Hey guys,
I'm in a situation with a boutique firm in SF. If a firm gives you an offer with a deadline of a week (Friday). Is it ideal to accept it by Tuesday/Wednesday rather than the end of the week?
Thanks for your help!
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If you’re not waiting for another offer to come through that week then why not? I don’t think it makes a huge difference either way though, as long as you accept or decline by the deadline.
I am waiting for another offer which would mostly come by Thursday (If I get it). I was afraid that waiting so long doesn't show eagerness or dedication to the firm, and makes it obvious that I wanted another firm over them.
Don’t overthink it. If they give you a deadline, just meet the deadline. Unless people are over analyzing everything they won’t care (and usually won’t even notice when you accept/decline). Everyone knows you have other options in life, the reason to give you time is to let you think through all of those options and make sure you feel comfortable with your decision. Nobody wants to hire someone who is on the fence and feels forced into a decision, those people tend to leave or be unhappy. Take the time you need, make an informed decision.
This is exactly correct...if someone comes here and tells you otherwise they're just neurotic. I signed my IBD offer on one of the last days I was allowed and no one cared. I think they were actually happy I chose them over my other options - no one was walking around wondering what took so long.
Any insight into my response to the other individual above? Curious as it's a boutique firm in SF and hence doesn't have as big a team.
That makes sense, I was worried as this firm was a top option but I didn't want to rush into it without looking at other options rationally. Nonetheless, thanks for that insight!
Following up on this, I've had people from the firm reach out to ask whether I had any questions and such and that they're looking forward to having me join. Does that mean they're waiting on me and should reply asap?
They are doing 2 things:
1) politely trying to check in and remind you that they are waiting
2) making sure they have the opportunity to answer any questions you have and “sell” you on their firm
While they would like an answer ASAP (I’m sure) they gave you time for a reason. They want to make sure that if you are considering other options or have any hesitations that you ask/talk about them. I do this with candidates too, sometimes they have questions on how compensation might change and they are too hesitant to ask when they get an offer, other times they have done more research and have more questions but are scared to reach out. Whatever the reason, you might have questions now that you’ve slept on the offer for a few nights, they want to make sure they can help, and like I said, hopefully sell you on their firm. No firm wants a candidate to pick someone else just because they didn’t have the opportunity to talk through whatever concerns you have.
Any firm that reaches out like this just to force an answer, and does something crazy like rescind your offer because you are just following their deadlines isn’t worth anything.
Again, take your time, make the right decision for you. Also know that if you reach out to them and they setup a call, etc make sure you have good questions for them, because they’ll probably ask what’s on your mind, what hesitations you may have.
Firms will always love to get a response sooner than later but as long as you communicate you're not offending anyone. Take their calls, let them try to sell you a bit, but I'd be honest you are waiting for another process to finish up and want to fully consider both opportunities by seeing the other process through. Better to say that than ghost until Friday and then either accept or deny at the last second.
I'd certainly tell the other potential offer that you have a deadline and would appreciate any effort to accelerate their decision as well.
I waited until the last possible day to take mine and I had 3 weeks. You’ll get calls from people there post-offer who will typically try to get a read on you, I’d always just say I was “taking some time to think the offer through as it’s a big decision of where to start my career”. They get it, just don’t go dark on them and make sure you seem excited when you do accept.
This guy has it right
.
If you plan to accept, I would accept after a day or so. Show's your excitement / passion and will position you to kick off well in your role.
Great advice. When bonuses come out a year later, everyone is going to look back and be like, "Thank god that kid signed his offer within 2 days of us giving it to him. Even though he shat the bed, let's give him 100% of base"
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