Job Offers

[dealmaster00]

Hey all,

I need some advice regarding job offers for recent graduates. I am graduating this semester with an M.S. in electrical and computer engineering (I go to school in PA). I have been job hunting with moderate success, and have been having a series of phone interviews with a company in Chicago. This opportunity came up through a headhunting service (They have been facilitating the negotiations). Anyway the headhunting service called today and said I would have one final half-hour phone interview with the VP of the company in 2 days, then in 2 weeks I would hear back if I would have a job offer, and will have 5 business days to accept. They said the offer will not be able to be extended for much time, either. I am suspecting I will get the offer because the phone interviews have been pretty easy.

Thing is, they did not offer to fly me out to Chicago for an onsite interview (also a good chance to physically check out the company/area), I'll just have had 3 phone interviews. Does this seem a little strange to anyone? Also, I am still waiting to interview/hear back from companies I might be more interested in working at, and I have a feeling I won't hear back from them all within 3 weeks (I've had 0, 1, and at most 2 interviews with these other companies). So, what to do...somehow push for an onsite interview? Refuse Chicago offer at the deadline even if I don't have another offer? I'm kind of leaning toward the latter, because I think I can get another job. Anyway I want to hear what you guys have to say.

 

[HumblePie]

Companies are cheap when it comes to hiring people. It happens.

Also, you are starting off near the bottom. Now if you were an applicant for a manager or exec position, they'll be flying you out for sure. Difference in degrees.

 

[Vette73]

Money is tight. The cost to fly you, put you up, etc... is a large part of money they could use to pay you. That and I am taking it that it is a entry level job so I doubt they think you will come in and be the head engineer.

Worst case take the job and keep it for a little over a year. Get exp and beef up your resume. After that if not happy then apply to other jobs with your new exp.

 

[dealmaster00]

OK, I guess that is understandable. But should I accept the chicago offer even if I have no other offers at the time, but there is a good possibility of getting another offer in the future? It seems strange to me that it would be advisable to accept an offer being pushed quickly without being able to weigh any other options.

 

[Gibson486]

OK, I guess that is understandable. But should I accept the chicago offer even if I have no other offers at the time, but there is a good possibility of getting another offer in the future? It seems strange to me that it would be advisable to accept an offer being pushed quickly without being able to weigh any other options.

LOL man, it's up to you. but do not jump your guns, they did not even offer you anything yet.

Also, take a look at the job market, it sucks.

 

[Vic Vega]

If you can afford to live in a reasonable area in Chicago on the salary they offer I say go for it. I would ask them to pay relocation expenses. When you don't have a job and (presumably) have a lot of student loan debt you just have to roll with the punches.

 

[dainthomas]

Does this seem a little strange to anyone? Also, I am still waiting to interview/hear back from companies I might be more interested in working at, and I have a feeling I won't hear back from them all within 3 weeks (I've had 0, 1, and at most 2 interviews with these other companies). So, what to do...somehow push for an onsite interview? Refuse Chicago offer at the deadline even if I don't have another offer? I'm kind of leaning toward the latter, because I think I can get another job. Anyway I want to hear what you guys have to say.

That would be pretty much the most boneheaded thing I could imagine in this economy. You might end up here.

 

[AreaCode707]

OK, I guess that is understandable. But should I accept the chicago offer even if I have no other offers at the time, but there is a good possibility of getting another offer in the future? It seems strange to me that it would be advisable to accept an offer being pushed quickly without being able to weigh any other options.

In this job market, waiting to weigh other options that have not yet materialized may mean you miss your chance at a job. You've got a pretty good degree for job hunting to that doesn't mean it's not still a significant risk. My BIL with his EE Masters still spent a year and a half job hunting and that was in a better economy than this.

I've accepted a job via only phone interviews. Going great so far.

If you are concerned about whether you'd like living in Chicago, fly yourself out and look around after you get an offer. Casually let the company know you'll be out there taking a look if they want to chat with you in person. Yeah, expensive, but better than missing a solid job opportunity.

 

[Hacp]

It depends on what school you go to. If you attended a top10 school, you can weigh your options. If not, take whatever comes your way.

 

[dealmaster00]

I do go to a top 10 school for software engineering (carnegie mellon), for grad and undergrad. I also don't have student loan debt. This job is pretty low out of the possible jobs I've been interviewing for (maybe if they make a good offer it will be higher up). Keep in mind the job market for software engineers is pretty good right now, too.

 

[Zorkorist]

You sound like someone that only takes the best, and if this job doesn't challenge you, then pass.

Your ideal job would be a job that challenges you every day.

-John

 

[GodlessAstronomer]

I wouldn't accept a job offer from a company without checking out the premises first. If they're serious about hiring you then they will pay to have you come and check the place out. If they don't, what are they hiding from you?

 

[tatteredpotato]

I do go to a top 10 school for software engineering (carnegie mellon), for grad and undergrad. I also don't have student loan debt. This job is pretty low out of the possible jobs I've been interviewing for (maybe if they make a good offer it will be higher up). Keep in mind the job market for software engineers is pretty good right now, too.

Did you go to the TOC last month?

 

[Zorkorist]

TOC?

-John

 

[Leros]

I would feel really uncomfortable not having been there before. If I was serious about the offer, I would pay for myself to fly out there and try to arrange an on-site visit and also see the town for myself.

You're going to be living there for a decent amount of time and you're going to be working there nearly every day. Its worth the money to make sure its something you can tolerate.

Have you tried asking the company to fly you out? If they've already decided to hire you, then I'm sure you're worth the $1000 investment to fly out for a visit.

 

[tatteredpotato]

TOC?

-John

CMU's fall job fair... shouldn't have been too hard to pick up a handful of interviews if you tried.

 

[GoSharks]

Granted, this was in 2007, but I was flown cross country to interview in person for a position straight out of undergrad.

Will they offer relocation benefits?

 

[Leros]

Granted, this was in 2007, but I was flown cross country to interview in person for a position straight out of undergrad.

Will they offer relocation benefits?

I've been flown across the country several times for internship interviews during my undergrad.

I'm actually getting less interest from companies now as a graduate student than I was a few years ago as an undergrad with no experience . I had some employers at the career fair say that they are only hiring undergrads because they can't afford to hire graduate students at this time.

 

[dealmaster00]

CMU's fall job fair... shouldn't have been too hard to pick up a handful of interviews if you tried.

yeah brah... you still in school here? what are you/have you majored in? I have gotten a number of interviews from the TOC and Tartantrak. This chicago job is from the TOC (well, I gave my resume to the headhunter there). It's just they seem to be escalating a lot quicker than other companies and I don't want to miss out on other possibly better opportunities because of this. For other companies a first interview has been scheduled but hasn't even happened yet (I have on campus interviews scheduled next week with vistaprint, westinghouse, panasas, factset, and lutron), and these are all companies I'd probably rather work at. There are more companies yet that I've interviewed with and am still waiting to hear back from.

Sometimes threads on AT serve the purpose of sorting out thoughts after they have been written down. I guess it sounds like I already have my mind made up, but I think that if I get an offer that is being rushed, I will tell them I won't be ready to make a decision until mid-November, which is when the dust should settle from these other companies (might not have to tell them that last part, haa).

 

[tatteredpotato]

yeah brah... you still in school here? what are you/have you majored in? I have gotten a number of interviews from the TOC and Tartantrak. This chicago job is from the TOC (well, I gave my resume to the headhunter there). It's just they seem to be escalating a lot quicker than other companies and I don't want to miss out on other possibly better opportunities because of this. For other companies a first interview has been scheduled but hasn't even happened yet (I have on campus interviews scheduled next week with vistaprint, westinghouse, panasas, factset, and lutron), and these are all companies I'd probably rather work at. There are more companies yet that I've interviewed with and am still waiting to hear back from.

Sometimes threads on AT serve the purpose of sorting out thoughts after they have been written down. I guess it sounds like I already have my mind made up, but I think that if I get an offer that is being rushed, I will tell them I won't be ready to make a decision until mid-November, which is when the dust should settle from these other companies (might not have to tell them that last part, haa).

I just started the ECE Masters program this fall. You might want to look at Qualcomm... I saw on their posting for the TOC they're looking for 350 new hires this year.

 

[dealmaster00]

nice me too. are you doing the imb or professional? either way we both graduated at the same time and i probably know you. I'll check out qualcomm right now..

 

[rgwalt]

OK, I guess that is understandable. But should I accept the chicago offer even if I have no other offers at the time, but there is a good possibility of getting another offer in the future? It seems strange to me that it would be advisable to accept an offer being pushed quickly without being able to weigh any other options.

That all depends on the offer you get from this company in Chicago. Have you spent much time in the city? Know where the company is located? Any idea where you might want to live, and the cost of living? You can easily spend $2K a month on rent & parking on a 1 bedroom in the city. You can also spend half that or less, all depending on where you want to live. Chicago is a fun place to live for at least a few years out of college.

Seriously consider the salary at this place. If it is low relative to the cost of living and you think you can do better, now is not a bad time in your life to take a small gamble. If the salary is good though, I would take the offer and not sweat the other companies too much.

You can also contact the other companies and explain your situation, that you are in the final stages of consideration for a position at another company, but would really prefer to go to work for them. Sometimes they can accelerate the process if they like you enough.

Good luck!

 

[edro]

Fly up there yourself. It would only be a few hundred dollars.

 

[GodlessAstronomer]

Fly up there yourself. It would only be a few hundred dollars.

Fuck that, why should he foot the bill? Would you work for a company that wouldn't pay for a serious candidate to fly up? I wouldn't. It costs thousands of dollars to hire and train candidates, there is no reason that they shouldn't foot a few hundred to introduce serious candidates to the company properly.

 

[edro]

Fuck that, why should he foot the bill? Would you work for a company that wouldn't pay for a serious candidate to fly up? I wouldn't. It costs thousands of dollars to hire and train candidates, there is no reason that they shouldn't foot a few hundred to introduce serious candidates to the company properly.

They are looking at dozens of resumes and talking to dozens of people on the phone. At this point, they are all the same. They have probably narrowed it down to a handfull. You need to set yourself apart. Flying up there yourself shows initiative.
The company has no problem offering the job to one of the other 10 untested, unseen candidates.

Also, regardless of what the company is willing to do, I would like peace of mind of seeing the place I will be working in person.