What I can do if I was offered a position with one company but another company that I interviewed with, the position I really want, hasn't responded to me yet?

So you got one job offer pending, but you are still waiting to hear back about the job you really want. You’re not sure what to do. If you are in this situation or are worried that this may come up, then this section is for you.

First, some good news: You already have a job offer. That’s great.

That job offer can actually help you to land another job offer. It’s like in high school – that guy/gal that no one noticed until they started dating the popular kids, and now it seems like everyone else had a crush on that person too. You are in that situation. Your one job offer has elevated your perceived status in the eyes of the other.

The key is to make sure you give yourself time to respond to the outstanding job offer, and then give a push to the folks where you are waiting to hear back.

Goal: Land the best job offer possible by giving yourself time on an outstanding offer and applying pressure from where you haven’t heard back.

What to do - First, you need to manage your outstanding job offer. When you get that offer, you need to sound excited about the position and grateful. Then, you can either follow up and ask what their expected time frame is for you to make a commitment. Or, you can stall for time by not asking when and not having a specific reply date. If they give you more than a week, then that’s great.

If they don’t give you much time, then there are several things you can do to get more time. First, you can say that you want a few days just to talk it over with your family. Also mention that you want to have the chance to review their written offer, just to make sure you really understand it better.

Together, these comments should give you a few days to help the other organization make the hiring decision.

Immediately after you hang up the phone from the first offer, get on the phone with the organization where you are waiting to hear back. Let them know that you have received another job offer, but that you would rather work for this second organization. Is there anything that can be done to speed up the time frame on their hiring decision?

Let them know the time frame on when you have to reply to the first offer. If they can’t guarantee you an answer, at least ask them if the chances are looking very good for you or not great. In addition, you can also ask when you can follow up next to find out more information.

Either way, don’t be afraid to follow up a second or third time before the deadline on your first offer and remind them about your situation and enthusiasm for this new position.

If you really are stuck for time, maybe you’ll hear back Friday and need to decide by Thursday, then you can email a couple of position-specific questions toward that first outstanding job offer just shy of the deadline and delay your answer until you hear responses or ask to set up conversations with current employees to learn more about their experience there. You can also just ask for an extra day to decide. Just be sure to ask near the deadline, but before it expires.