What to Say to a Job Offer When Waiting for Another (+ Examples)

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Table of contents

What to Say to a Job Offer When You’re Waiting to Hear Back From Another
How to Communicate Your Interest in a Role That Hasn’t Responded Yet
How to Decide Which Job to Accept With Multiple Offers
How to Notify a Job That You’ve Accepted Another Offer
Key Takeaways

Receiving a job offer is an exciting time for any job seeker. But what do you do if you're still waiting to hear back from another opportunity? Do you accept the offer? Do you tell the other employer that you have a pending offer?

Our guide will answer these questions and more as we cover:

What to say to a job offer when waiting for another job that you're still interested in
How to communicate your interest in a role that hasn't responded yet
How to decide which job to accept with multiple offers
How to notify a job that you've accepted another offer

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What to Say to a Job Offer When You're Waiting to Hear Back From Another

You've earned a job offer. That's something to celebrate! But what do you do if your job search is ongoing and you're still holding out hope for another role? You may not want to lose out on your current opportunity, but you don't want to close the door on the role that you're waiting to hear from.

In this situation, clear and timely communication is key. Keep these strategies in mind as you communicate with the offering role:

Communicate promptly: To ensure that you don't lose your chance to accept the job offer, you need to respond right away. Let the employer know that you're grateful for the offer and considering accepting the role.
Be enthusiastic: A non-committal response that shows the employer that you're more interested in other options is not the way you want to start your relationship with a potential employer. Make sure all of your communications are open, polite, and enthusiastic.
Procure a formal offer letter: An informal or verbal job offer is not definite and can't be relied upon. Politely let the employer know that in order to consider the role, you'll need a formal offer letter.
Ask for an acceptance timeline: For your own peace of mind and out of respect to the employer, ask for a timeline for acceptance. If the employer's timeline does not allow you enough time to contact your preferred role, be prepared to ask for more time to consider the role. Keep in mind that doing so will not guarantee the employer's patience.
Act as soon as you're ready: Leaving a job offer waiting is always a risk. Depending on how strongly you prefer the other role, it may be worth it to you to wait. But don't expect the job offer to wait for you. If the job offer you already got is important to you and you think you may want to accept it, then let them know by the deadline—even if you don't have time to achieve closure with all your outstanding applications.

Sample response to a job offer when you're waiting to hear back from another employer

Subject: Thank You for the Offer – Angela Wallmer

Dear Frank Jessup,

Thank you very much for offering me the UX Designer position at Tomorrow Technologies. I truly appreciate the opportunity and the confidence you've shown in my skills and experience. I'm excited about the prospect of joining your team and contributing to the usability of your digital tools for users worldwide.

Before I can make a final decision, I would like to ask for a formal written offer outlining the details of the role, including compensation, benefits, and start date. Having that information in writing will help me consider this opportunity carefully and responsibly.

Also, may I ask what your timeline is for a decision? I want to be respectful of your process while making sure I can fully evaluate the opportunity.

Thank you again for this exciting offer. I truly enjoyed speaking with you and look forward to hearing from you soon.

Warm regards,
Angela Wallmer
(555) 555-5555
awallmer@example.com

Pro tip

Notice how this candidate doesn't mention another role? This is the right approach. It's OK to let employers know that you need more time, but acting like they're your second choice can sour your relationship during a critical period.

How to Communicate Your Interest in a Role That Hasn't Responded Yet

Now that we've covered how to respond to a job offer when waiting to hear back from another role, let's discuss what you should say to the employer who hasn't responded. If your preferred role is still considering your candidacy, it can help to follow up after your interview and let the employer know that you're considering another offer.

This should be done politely and without expectations. While you shouldn't feel shy about communicating, don't expect the employer to immediately rush to offer you a role. This isn't about applying pressure—it's about communicating where you're at in your job search.

Tell the employer the following:

That you are considering other offers
That the role in question is your preferred role—if this is true
Why you're interested in this particular job

Sample email to a preferred employer after receiving another offer

Subject: Continued Interest in UX Designer Role

Dear Malina Wyatt,

I hope you're doing well. I wanted to thank you again for the opportunity to interview for the UX Designer role at Intuitive Digital. I've really enjoyed learning more about your team and the exciting work happening at your organization, and I remain enthusiastic about the opportunity to contribute my passion for user-first design to your team's mission.

I'm writing to share that I've received another job offer, and they've asked for a decision soon. However, I want to be transparent in letting you know that Intuitive Digital is my top choice. If there is a possibility of a position for me on your team, I would love to have the opportunity to factor that into my decision-making process.

I completely understand that these things take time, and I respect your process. I am reaching out to keep you informed on the status of my job search and express my sincere interest in joining your team, should the timing align.

Thank you again for your time and consideration. Please let me know if there's any additional information I can provide.

Warm regards,
Angela Wallmer
(555) 555-5555
awalmer@example.com

How to Decide Which Job to Accept With Multiple Offers

If everything goes well, the ideal scenario would mean that your second potential employer also sends an offer… Now what? How do you decide which offer to accept when you've received multiple offers from exciting opportunities?

To make the best decision for yourself, consider your career values, financial needs, circumstances, and priorities.

Here are some factors to weigh as you make this personal decision:

Salary: Depending on your financial situation and the differences between the offers, the choice may be obvious. However, if the role you're most interested in offers you a lower salary, try negotiating for a higher one first. If their final offer doesn't meet your needs, then you may want to consider accepting your other job offer.
Personal values: Working for an organization that shares your values can improve your work life. While you weigh your options, try writing down your values and comparing them to the mission statements of each organization. Finding alignment in values may help you make your decision.
Work-life balance: Flexible working schedules, work-from-home jobs, and generous PTO can contribute to the value of a job offer.
Benefits: From insurance to 401(k) contributions, benefits can make a huge difference when it comes to compensation, sometimes even bridging gaps in salary between different roles. Read your offer letters carefully to understand what each role has to offer.
Culture: Understanding a company's mission statement is one thing, but culture can be hard to pin down. Research the working experience of an organization's employees using sites like Glassdoor and LinkedIn. Understanding how your potential coworkers feel about the role will help you make an informed decision.
Job security: Broadly researching the role may help make your decision easier. Is the company performing well overall? Do its employees live in fear of layoffs, or is there a sense of security? While it can be impossible to answer these questions definitively from the outside, a bit of research can help you decide if the role feels like a solid future or a leap of faith.

How to Notify a Job That You've Accepted Another Offer

Now that you've decided which role to accept, it's time to notify the other employer. Whether you have multiple offers or you're simply involved in the interview process with multiple roles, notifying everyone involved of your decision promptly is an integrity move that gives employers a chance to focus their time and energy on other candidates.

Sample email rescinding your interest in a role because you've accepted another offer

Subject: Withdrawal of Candidacy – Angela Wallmer

Dear Frank Jessup,

Thank you very much for the time and consideration you've extended during the interview process for the UX Designer position at Tomorrow Technologies. I truly appreciated the opportunity to learn more about your team and the exciting work being done by your organization.

After careful consideration, I've decided to accept another offer that aligns with my current goals and needs. As such, I would like to respectfully withdraw my candidacy for the position.

I'm grateful for the chance to have connected, and I wish you and the team continued success in finding the right candidate. I hope our paths may cross again in the future.

Warm regards,
Angela Wallmer
(555) 555-5555
awallmer@example.com

This example shows how to rescind your interest in one role to accept another, but what happens if you want to accept another offer after already accepting a job? In that case, the key is to be transparent and prompt.

Don't avoid the subject and string the employer along—give them time to reach out to other interested candidates who may also be considering multiple options. You don't need to be overly apologetic, but you should acknowledge the inconvenience and be careful not to burn a potential bridge. Check out the following example for reference.

Sample email notifying an employer that you're rescinding your job offer acceptance in favor of another job

Subject: Change in Decision – Angela Wallmer

Dear Malina Wyatt,

I want to start by expressing my sincere appreciation for the offer to join Intuitive Digital as a UX Designer, and for the support, enthusiasm, and professionalism you've shown throughout the interview process.

This has not been an easy message to write, but after considerable thought, I have decided to accept another offer that aligns more closely with my long-term career goals. I am respectfully withdrawing my acceptance of the UX Designer position at Intuitive Digital.

I apologize for the inconvenience this may cause and express my sincere regret for the timing of this decision. I hold Intuitive Digital in high regard and remain grateful for the opportunity to engage with such a talented team. I hope to stay in touch and would welcome the chace to reconnect in the future.

Thank you again for your understanding.

Sincerely,
Angela Wallmer
(555) 555-5555

Pro tip

Even if you've already started the new job, it's OK to quit in favor of another opportunity. Quitting a job you've just started may not be ideal, but employers understand that you have to make the career choices that work for you. Be transparent, be professional, and act promptly. You'll be glad that you didn't burn any professional bridges.

Key Takeaways

Communicate with confidence
Whether you're asking for a formal offer letter, informing an employer that you have another offer, or rescinding your candidacy, communicate your intentions promptly and with confidence. The professional thing to do is to be open and move quickly. Employers will appreciate your honesty.
Be professional, not apologetic
When declining an offer or asking for more time, it's normal to feel awkward, but you have to take on tough topics if you want to land a role that's right for you. Don't apologize for normal professional decision-making.
Weigh your options carefully
From working culture to benefits to salary, no two roles are exactly alike. Before making a final decision and accepting an offer, do your research to understand each role and read your offer letters carefully. Make sure you have a clear understanding of what's important to you before moving forward.
Make the call
There's only so much deliberating you can do, and even when you've communicated professionally, patience only goes so far. Don't miss out on the right opportunity because you're stuck deliberating. Once you've weighed your options properly, trust yourself to make the right decision.

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