Having just completed a job search myself, I asked the same question and was
told by two different (more experienced!) people that one week would be
pushing it. A long weekend, or waiting until the end of the week if you've
been notified on a Monday or Tuesday, was thought to be more appropriate. It
means you have to get on the horn with your other prospects to see if you
can at least get an idea of what your chances are, so you don't give up a
sure thing to wait out a total long shot. You may just have to choose
between the bird in the hand and the two in the bush before you have heard
from all of them. If you've had multiple interviews, you may be in a good
position to take the risk.

I also had people (from the private sector) suggest that I take the first
job and then leave if a better one came along. I would emphatically
recommend AGAINST any such thing. The museum community is too small to burn
your bridges like that. But, you probably already know that.

Celia Curtis
[log in to unmask]

----- Original Message -----
From: Ciotola, Nicholas P. <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Monday, July 29, 2002 11:24 AM
Subject: Re: Accepting a position


> This is a pertinent question that warrants a response. Qualified,
> experienced museum professionals will often be up for consideration for a
> number of positions at one time. Entry-level job seekers may marvel at
> having more than one option... but once you are in the profession and
> thinking of moving on, this kind of thing can happen much more often than
> you think.
>
> From the time that an offer is made, it is normally expected that a
> candidate will make a decision within two weeks time. The slow period is
the
> review process -- from resume to phone interview to personal interview to
> offer -- once an offer is made, negotiations can occur over salary,
starting
> dates, vacation time, etc., etc. -- this can span several weeks as well.
>
> When all is said and done and the final offer is out there, you should let
> them know within, at the very latest, two weeks time.
>
> There is an ethics question buried in here as well. Don't string a
potential
> employer along if you are not seriously considering the position... this
> just makes their search more difficult and time consuming. And prevents
> someone else from getting started on whatever exciting project(s) needs to
> be done.
>
> Nick Ciotola
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: ellynpyne [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
> Sent: Monday, July 29, 2002 12:39 PM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: Accepting a position
>
>
> It must be nice to have such a choice.
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Derek and Heather Trinque" <[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Monday, July 29, 2002 4:02 PM
> Subject: Accepting a position
>
>
> > How long can you ask an employer to wait before accepting or rejecting a
> job
> > offer?  I have been offered a position at one museum, but expect to hear
> > soon from other institutions which I prefer.  I don't want to reject
this
> > first job in case the other institutions do not offer me a position, but
I
> > am not ready to accept yet either.  Please let me know your opinion.
> >
> > Thank you.
>
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