<p>OP, there is nothing per se wrong with your son asking for an extension, just tell him to be prepared in case the company won’t grant it. He is taking the risk that the company might interpret his request as a lack of sincere interest. If he can live with that, then he should do what feels right to him.</p>
<p>If you accept a job and change your mind later, then you better make sure it’s not a place you would ever want to work at later. In my business, your word is as good as gold, you live up to your commitment. I would advise my kids to think hard before accepting any job, but once it’s done, then do not accept another offer even if it’s much better.</p>
<p>As someone that does quite a bit hiring, I would withdraw an offer if the candidate couldn’t commit. Another thing to remember is that a lot of time is spent and negotiation is done for every hire. If you don’t follow through with your commitment, you make your manager (sponsor) look bad. </p>
<p>I still remember in my 20s, a premier IB offered me a job after over 20 interviews. I asked for 24 hours to think it over. They were so shocked and so upset they withdrew the offer. It worked out fine because the firm where I really wanted to work at came trhough with the offer next day. The point here is that if I knew the first firm was THE firm I wanted to work at, I would have accepted it right away, I wouldn’t have to wait to see what else was out there. As I got older, I have used my family and husband as excuse to have some time to think it over.</p>
<p>In biotech, a candidate is typically given 10-14 days to mull the offer and 2 weeks after the acceptance to tie up loose ends at the old place of employment (biotech is a small sandbox, and everyone wants to play nice even if they are stealing other kids’ toys ;)). Employment is usually “at will”, which means you can leave/they can fire you any time with little or no notice. If you accept an offer, you can change your mind (I did it once) and tell “Thanks but no thanks”, but that means you will never be able to get employment at that place (in my case, I found out that the company was run so poorly that everyone was trying to leave, so no regrets about becoming unemployable at that place). The job offers typically spell out what happens to hiring bonuses and relocation expenses if the new hire leaves in less than a year. Stock options are vested in 1-4-10 fashion, which means if you stay less than a year, you do not get to enjoy this benefit. Staying at a place(especially the first one) for less than a year without a reasonable explanation (for instance, layoff) does not look good on a biotech resume.</p>
<p>My S interviewed for 3 jobs around the same time, (three years ago) and ended up getting offers at all three. First and second offer came at the same time, and he hadn’t heard from the third. He accepted the second. A week later he was offered the third, which was his favorite, but he told them, Oh, I would have loved to, but have already accepted company B. They were very nice about it, and said to keep them in mind “in a few years” if he decided it wasn’t working out at B.</p>
<p>He went for the “bird in hand” but it was very clear all around that no one would expect/accept him to jump ship. He thought it was interesting that company C implied that he should not consider switching jobs for a couple years.</p>
<p>I am an HRM at a company that sells to Biotech so we “play” in the same field. I usually put an offer out for 48-72 hour acceptance. If it is drawn out for too long, I find that it is because my offer is being used to increase salary at current position or against an offer from another company. If I wait for too long, I will lose candidate B. Smaller companies generally have more immediate needs to fill because staffing levels are usually low to begin with and we can’t afford to wait.</p>
<p>unsoccer-mom, what you describe sounds like the procedure that you would follow for a market hire. Would you follow the same procedure for a college hire where the job is not expected to be filled until next June?</p>
<p>BB, yes that “at will” clause is in the offer. What do you mean biotech is a small sandbox? It is a huge field. Do you mean a certain sector?</p>
<p>I believe Expectation of immediate offer acceptance represents baby boomer generation values. Hey we are hiring you, be thankful. Many consider it as insulting that you are not grateful enough, you don’t think highly of us. All it does is increase the reneges.</p>
<p>Good advise, Simba. Does it apply to students being
recruited from top universities?</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Botech is a sector. You screw one pooch they will all find out, and next thing you know you’re changing rat cages at a university.</p>
<p>Don’t accept a job if you don’t plan on taking it, end of story. Not only are you messing around with the company, but you are messing around with other peoples lives who might be waiting on the job as the companies second choice. Selfish, IMO.</p>
<p>If one googles biotech it appears to be a very large industry, with many sectors.</p>
<p>Can you define it?</p>
<p>“If it is drawn out for too long, I find that it is because my offer is being used to increase salary at current position or against an offer from another company.”</p>
<p>Nothing wrong with that.</p>
<p>So you should accept the job and then that’s it. You are stuck. How long before you can quit?</p>
<p>The average length of stay at a job today is two years. This is because companies no longer offer pensions, or so I have been told.</p>
<p>If Schiano can do it…
[Schiano</a> turns down Michigan football job - Yahoo! News](<a href=“http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071207/ap_on_sp_co_ne/fbc_michigan_schiano;_ylt=Av3M1rFGzOVnh1sJVnY_hrfGOrgF]Schiano”>http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071207/ap_on_sp_co_ne/fbc_michigan_schiano;_ylt=Av3M1rFGzOVnh1sJVnY_hrfGOrgF)</p>
<p>"Michigan athletic director Bill Martin and Schiano met for several hours in New York on Tuesday.</p>
<p>The Star-Ledger of Newark reported Schiano tentatively accepted the job on Wednesday, but he had a change of heart on Thursday"</p>
<p>Nothing wrong.</p>
<p>Now they have ‘hire at will’ clause in offers. Employers should not get mad if recruits start using them.</p>
<p>I was doubly surprised–that UM offered and that he turned it down.</p>
<p>An update:</p>
<p>I just spoke with my son. Last week he sent an email to the HR person requesting an extension. Today the president of the company called and spoke with my son for about a half hour. He granted the extension until early January, but to increase the incentive to make an earlier decision he upped the signing bonus by another $2K if he signs by Christmas Eve.</p>
<p>Now you know. They want your son. :)</p>
<p>Good luck to your son OP. The most recent info I have is that child is accepting his offer today. It is really his dream job. However, against parental advise, he is going to try to negotiate a higher salary. It will be interesting to see how that works out.</p>