Is it OK to tell a prospective employer that you would like a few days to make a decision on a job offer presented by them? I'm going for my third interview tomorrow. HELP!!??
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Denise
It is almost always OK to ask for a few days to consider a job offer.
It is customary to take time to consider a decision as important as whether to take a new job.
The question is how much.
Some high-pressure companies ask for immediate decisions. The
Dow Jones Newspaper Fund asks for quick decisions on its internships, but tells applicants that offers will be made and accepted in a window of just a couple days.
Generally, there is more time to decide.
A quick decision signifies a real desire to take the new job. A delay can make you appear to be ambivalent, especially if you have been having a running discussion and repeated interviews with the company.
Ask for the time you need, but don't string your prospective employer along.
Coming Friday: She's been working hard for $25,000 a year and no benefits. Now, her boss has offered her a raise -- with the stipulation that she stay for another full year.
