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Shoot to get another job offer. HR treats you much better when they know they have to compete for you - they'll speed up every step of the process, and they'll

by rm999 11y ago

Shoot to get another job offer. HR treats you much better when they know they have to compete for you - they'll speed up every step of the process, and they'll be more willing to negotiate. Also, you may end up liking the other offer more :)

auxym 11y ago
Thanks for the tip, I'm also quite far into the process with a second company, and still making calls to friends at other places. I do have a question though. When asked about whether you are interviewing elsewhere, what should I answer? Be vague and 1 or 2 other places? Or name specific companies/roles? What should I say when they ask what your first choice would be if you were extended similar offers at all these places (it also seems to be a standard question)? Sorry for being off-topic. I've read Patrick Mackenzie's Salary Negotiation advice post 3x now, and it left me wondering about the above.
- rm999 11y ago
  >Be vague and 1 or 2 other places? Or name specific companies/roles? I've seen people take both approaches. I like to be open to avoid coming off as antagonistic, but HR folks do sometimes talk to each other across companies and this can potentially harm you if you're not careful. >What should I say when they ask what your first choice would be if you were extended similar offers at all these places (it also seems to be a standard question)? I avoid being cornered into making a promise, but I always make it clear that I'm very excited to work for their company. Always. HR people are adept at gauging interest and don't want to be used by applicants. They don't want to hire people who aren't excited about the job. They know you will negotiate when the time comes.
  - auxym 11y ago
    Thanks a lot :) Mostly confirms what I was thinking.
Bahamut 11y ago
I found this out the hard way - when I first was in the interview process with Google, it took almost 3 weeks before I had a technical phone screen scheduled. I ended up canceling it because I took another offer. Later on, when I started the process and had the initial phone screen, I mentioned that I was interviewing with the likes of Facebook, Amazon, and more, I was immediately told that there was an opening for a technical phone screen the next week. I think they base part of their scheduling on how many similar companies are trying to hire you.

by rm999 11y ago

auxym 11y ago

Thanks for the tip, I'm also quite far into the process with a second company, and still making calls to friends at other places. I do have a question though. When asked about whether you are interviewing elsewhere, what should I answer? Be vague and 1 or 2 other places? Or name specific companies/roles? What should I say when they ask what your first choice would be if you were extended similar offers at all these places (it also seems to be a standard question)? Sorry for being off-topic. I've read Patrick Mackenzie's Salary Negotiation advice post 3x now, and it left me wondering about the above.

rm999 11y ago
>Be vague and 1 or 2 other places? Or name specific companies/roles? I've seen people take both approaches. I like to be open to avoid coming off as antagonistic, but HR folks do sometimes talk to each other across companies and this can potentially harm you if you're not careful. >What should I say when they ask what your first choice would be if you were extended similar offers at all these places (it also seems to be a standard question)? I avoid being cornered into making a promise, but I always make it clear that I'm very excited to work for their company. Always. HR people are adept at gauging interest and don't want to be used by applicants. They don't want to hire people who aren't excited about the job. They know you will negotiate when the time comes.
- auxym 11y ago
  Thanks a lot :) Mostly confirms what I was thinking.

Bahamut 11y ago

I found this out the hard way - when I first was in the interview process with Google, it took almost 3 weeks before I had a technical phone screen scheduled. I ended up canceling it because I took another offer. Later on, when I started the process and had the initial phone screen, I mentioned that I was interviewing with the likes of Facebook, Amazon, and more, I was immediately told that there was an opening for a technical phone screen the next week. I think they base part of their scheduling on how many similar companies are trying to hire you.