Two Job Offers at Once: How to Ask for Time

Don't say yes on the phone

Two offers at once is good news, but it is also when people accept too early: on a call, out of politeness, or for fear of losing the job. In the UK, that yes may already count. GOV.UK is clear that a job offer, and acceptance of that offer, "can be verbal or in writing", and that once someone has accepted an unconditional offer, they are "in a legally binding contract of employment"^[1].

So before you answer anything, work out three things: what exactly is on the table, whether the offer is conditional, and how long you have to decide.

Conditional or unconditional: what the offer is worth

Acas separates two kinds of offer^[2]:

• a conditional offer depends on references or other checks. GOV.UK says it can be withdrawn if you do not meet the employer's conditions^[1];
• an unconditional offer has no conditions. Once you accept it, a contract exists, and Acas says an employer should not withdraw it without ending the contract fairly, by giving notice and following its terms^[2].

If the employer pulls an unconditional offer you accepted, or a conditional one whose conditions you met, GOV.UK says you may be able to sue for breach of contract^[1]. The same logic runs the other way, which matters if a better offer arrives later.

How to ask for time

Asking for time to decide is normal, and few employers mind if the request is polite and has a date. The best moment is right after the offer, before you negotiate anything.

1. Thank them and show real interest in the role.
2. Give a precise date, not "a few days". A date lets the employer plan and makes your deadline clear.
3. Ask for the offer in writing if you only heard it on the phone. Acas advises employers that an offer can be made verbally but is better in writing to avoid misunderstandings, with the job title, terms and start date^[3].
4. Don't invent a rival offer. You can say you are finishing another recruitment process without naming the company.

Dear Ms Patel,

Thank you for offering me the Marketing Coordinator role. I'm very interested in it. I'm finishing another recruitment process and would like to give you a considered answer: could I come back to you by Friday 17 October?

Could you also confirm the salary, start date and any conditions of the offer in writing?

Kind regards,
Jamie Taylor

If the first employer cannot wait, tell the second one. Say you have an offer with a deadline and ask whether they can speed up their decision. They will not always manage it, but they will not hold it against you.

Compare the two offers in writing

Compare written offers, not memories of the interview. Look at pay and bonuses, hours and location, remote working, holiday, probation, notice and the start date. Your employer must give you the principal written statement of your terms on your first day at the latest, and the wider statement within 2 months^[4], but by then you have already chosen: ask for the key terms before you accept.

Plan the timing too. If you are employed, GOV.UK says you must give at least a week's notice once you have been in the job for more than a month, and that you may be in breach of contract if you do not give enough notice^[5]: your contract often asks for more. Offer a start date you can keep.

In the US: at-will employment

In the US, the rules differ. USAGov explains that all states except Montana allow at-will employment, which means "an employer or employee can end the employment at any time, for any reason", as long as the reason is not illegal; employees under a signed contract or a union agreement are exceptions^[6]. An offer letter therefore rarely guarantees the job, but its wording can matter: the Texas Workforce Commission notes that annual salary offers have in some cases been held to promise at least a year's employment^[7]. Read the letter, and ask for the terms in writing either way.

You accepted, then a better offer came

This is the delicate case. In the UK, GOV.UK says that if someone accepts an unconditional offer and then changes their mind, the employer can ask them to work their contractual notice period, or sue for breach of contract^[1]. Acas also describes withdrawing as something that could be a breach of contract^[2].

• Weigh what you gain against the risk and your reputation in your field.
• If you withdraw, do it quickly and in writing, with an apology and no long justification. The earlier the employer knows, the less it loses.
• Close the loop with everyone once you decide, so no one keeps waiting for you.

The safest route is to avoid the situation: only say yes to the offer you really want, once you have its terms in writing.

Decline the other offer politely

As soon as your choice is final, tell the other employer in a short message: thanks, your decision, and that you would like to stay in touch. Recruiters remember candidates who handled this well. Keep track of where each application stands and when each answer is due: the guide to tracking your applications shows how, and the guide on following up helps when an employer goes quiet. If you are still interviewing elsewhere, the guide to interview preparation helps you use the time well.

Frequently asked questions

Sources

1. ↑ a b c d GOV.UK: Job offers, your rights gov.uk
2. ↑ a b c Acas: If your job offer is withdrawn acas.org.uk
3. ↑ Acas: Offering someone a job acas.org.uk
4. ↑ GOV.UK: Written statement of employment particulars gov.uk
5. ↑ GOV.UK: Handing in your notice, giving notice gov.uk
6. ↑ USAGov: Termination guidance for employers usa.gov
7. ↑ Texas Workforce Commission: Offers of employment and compensation agreements efte.twc.texas.gov