[Wolfchicken]

I just got an offer for a position in the town I live in. I need to give them an answer in one week. I have an interview next week on Wednesday, that is flying me out of state. I probably won’t find out if I get that job until later next week or beginning of November. How do I know what to do? I don’t want to cancel the interview for next week since they already bought my plane ticket and made travel arrangements for me, and I really want to see if I like the city I would potentially be living in and if it would be a firm I would enjoy working at. At the same time, I don’t want to just decline the place that just offered me the position because what if I don’t get an offer at the second place? Have any of you ever had this same problem??? I don’t know what to do.

BEC - PASS
FAR - PASS
Audit - PASS
REG - PASS

[stephe49]

For any employer to give you a deadline seems slightly unreasonable. If the company that offered you the position recruits at your school I would talk to who is in charge at career services for your school. If they did not recuit at school, ask them for an extra week or two to evalauate the opportunities.

F - 79 5/31/13
R - 68 07/12/13 Retake 88! 10/18/13
B - 78 08/31/13
A - 64 01/03/14 Retake 75! 5/23/14 I would rather have a 75 than a 99 any day!

[stephe49]

For any employer to give you a deadline seems slightly unreasonable. If the company that offered you the position recruits at your school I would talk to who is in charge at career services for your school. If they did not recuit at school, ask them for an extra week or two to evalauate the opportunities.

F - 79 5/31/13
R - 68 07/12/13 Retake 88! 10/18/13
B - 78 08/31/13
A - 64 01/03/14 Retake 75! 5/23/14 I would rather have a 75 than a 99 any day!

[Ntw6817]

Asks for an extension, most of the time they give it to you.

[Ntw6817]

Asks for an extension, most of the time they give it to you.

[san4596]

I say take the job in your local town, and explain to them that you have to travel out of state that week. Go to the interview and see how everything goes.There would be only 3 outcomes: 1) No offer, and you have a job. They will never know! 2) You get an offer not worth leaving the new job. Turn it down, and your current employer will still be clueless! 3) You receive an amazing offer, the town is awesome, and you have to tell the employer goodbye.

Tip: If #3 happens, be straight forward with them. Simply tell them an offer came in from one of the many interviews, and that you could not pass it up. At that point, do not even consider attempting to negotiate counter offers. Just leave it at that, and enjoy life in the new city.

CPA EXAM: DONE!!!!
Ethics Course: Passed
Application Mailed: 3/16/15
Professional Conduct Exam: 97
Certification Date: 4/2/15!!!

[san4596]

I say take the job in your local town, and explain to them that you have to travel out of state that week. Go to the interview and see how everything goes.There would be only 3 outcomes: 1) No offer, and you have a job. They will never know! 2) You get an offer not worth leaving the new job. Turn it down, and your current employer will still be clueless! 3) You receive an amazing offer, the town is awesome, and you have to tell the employer goodbye.

Tip: If #3 happens, be straight forward with them. Simply tell them an offer came in from one of the many interviews, and that you could not pass it up. At that point, do not even consider attempting to negotiate counter offers. Just leave it at that, and enjoy life in the new city.

CPA EXAM: DONE!!!!
Ethics Course: Passed
Application Mailed: 3/16/15
Professional Conduct Exam: 97
Certification Date: 4/2/15!!!

[Anonymous]

If you have your heart set on checking out the out-of-town firm, I think you need to let HR at the first firm know. Just call them, let them know the situation, and ask for a little more time. Then, if you feel the out-of-town interview goes well, let firm #2 know you already have an offer with a firm deadline, and time is a significant factor for you.

The only downside is that firm #1 may be a bit upset, but your only other choice is to just outright accept their offer and give up on Firm #2. If you approach it honestly and professionally, chances are they'll understand, not be upset, and give you a few extra days. And if Firm #2 knows you already have an offer, they will offer sooner if they really want you.

Whatever you do, don't accept #1, go to #2, then back out of #1 if you get offered something else! I've seen it happen, and firms far and wide will remember it very negatively (towards you, AND your university if you have one recently)!

[Anonymous]

If you have your heart set on checking out the out-of-town firm, I think you need to let HR at the first firm know. Just call them, let them know the situation, and ask for a little more time. Then, if you feel the out-of-town interview goes well, let firm #2 know you already have an offer with a firm deadline, and time is a significant factor for you.

The only downside is that firm #1 may be a bit upset, but your only other choice is to just outright accept their offer and give up on Firm #2. If you approach it honestly and professionally, chances are they'll understand, not be upset, and give you a few extra days. And if Firm #2 knows you already have an offer, they will offer sooner if they really want you.

Whatever you do, don't accept #1, go to #2, then back out of #1 if you get offered something else! I've seen it happen, and firms far and wide will remember it very negatively (towards you, AND your university if you have one recently)!

[mla1169]

I agree with SAN4596.

FAR- 77
AUD -49, 71, 84
REG -56,75!
BEC -75

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[mla1169]

I agree with SAN4596.

FAR- 77
AUD -49, 71, 84
REG -56,75!
BEC -75

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[Anonymous]

Just be honest, they will understand. You don't want to be in a position where you lose an opportunity b/c of a lack of communication.

[Anonymous]

Just be honest, they will understand. You don't want to be in a position where you lose an opportunity b/c of a lack of communication.

[Gatorbates]

If you don't want to cancel the interview, then don't. Listen to your heart. I would say that accepting the position and then leaving after a week does not look good at all, but if you're going to be in a different city, then who cares? They may blackball you in that town, but you won't be there.

Other things to consider … you may receive an offer from the out of town firm, but it may be a few weeks down the road, and you'll have to wait. You can never tell. I just finished a 5th interview with a company three weeks ago. The first one was last May. Granted, that's not the norm, but no one can predict the future. It's all about what you want, and if you are ok leaving a firm you just accepted with. I personally would be upfront an honest … just ask them if you can give them an answer when you get back from “your trip”. You should have some kind of feeling whether the out of town firm will give you an offer or not.

Licensed Florida CPA:
B: 71, 73, 79
A: 83
R: 78 (expired), 77
F: 74, 74, 80

It's finally freaking over.

[Gatorbates]

If you don't want to cancel the interview, then don't. Listen to your heart. I would say that accepting the position and then leaving after a week does not look good at all, but if you're going to be in a different city, then who cares? They may blackball you in that town, but you won't be there.

Other things to consider … you may receive an offer from the out of town firm, but it may be a few weeks down the road, and you'll have to wait. You can never tell. I just finished a 5th interview with a company three weeks ago. The first one was last May. Granted, that's not the norm, but no one can predict the future. It's all about what you want, and if you are ok leaving a firm you just accepted with. I personally would be upfront an honest … just ask them if you can give them an answer when you get back from “your trip”. You should have some kind of feeling whether the out of town firm will give you an offer or not.

Licensed Florida CPA:
B: 71, 73, 79
A: 83
R: 78 (expired), 77
F: 74, 74, 80

It's finally freaking over.

[W_HAMILTON]

See if the firm that made an offer to you will extend their deadline.

Contrary to what others have said, I would NOT be “honest” and expect the first firm to understand. They will read between the lines and see that they are basically just a potential backup option for you. I was in a similar situation to you and went the “honest” route and ended up missing out on both opportunities: I wasn't offered a position at the job I was hoping for and my backup option ended up essentially rescinding their offer.

So, I would suggest asking the firm to extend their deadline, without being honest and giving them a reason why. Just tell them that it is a major decision and you would like more time to decide. If they say no, when it doubt, err on the side of pissing off the people that HAVEN'T offered you a job position. If you end up having to cancel the potential interview and forfeit the airplane tickets and such, so be it.

REG - 93 (7/30/13)
BEC - 90 (8/19/13)
AUD - 98 (8/31/13)
FAR - 84 (10/19/13)

[Author]

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