How to Get More Time for Job Offers
It’s not always easy to say no, especially when you really need the job. But if you’re not comfortable with the salary, hours, or other aspects of the job offer, it’s important to request more time to consider it. Here are a few rules for asking for more time:
- Remain humble and polite. Your potential employer has already taken the time to make an offer, so be respectful in your request and grateful for the opportunity.
- Don’t over-explain. You don’t need to give a long explanation as to why you need more time – a simple “thank you for letting me know; I need just a little bit more time” will do. Add comments about how the extra time will help you examine the offer.
- Don’t wait too long. Offers often have expiry on them, so be sure to ask if they’re happy to let you take the 24-48 hours consideration period that’s common to most offers. When you receive a job offer, it’s important to take some time to consider it before making a decision. You may want to ask for more time to make a decision, especially if you have other offers on the table. Some more caveats to the above rules exist. Here are a few important reasons to help them understand why you might need more time.
- Thank the employer for extending an offer and let them know that you’re honoured to have been considered.
- Let the employer know that you would like some additional time to consider the offer and would be happy to provide your thoughts on the offer in writing for clarity’s sake; writing to negotiate terms in the offer takes time and care, so you’ll need them to grant you a period to put it down on paper.
- Express your interest in the position and mention any of the specific things that appeal to you about it.
- Mention any reservations you have about the position verbally, so any renegotiation of the offer letter has a friendly context to it.
Channels that Can Help You Negotiate More Time for Considering the Offer
If you’ve received a job offer, it’s important to take the time to consider it carefully. You don’t want to rush into a decision and later regret your choice. If you need more time to make a decision, there are a couple of things you can do:
- Talk to the recruiter or hiring manager who offered you the job. Let them know that you appreciate the opportunity, but need a few more days to make a final decision. Most employers will be understanding and willing to give you some extra time.
- Contact a staffing agency. A good staffing agency will have relationships with many different companies, so they may be able to help you find a job that’s a better fit for you. They can also advise how previous job seekers they were working with had handled the very same situation. They’ve helped clients on the employee side as well as the employer side, so they know how to assuage the fears of each party as the jobseeker asks for more time to consider. It’s all about communication.
How Staffing Agencies Can Help
Staffing agencies can help you ask for more time to consider a job offer by putting together a well-crafted case demonstrating your value to the company and how more time can help the candidate examine current offers on the table. Your staffing agency can help you build a relationship with the employer and demonstrate that you are interested in the position. They can also explain the need for more time diplomatically in a way that makes you look like a top candidate. In addition, your staffing agency can provide guidance on what to say if the employer requests an answer within a specific timeframe. By preparing well in advance and working with your staffing agency, you can increase your chances of getting the time you need to make a decision that’s right for you. You’ll want to look like you’re prepared to ask for more time, not unprepared. Staffing agencies can coach you even before you are in that situation.
Staffing Agencies Help Jobseekers by Advocating for Them
Staffing agencies typically have a good relationship with employers and can put a little pressure on them to give you more time to make your decision. They may also be able to get you some extra information about the job, such as the company’s budget or plans for the department you would be working in. This extra information can help you make a more informed decision about whether or not to accept the offer. When you get a job offer, it’s tempting to jump at the chance and say yes right away. But if you’re not sure that the job is right for you, or if you need more time to make a decision, it’s OK to ask for more time -the right way.
