Is asking for time to consider a job offer a red flag?
Posted by Danarya27@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 17 comments
I was offered a role on Friday and I asked for time to consider as I’ve had lots of interviews recently. They asked me to let them know Monday (yesterday) but haven’t returned any of my calls.
bars_and_plates@reddit
"Red flag" is not useful or actionable thinking in this case.
The question is whether the employer has the negotiation power to choose someone else. Only you can answer that.
In my field it would be a non issue. In a supermarket checkout role they would choose someone else. Neither would be a "red flag".
Frosty_Leg4438@reddit
Don’t beat yourself up, but it would have been way better to say Yes and ask them to send the job letter over, and then turn them down on Monday “having read the detail”
A formal job offer is actually a legal thing too, so you have some minor protections once one has been issued.
I wouldn’t actually entirely give up on this though, there is a chance they generally don’t have the hiring manager in today, or something else has gone on (companies tend not to recruit in this climate unless they’re treading water a little with the volume of work), so there is a chance they’ll contact you back.
If you know you want the job, sending an email to their HR department saying “you’d like to formally accept their job offer” might be sensible as it is harder to recind one once you’ve done this.
Danarya27@reddit (OP)
Thanks so much for your answer! Turns out I was just being paranoid and they called me today :)
Frosty_Leg4438@reddit
Oh congratulations! I hope it works out for you and is a great job :-)
Danarya27@reddit (OP)
Thank you so much 💚
RaisinTypical7785@reddit
Not a red flag at all. As someone who's hired people, asking for a couple of days to consider is completely normal and a sensible signal that they're taking the decision seriously. If they've gone silent after agreeing to a Monday deadline, that's on them, not you. Could be admin delay, could be they've moved to another candidate-either way, chase once on Tuesday, then move on. Their communication tells you something useful about what working there would be like.
ClockAccomplished381@reddit
I've stalled a job offer before because I was in another process at the same time. They were pretty understanding about it. Other place was unbelievably slow and vague about their hiring process, I was already 5 weeks in having been interviewed by 8 people, they couldn't give me exact clarity on the next steps so I withdrew.
GrownDandilion@reddit
Just accept ypu can always wothdraw your acceptance days later.
Sad_Translator5417@reddit
For any good working environment, it's a good sign. If they can't allow that, prob not worth working for.
Danarya27@reddit (OP)
I’ve never asked for time before. Starting to regret it now.
cmpthepirate@reddit
Don't regret it. Its a boundary that you put in place. If they can't accept it it isn't the one for you.
Classic_Mammoth_9379@reddit
Generally best not to just ask for time, ask for more information to stall instead. “That sounds great, can you send a copy of the contract to make to review then I can confirm formally” or similar. Despite contracts likely being standard, most places will find this step to take a few days.
Fraggle_ninja@reddit
What did you say when you asked for more time? Did you say “thanks I need a few days to consider and I’ll rever by the 20th at the latest?” Or did you just do a vague “I need time to consider”. If they liked you and wanted you giving you a set time would be absolutely fine normally. If it’s a bit vague it might signal you are not that keen. It’s all the framing.
BillyJoeDubuluw@reddit
In the current climate, this is one of those things you can only directly get away with if you have a specialist skill set or you are coming at them with a particularly prestigious referee etc.
We all stall for time a little bit, but to be completely wide open about being indecisive could have been a dud move and possibly the reason they’re now not returning your calls…
ci_newman@reddit
What excuse did you give them for asking time to consider?
If you told them you had interviews with other work places and were considering your options, I'd expect they probably went right ahead and offered the role to someone else instead.
If you told them "the salary is below what I was expecting, can I let you know on Monday" - that would come across much better.
SovietPanda__@reddit
Personally if youre employeed id say its reasonable as you have to weigh up leaving a secure position for a new job. Can understand if you were unemployed them asking for a decision sooner.
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