The dangerous game of delaying job offers

By Jeff Altman, Big Game Hunter

Let me be blunt: I’ve seen more people lose job opportunities than I care to count because they played games of timing. As a recruiter, I’ve spent many years learning exactly what’s going on on the other side of the table.

You have received an offer. It’s decent work – maybe not your dream job, but reliable. In the meantime, you’re waiting to hear from the company you really want. So you start setting up a stall. You request time to “review your benefits plan.” You say you need to “discuss this with your spouse.” You’re buying time and hoping for the best.

Here’s what you need to know: The offer was cancelled. Quickly. And often for reasons that have nothing to do with you.

I’ve seen this happen dozens of times. The hiring manager who likes you also likes two other candidates. When the quarter ends, the budget they’ve secured for your role will be re-evaluated. Another department suddenly needs the employee more urgently. The company freezes hiring. The team decided it couldn’t wait another week and began looking for a replacement candidate.

You think you are very strategic. You are actually gambling.

Look, I get it. You want to see if there’s a better opportunity. You want leverage in negotiations. You don’t want to settle before you know all your options. This is human nature. But let’s talk about what actually happens when you stagnate.

The company operates on their schedule, not yours. When they make an offer, they need to fill the position. This sense of urgency doesn’t pause just because you’re going through other situations. Hiring managers told me, “If they’re not enthusiastic enough to accept in a reasonable amount of time, maybe they’re not a good fit.” Fair or not, that’s reality.

“One more week” often turns into no offer at all. Every day you delay, you’re rolling the dice. The company that made you an offer is continuing to recruit. They make other candidates feel warm. They won’t put hiring plans on hold while you fix the problem.

The risk-reward calculation is worse than you think. You’re risking something concrete in exchange for something hypothetical. Which company are you waiting for? They may not make an offer. They may underestimate you. It could take another two weeks for them to make a decision. At the same time, the bird in your hand flew away.

Here’s what people don’t want to hear: Sometimes you have to make decisions with incomplete information. Sometimes you have to accept an offer before you know if a better situation might come along. Sometimes you have to exit a process because you have made commitments elsewhere. That’s not fun. This is not satisfactory. But very professional.

Now, I’m not saying you can’t ask for time. A reasonable company can expect you to need a few days. Most employers will understand if you’ve already scheduled an interview. But there’s a difference between “I need to review everything by Friday” and “I need another two weeks because I’m still interviewing elsewhere.”

Before you stop, ask yourself this question: Would I be upset if this offer disappeared tomorrow? If so, you’re playing a dangerous game.

I’ve coached people through this situation hundreds of times. The people who end up doing well are the ones who are honest about the risks they face. They know their risk tolerance. They understand that sometimes it’s wise to accept a good offer rather than gamble on one that might be better.

The people who end up in my office frustrated and without opportunities? They are sure they can control the timing. They trust that the companies they like will wait. They underestimated how quickly the company was moving forward.

Here’s my suggestion:

If the offer at hand is really good—and you’d be happy to accept it if it were your only option—then be very careful about how long you procrastinate. If you insist on waiting for something slightly better, that’s a bad choice. If you insist on doing something transformative that’s worth risking your current offer, at least you’re being honest about the risk.

Be professional when communicating. If you need extra days, please ask directly and explain why. Don’t pretend to be concerned about benefits packages when you’re really just waiting on another company. Recruiters and hiring managers can see this immediately.

If a company you like can’t offer you a timeline that works with your current hiring deadline, this will tell you something about how they operate and prioritize hiring.

The disturbing truth? If you play it safe, you may lose. You can also lose money gambling. There is no perfect answer. But at least understand what you’re actually doing when you choose to procrastinate.

The offers in your inbox are real. Everything else is just hope and possibility. Take appropriate action.

Ⓒ Big Game Hunters, Asheville, NC 2025

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