An offer that expires in 48 hours is not a compliment, it is a tactic. Tight deadlines exist to stop you from finishing conversations with other employers, because your alternatives are the company’s competition.
The good news: deadlines are softer than they look. A company that spent weeks and real money interviewing you does not walk away because you asked for a few days. Ask warmly and specifically: “I’m excited about this offer and I want to make a decision I’ll stand behind. Could I have until Friday?” A reasonable employer says yes almost every time, and an employer that refuses a two-day extension is telling you something about how it treats people, which is also useful information.
Use the time honestly. Call the other companies in your pipeline, tell them you have an offer in hand with a date, and ask if they can accelerate. Recruiters move fast for candidates with deadlines; it is the one moment the process runs at your speed.
While the clock runs, verify the offer is actually good. Check the base against market median for the title and state with our free market check, and put competing packages through the offer comparison tool so the decision is arithmetic instead of adrenaline.
One rule regardless of pressure: never accept and keep looking. Reneging burns a bridge in what is always a smaller industry than it appears. Buy the time first, decide once.
Reviewed by Michael Dennis Graham
Michael Dennis Graham is the founder of Grahall, LLC, an executive compensation consulting firm, and the author of numerous books on compensation and total rewards strategy. He has advised boards and management teams on pay design and has served as an expert on compensation matters. Articles on WePayFairly are prepared by our editorial team and reviewed for accuracy and methodology.
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