How long can you stall a job offer? (2023)

How long can I hold off on answering an offer?

One Week is Standard

However, there is no set number of days that a person can take to respond to a job offer. If you need more time to decide, tell the company how long you need. A week may even be too much for you. Some people will decide on the spot and will accept the position right away.

How long is too long to consider a job offer?

since that generally telegraphs that you're hoping to use that time to get a better offer somewhere else. But one week is generally considered acceptable, and if you feel you need to offer an explanation, you can say you need to “talk it through with your partner” or “run the numbers.”

Is it OK to delay accepting a job offer?

It´s perfectly acceptable to ask for more time to make a decision or to even decline a job offer. Although it may feel scary and awkward, it's a lot better than accepting an offer for the sake of it.

How long should you keep job offer waiting?

If you're like many job candidates, you might be wondering, "How much time do I have to make a decision?" According to multiple hiring managers, requesting 48 to 72 hours is perfectly reasonable.

How do you delay giving an answer to a job offer?

How late is too late to decline a job offer?

It's never too late to back out of a job offer. However, there may be consequences. During my time working in university career services, we dealt with many scenarios like this when working as the intermediary between students and employers.

Can I ask for more time to accept job offer?

Even if you know you want to accept the job, requesting time to consider a job offer gives you the opportunity to carefully weigh up the position's pros and cons. It can put you in a stronger position to negotiate your salary. After you've thanked the employer, ask if there's a deadline to respond to the job offer.

Can I accept a job offer and later reject it?

You may decline a job offer, but you can still leave the possibility open for other opportunities in the future. It's best to consider any alternatives before declining the job position.

Is it okay to reject a job offer in the last minute?

The reality is employers know that candidates may not accept a job offer even if they interviewed hard for it. If you still feel bad, think of it this way: Like the way hiring managers turn down applicants, job seekers also have the right to turn down job offers. Declining a job offer will not burn bridges.

Is it ever OK to accept a job offer and continue to interview?

Accepting an Offer and Continuing to Interview is a Bad Idea

With a few limitations in certain states, all states are formally recognized as at-will employment states, meaning you can resign from a job at any time. (The employer can also let you go at any time.)

What if I am offered a job but waiting on another?

Ask for time to decide

Then you can ask for up to one week to consider the offer. Gauge the recruiter's reaction. Some companies won't want to wait that long because the market is so competitive, and the company will want to know if it needs to move to a backup candidate or start the search all over again.

How do I delay a job offer while waiting for another?

Reach out to your main point of contact at the company — usually the hiring manager or the internal recruiter responsible for filling the position — and explain that you have another offer on the table, but if the folks at Company B and you can come to an agreement, you'd really prefer to join their team.

How do I postpone my offer deadline?

At what point can you reject a job offer?

It's considered polite to phone the employer to decline a job offer, before you confirm in writing. You can decline a job offer by letter or email. Send this as soon as possible, i.e. within 48 hours. If you leave it too late, it'll seem like an afterthought.

Should I feel guilty for declining a job offer?

You have to be your biggest defender and take care of yourself—because your job is never going to care about you the way you do. Trust your intuition, listen to your gut and put yourself first. You're worth it. Never feel guilty about doing what's best for you.

How do you ask for an extension to accept a job offer?

I am honored by your offer, and while I am very excited about this opportunity, I'm also in the hiring process with other companies, and I'd like to respectfully ask you for the favor of a two-week extension of my acceptance deadline.

Is it unprofessional to accept a job and then decline?

Is it unprofessional to decline a job offer? No. It is not unprofessional to decline a job offer. Hiring managers and recruiters may expect candidates to have multiple job offers to compare and will expect some candidates to decline.

How long can you wait to accept or decline a job offer?

You can justifiably take about a week if you want, but the employer might expect you to respond sooner (as in a situation where they think they've offered you a really good position). Generally, you can wait up to three work days without hurting any feelings if there's not a hard deadline.

How do you stall a job offer?

Can a job give you an offer and then take it back?

Once an employer offers you a job, you have a period of time to decide if you want to accept the offer. Sometimes, though, employers choose to rescind job offers during that time frame.

Can you accept a job offer then accept a different one?

Yes. Technically, anyone can turn down a job offer, back out of a job already started, or renege on an acceptance at any point. Most states operate with what is called “at will employment.” This means the employee and the employer are not in a binding contract.

Is it rude to not immediately accept a job offer?

A responsible employer wants prospective employees to have some time to think—usually a day or two—before accepting a job offer. But if you want to negotiate the terms, respond by saying: "I've considered the offer and it's a wonderful opportunity; I would want to discuss the details more carefully.

How to delay accepting a job offer while waiting for another?

Reach out to your main point of contact at the company — usually the hiring manager or the internal recruiter responsible for filling the position — and explain that you have another offer on the table, but if the folks at Company B and you can come to an agreement, you'd really prefer to join their team.

Should you accept first salary offer?

It really depends. Some people feel you should take the first offer if you're happy with it. Never negotiate just for the sake of negotiating. Other people disagree with that position and believe anytime you're given the chance to negotiate, you should.

What is an exploding job offer?

An exploding offer is one with a time limit, which you'll often find in the job market as employers are looking to hire quickly and may also not want to be your second choice while you wait for another offer to come in first.