You’ve received a job offer, but you still have other interviews lined up. Should you accept the offer or see what else is out there? This is a common dilemma for job seekers. Here are some things to consider when deciding whether to accept a job offer when you have another interview scheduled.
The Pros of Accepting the Offer
There are some advantages to accepting the first job offer you receive:
- You have a job offer in hand. In a challenging job market, having a solid offer is valuable. You know this employer wants to hire you.
- You can stop the job search. The process of applying and interviewing for jobs can be stressful and time-consuming. If you accept this offer, you won’t have to continue the search.
- You have more options. With a job offer on the table, you’re in a stronger negotiating position for negotiating salary, benefits, job duties, start date, etc. You also have more leverage with the other companies where you’re interviewing.
- There’s less competition. Once you have an offer, you’re no longer competing with other candidates. The company has decided they want to hire you.
- You may risk losing the offer. If you ask an employer to delay the offer to wait for other interviews, they may rescind it. Job offers have expiration dates. You don’t want to miss out on a position because you were waiting on another option.
Having a job offer gives you an advantage on the job market. You have something solid and can pursue other options without as much pressure.
The Cons of Accepting the Offer
However, there are also some potential downsides to accepting a job right away:
- You lose the chance to explore other opportunities. By accepting the first offer, you stop the interview process with other companies. One of those positions could potentially be a better fit.
- You may regret it later. If you accept a job and then go to other interviews you’re excited about, you may end up regretting your decision. Imagine getting an offer you’re more enthusiastic about after already accepting a different job!
- The offer may not be the best fit. An initial job offer is not always the perfect position. You may be excited about it at first but realize later it’s not what you really want.
- You lose negotiating leverage. Once you accept a job, you don’t have as much leverage to negotiate salary and benefits. Other companies won’t make competitive offers if you already have a job.
- It seems unprofessional to back out later. Reneging on an accepted job offer could burn bridges. It may hurt your reputation with that employer.
The downside is you could miss out on more exciting opportunities that are a better match for your skills and interests.
Questions to Ask Yourself
Here are some important questions to consider when deciding whether to accept a job offer when you still have interviews scheduled:
- How excited are you about this job offer? Do you like the company, position, salary, etc? Or do you have some reservations?
- How do the other companies you’re interviewing with compare? Are there other opportunities that seem like a better potential fit?
- Can you ask for more time? Is the employer willing to give you a few more weeks to make a decision?
- Are you willing to risk losing this offer? How will you feel if the offer expires before your upcoming interviews?
- Can you accept now but still back out later? Some employers allow this if you reconsider shortly after accepting.
- Does this job check your must-have boxes? Look at your job search criteria and determine if this position meets your most important needs.
Evaluating your level of enthusiasm for the job and weighing it against other opportunities can help determine if accepting is the right move.
Strategies to Buy Time
If you are excited about a job offer but want time to complete other interviews, there are some strategies you can use to try to delay your decision:
- Ask for an extension on the offer. Contact the employer and explain you are very interested but would appreciate a few more weeks to make your decision. They may agree to give you more time.
- Explain you’re waiting on another offer. Letting them know you’re in the late stages with another company and are expecting an offer shortly can help justify needing more time.
- Request a later start date. Even if they need your decision soon, you may be able to negotiate a later start date. This gives you more breathing room.
- Accept contingent on completing interviews. Accept the offer but explain you still have interviews planned you would like to complete. Most employers will allow you to withdraw your acceptance if you let them know quickly.
Being upfront about your situation and asking for an extension or flexible start date can help buy you time to complete other interviews before making a final decision.
What to Do If the Employer Won’t Budge
If the employer insists you accept the offer now or it will expire, you’ll need to either accept the job or decline it to pursue other options. Here’s how to decide:
- Compare the solid offer to the potential of other opportunities. A job in hand is usually better than uncertain interviews.
- Determine if this position checks your most important boxes. If it meets your top criteria, it may be worth accepting.
- Trust your instincts. Reflect on your excitement level for the job. Your gut feeling can indicate if it’s the right choice.
- Consider the employer’s timeline. Understand their urgency to fill the role versus how long you need to complete interviews.
- Ask about reapplying later. If you decline but have no other offers, you may be able to reapply down the road if you maintain a polite relationship.
Declining a job to pursue other options can be risky. Evaluate the likelihood of receiving a better offer versus how well this job fits your needs.
Accepting While Continuing the Job Search
Some applicants choose to accept a job offer while still interviewing with the goal of potentially finding a better opportunity. Here are a few considerations with this approach:
- Be upfront with the employer you accepted with. Let them know you’re still doing some interviews, so they aren’t surprised if you rescind acceptance.
- Tread carefully. Reneging on an accepted offer could hurt your reputation with the employer. Do so only if you get a clearly better opportunity.
- Keep it to yourself. Don’t share the news that you accepted a job but are still looking. This comes across negatively.
- Plan to make a quick decision after other interviews. Don’t drag it out for too long and leave the employer hanging.
- Send a polite rejection if you do rescind acceptance. Explain that an unexpected better aligned role came up that you couldn’t turn down. Wish them the best.
Accepting a job offer while still interviewing can work but requires thoughtfulness about how you communicate with employers and handle reneging professionally if you get another offer.
Alternatives to Reneging on Acceptance
Reneging on a job acceptance should only be done carefully and for the right reasons. Here are some alternatives to backing out of an accepted offer:
- Negotiate aspects of the role. If another opportunity seems better, see if the employer will improve pay, benefits, work schedule, etc. first.
- Ask about transferring later. Accept the job but request the option to apply internally for other openings down the road that may interest you more.
- Gain experience then make a move. Take the job to start gaining skills and experience. Build your resume and network, then seek a better job once you’re established.
- Keep interviewing but reject new offers. Go to remaining interviews for practice but decline other offers rather than reneging. Don’t burn bridges.
Weigh alternatives like negotiating improvements or gaining experience in the role before backing out of an accepted offer you already committed to.
What to Do Once You’ve Decided
Once you’ve gone through the decision-making process and determined whether to accept the job offer, here’s how to proceed:
- Accept the offer enthusiastically if you’re taking the job. Share your excitement and formally accept in writing.
- Decline politely if rejecting the offer. Thank them for the opportunity but explain another role was a better fit for you.
- Halt your job search activities if taking the job. Notify other employers you’re no longer available.
- Keep interviewing elsewhere if declining the offer. Confirm upcoming interviews and continue the search process.
- Renege carefully if you must go back on acceptance. Notify them quickly so they can move to the next candidate.
- Don’t burn bridges. Maintain positive relationships with employers regardless of your decision.
Handle the acceptance or rejection professionally. This preserves your reputation even if you don’t accept the employer’s offer.
Conclusion
Deciding whether to accept a job offer when you have another interview on the calendar can be a tricky decision. Consider factors like your excitement about the role, how it compares to potential other opportunities, whether you can negotiate more time or a later start date, and what happens if the employer won’t extend an offer deadline. Weigh the risks and benefits of accepting or declining. Handling the situation thoughtfully and professionally ensures the best outcome no matter which job you ultimately choose.
