OK, here is my situation. I have been unemployed for a month but I have recently been interviewing with 2 different companies. Both companies look like they are going to make me an offer, but I am not sure what to do. These are both outside sales positions. Here are the particulars.

Company A:

$40k base + commissions (most likely $30k-$40k in the first year if I do the bare minimum)
$350 per month toward my car payment
$50 per month for vehicle maintenance (oil changes, tire rotation etc etc)
Full gas reimbursement on fuel purchases made between 8AM and 5PM M-F
I will be on the Company Auto insurance so I will not have to pay for that either
I only have to be in the office 1 day a week, and the rest i am on my own
I have worked in this industry before so I can start selling immediately

Company B:

$35k base + commissions (not sure how much to expect in the first year, but it is a high end product)
$.40 per mile auto reimbursement
Company Credit Card for client lunches and hotels if I need to travel overnight.
It will be a new industry for me (kinda) so it may take a few months before I start making commissions.

OK, so here is the dilemma. Obviously, Company A is my first choice. It will be more money, more quickly, and I am pretty much already trained. BUT, they said it will probably be a week and a half or so before they make their decision. Company B told me they will let me know the middle of next week, and my buddy that got me the interview told me the manager already told him they want to hire me. So, do I accept the sure thing next Wednesday for less money, or do I hold off to see if Company A makes me an offer?

2/20/2009 1:38:13 PM

company a for sure

2/20/2009 1:38:58 PM

pool boy. the answer is always pool boy.


(didnt read it)

2/20/2009 1:39:08 PM

But what can I tell Company B to put them off for a week or so while I wait to see if Company A makes me an offer? I don't want to just flat out turn down Company B because I may need that job if the Company A thing doesn't pan out.

[Edited on February 20, 2009 at 1:40 PM. Reason : a]

2/20/2009 1:39:35 PM

why do you have to wait a week for company A

2/20/2009 1:40:57 PM

so you need to put them off for a week, yes?

2/20/2009 1:41:15 PM

That depends on your bank balance. If you can afford it, I'd wait for the better deal.

^^^

Tell them that you have received other offers and that you will need a week to make your final decision. Seriously, just be straight up with them.

[Edited on February 20, 2009 at 1:43 PM. Reason : -]

2/20/2009 1:41:58 PM

The hiring manager is going to be in Atlanta all next week so he isn't going to make a decision until the first week in March. I'd say I am about 80% sure I will get a job offer from Company A because I have 2 years of proven success in that industry, but it's not guaranteed like Company B is.

^^ yes

[Edited on February 20, 2009 at 1:42 PM. Reason : a]

2/20/2009 1:42:27 PM

Quote :

"BUT, they said it will probably be a week and a half or so before they make their decision. "

2/20/2009 1:42:43 PM

Just tell them you need a week to decide in order to tie up some loose ends.


If they can't wait a week, then you probably don't want to be working for that company anyway.

2/20/2009 1:43:00 PM

Quote :

"it's a real transaction ok"

2/20/2009 1:44:13 PM

But they know I have been unemployed for over a month, what possible loose ends could I still need to tie up?

[Edited on February 20, 2009 at 1:44 PM. Reason : a]

2/20/2009 1:44:15 PM

Don't say loose ends, tell them the truth.

2/20/2009 1:44:48 PM

Well, I don't know about this kind of stuff. But can't you just be honest and tell them you are waiting to hear from someone else?

2/20/2009 1:45:30 PM

So I tell them that I am waiting to see if Company A is going to make me an offer? I doubt that is a good option because then Company B will know they are my second choice, and will probably tell me to go fuck myself.

2/20/2009 1:45:52 PM

Yes, you can. I've done this twice myself. I always landed the better job.

2/20/2009 1:46:13 PM

you could always just say you need a week to think about it

2/20/2009 1:47:09 PM

^ that is what I was thinking. and if they ask me what I have to think about, I will just tell me that they are not the only company that has made me an offer and I need to weigh the options.

[Edited on February 20, 2009 at 1:48 PM. Reason : a]

2/20/2009 1:47:44 PM

Just tell them you are still weighing your options and you want to know all your opportunities before making a final decision.

2/20/2009 1:48:00 PM

I need time to think about this.

keep in touch with them.

if you dont hear from the other company in 3 days, call them to follow up.

2/20/2009 1:48:27 PM

Take both jobs

2/20/2009 1:49:10 PM

dont lie to them...tell them you have to spend a week asking women on the internet if they think you're attractive.

2/20/2009 1:49:58 PM

^^This will work

[Edited on February 20, 2009 at 1:50 PM. Reason : ^]

2/20/2009 1:50:00 PM

I mean, I am thinking I can use the fact that I get an offer from Company B to put a sense of urgency into Company A. I can call Company A week from Monday and say "Look, I just need to know where you stand in the decision process. You are by far my first choice, but I have received an offer from another company and I really need to get back to working."

[Edited on February 20, 2009 at 1:52 PM. Reason : a]

2/20/2009 1:51:10 PM

don't be so quick to shrug off 40 cents a mile. even a couple of small trips a month would probably pay your car payment.. assuming you're not driving anything too insane.

you could always accept B and delay the start date if you're that hellbent against just quitting if you get the better job, i bet they'd give you the time, or at least meet you halfway.

but if it were me and i had to make a choice immediately, and hadnt worked in a bit, i'd take the first thing i could get. besides the millions of unemployed, half the people in the country are "somewhat worried" about losing their job... especially if you can get a contract id take either.

2/20/2009 1:53:58 PM

Quote :

"but if it were me and i had to make a choice immediately, and hadnt worked in a bit, i'd take the first thing i could get. besides the millions of unemployed, half the people in the country are "somewhat worried" about losing their job... especially if you can get a contract id take either."

and this is my thought exactly as well. i should be happy to take any job that makes me an offer, but it is hard when a better job may only be a week away from making me an offer.

2/20/2009 1:56:27 PM

but wouldn't you hate to end up with nothing just cause you got a little greedy, or hesitant to step outside your comfort zone?

i know its not likely, but it would suck. and with the way things are in greensboro these days, it would really suck. cause its almost guaranteed that you're not gonna get a job through any other path but networking... and most people with an "in" somewhere have already called in all their favors, at least the ones that i know

2/20/2009 2:04:25 PM

i know, and that is my dilemma. if there is just some way I can stall Company B for a week then it should all work out. but in no way would I turn down Company B and just take a chance on getting Company A

And it isnt a matter of greed. I mean, I would feel equally bad if I take the job at Company B then Company A calls me a week later with an offer.

[Edited on February 20, 2009 at 2:08 PM. Reason : a]

2/20/2009 2:07:18 PM

with the offers potentially coming within a week or so of each other, i think you could pull off taking B, then immediately quitting if A comes up.

as for the future and looking like you quit a job after a week... there's a new hires database and crap like that that the government uses and private industry uses for background info, but i think a couple of decent lies could get you out of that.... ie "i got offers from both, but only accepted one. job B must have entered my i9 or whatever prematurely"

2/20/2009 2:16:56 PM

Quote :

"I mean, I am thinking I can use the fact that I get an offer from Company B to put a sense of urgency into Company A. I can call Company A week from Monday and say "Look, I just need to know where you stand in the decision process. You are by far my first choice, but I have received an offer from another company and I really need to get back to working.""

I'd go this route. I did this once, and they called me the next day and offered me the job. I think it looks good if you can show an employer you are in demand.

2/20/2009 2:22:11 PM

without reading this thread, i say company a

2/20/2009 2:23:35 PM

was there a thread relating to why you are unemployed? and are you still seeing your old coworker?

2/20/2009 2:29:03 PM

yes and yes

2/20/2009 2:38:09 PM

with this job market you are lucky that two companies are intersted in your services. It appears that neither have offered, so you dont have the choice between the two yet......take what you can get, it is not a "seller"(employee) market....if i was the employer, I would tell you to decide within 24hrs, if you are still using delay tactics after that timeframe, I would move on to the next potential employee.

[Edited on February 20, 2009 at 2:47 PM. Reason : w]

2/20/2009 2:47:22 PM

^ I also agree with this. I am very fortunate to have 2 opportunities right now so if he tells me that I can't have a week to think about it, then I will just take the job.

2/20/2009 3:20:04 PM

I would personally take the first job and quit if I got the second job

2/20/2009 3:21:15 PM

Quote :

"^ that is what I was thinking. and if they ask me what I have to think about, I will just tell me that they are not the only company that has made me an offer and I need to weigh the options."

That could work. I used that tactic with an employer the last time I was job-hunting (though I only asked for 3 days, not a week) and they were willing to wait. Granted, this was in 2007 so it wasn't a shitty market like today, but it doesn't seem unreasonable. I doubt saying this will hurt your chances, worst case is that they tell you they need an answer next-day or something (which they probably would have said regardless of what you tell them).

The benefits at company A sound quite nice...especially if gas prices shoot back up to ridiculous levels like they did last summer. $400/month for auto expenses plus gas and insurance isn't bad at all. Company B is pretty competetive too, if you do around 1500 miles/month you'd probably end up about breaking even with A's automotive allowances.

Either way, you can look at that as additional to your base salary...so it's more like 47k/42k or higher.

2/20/2009 3:22:22 PM

In my experience, honesty is the best course of action. Asking for a week to think about it isn't unreasonable, and if they pry further, tell them the truth. You have another offer. Worst case scenario is they tell you that they cannot wait a week, and then you will know exactly what type of employeer they really are, and can come to a decision quickly. Contrary to popular belief, when employeers hear that you have other offers, they view you as a more valuable employee. They are less likely to cast you aside when you are in high demand.

[Edited on February 20, 2009 at 3:26 PM. Reason : -]

2/20/2009 3:22:46 PM

^^ yeah, my territory for Company B will be from Hickory NC to Raleigh and all surrounding areas, so I will probably be driving 2000 miles a month or more for business.

^ I agree, and I think that will be my course of action. I know they are not in a big hurry to hire a rep so waiting a week should not be a big deal. It isn't like it is a posted position or anything, it was just kind of a "hey, if you want to hire another sales rep I know a guy" type situation.

[Edited on February 20, 2009 at 3:27 PM. Reason : a]

2/20/2009 3:24:10 PM

you can request time to think about the offer before you make your decision. This way you get both offers in hand and can pick A.

2/20/2009 3:43:47 PM

Quote :

"you can request time to think about the offer before you make your decision. This way you get both offers in hand and can pick A."

2/20/2009 3:53:00 PM

I know, and that is my plan, but still I feel kind of guilty. I mean, I should be so thankful to have a job offer considering my situation and the current job market, but at the same time I would feel like a total dumbass for accepting the lesser job if the potential for the better job was still there.

2/20/2009 4:13:10 PM

Trust me man, I've done this before. Follow my method, and you will profit. No sweat.

2/20/2009 4:17:25 PM

are they companies located here in Greensboro? If so congrats with that. The job market here sucks.

2/20/2009 4:29:46 PM

Company A is in Burlington, but my territory will be Greensboro and Southern VA. Only have to be in Burlington 1 day a week.

Company B is in Greensboro, over by the Airport

[Edited on February 20, 2009 at 4:35 PM. Reason : a]

2/20/2009 4:31:40 PM

what kinda stuff you sellin?

what kinda stuff would you be sellin for this job?

[Edited on February 20, 2009 at 5:02 PM. Reason : .]

2/20/2009 5:00:04 PM

nothing right now, I'm unemployed

other than the shit I am selling on Craigslist while I clean my house out for my move

[Edited on February 20, 2009 at 5:02 PM. Reason : a]

2/20/2009 5:01:51 PM

You seem well qualified, go with A.

2/20/2009 5:15:32 PM

Quote :

"what kinda stuff would you be sellin for this job?"

Company A: Industrial sales
Company B: Tech stuff. Telecom, phone systems, network infrastructure, video surveilance, etc etc.

2/20/2009 5:18:24 PM

set em up

2/20/2009 5:19:32 PM