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[47587853]

Hi there,

After 4 campus interviews so far, the department chair at the last university called me days ago and said she was working on a recommendation of me to the dean. She told me the official offer would be sent to me in a couple of weeks. Meanwhile, I have another interview to come in July. Although I like the last interviewed university, this to-go university is a better place for work and life.

My questions regarding the current situation are:
(1)   Is it now the right time to negotiation? Or should I wait till the official offer letter is in hands?
(2)    How long do they usually give for considering the offer? If no enough time, is it appropriate to let the to-go university know and ask for an earlier interview?
(3)   Is it possible that a university takes back an offer because the candidate asks too much during negotiation?

Thanks for your information in advance.

[ruralguy]

It doesn't seem totally clear to me what is going on here. The answer to (1) depends on what power the Dean has. If the Dean
is the only one who really has the power to an extend an offer of any kind (oral or written), then you must wait for the Dean to negotiate. However, at bigger schools, chairs often have this power. I would go back to the chair and say something like "I have a couple of concerns about "X", should I address those now or should I wait for the Dean?"

Regarding (2), most places give a week or two. And yes, you can try rescheduling, but don't push it. If someone resists, then best to go with the original timing and make the best of this difficult situation.

As far as (3) goes, I don't think an offer would get pulled just because you are negotiating, but yes, I think there are cases where one party or another gets exasperated, and just pulls out of the process. I..e., the offer effectively goes away because acceptable terms can not be met.

My questions regarding the current situation are:
(1)   Is it now the right time to negotiation? Or should I wait till the official offer letter is in hands?
(2)    How long do they usually give for considering the offer? If no enough time, is it appropriate to let the to-go university know and ask for an earlier interview?
(3)   Is it possible that a university takes back an offer because the candidate asks too much during negotiation?

Thanks for your information in advance.

[my2cents]

Waiting is the name of the game... Certainly do nothing to speed up the process and avoid verbally accepting the job. Let them nicely  place A take their precious time to get their paperwork sorted...
By that time you will hopefully have interview at place B, and can stall place A a few weeks, as you put pressure on B to let you know if they want you.

You can only effectively negotiate when you have 2 offers in hand. I mean, with no counter offer, what is there to negotiate, really? If dean won't give you more money or time off ... what can you really say in reply? "Ugh... I see."?  

[harsh_critic]

Be patient.  Since you are very interested in the second school, any delay in an official offer from school 1 is an advantage to you.

So I wouldn't push school 1 to hurry up. Wait to start negotiations until you receive the official offer. And contrary to the previous post...you do have negotiating power as long as you are willing (at least in principle) to walk away from the "bird in the hand" in favor of the possible offer lurking in the bush.

Also, once you have an offer in hand from school 1, talk to school 2 and tell them. This may light a fire under school 2 to either push the interview up or speed up the decisionmaking.

And if you become troublesome to school 1 during negotiations it is possible that they may reconsider and pull their offer (particularly if candidate 2 is a viable choice).

and as Zarkhov always says, "Read Getting to Yes"