even agreed to an increase in the salary that I queried! Maybe it is time for an actual change.

Do it - and good luck!

They seem more organised and willing to pay you more, I'd go!

To be honest, even the interview processes have been like night and day, the new company just so thorough and my company just doing the whole ‘take me through your CV’ and a couple of proper questions thrown in. It’s really disappointing. But, I have told them about the job and they urged me to stay in the process but that if I leave the door is wide open for return and they would consider me even more valuable having been at a competitor.

I am increasingly wanting to go to the new company though. I think it cannot hurt and only enhance my experience.

Go for it @AgualusasLover . Your current employer sounds really slack hand hasn't acted to ensure you stay. The new place sounds keen and professional.

I’d just go OP! The new company sound pretty good and a change is good for careers. I also work in a magic circle law firm and am trying to guess where you’re leaving and potentially going!!

Haha, it’s not actually law but holds status (heavily sought after by grads, but I’m not a fee earner) and global like a magic circle firm.