You have done everything right and have applied to several jobs. You have interviewed for two positions, one position you really want and the other is your fallback position. You don’t really want this position, but will take it if you don’t get any other offer. You then get a letter stating you have gotten a position. The only problem is, you got the position you really didn’t want. You also are still in the running for the position you really want, but have yet to hear back from them. What do you do now?
The first thing you need to do is contact the employer offering you the job position. Thank them for offering you the position and then tell them you are considering their offer and would like a few extra days to think about this opportunity. Make sure to not tell them about the other position. They should be willing to give you this extra time as they understand you need to weigh your options and also begin to understand the benefits package.
Next, you need to contact the other employer that you really like. You should tell them about your situation and ask them where they are in their hiring process. They need to know this position is your number one priority. Make them understand you really want this position. This will help make their decision easier and faster.
After your favorite position contact has given you their decision, you can now contact the other employer. When telling the other employer your decision, you should always say thank you for the opportunity, then tell them your decision. Sometimes if you do not choose them, they will counter with a better offer on pay or benefits. Do not count on this as it happens on rare occasions and depends on their ability to do so and how much they can actually spend.
Hopefully throughout the decisions that need to be made, you will end up with a job you enjoy. That is sometimes more important than the pay or the benefits. Do what is in the best interest of yourself, not the employer.
