How do you handle multiple offers?

[jmo21]

I think accepting verbally is a last resort. You have legally accepted and he will also continue on as a full blown acceptance so you won't be in any less crap than if you signed the thing in blood and handed it back. Hiding behind the 'it was only verbal' counts for nothing in the end.

Legally accepted? Even if you say "subject to contract review"? Not sure that is correct.

Either way, the agent will def assume that is it accepted despite the caveat, and will likely mump about his agency never using you again.

An agency once threatened that with me when I simply withdrew from going for an interview for a permie job years ago. I got mails from her and her boss "we will never represent you again".

A few months later someone else from the agency got in touch with a role, I forwarded him a couple of the emails "I thought you'd never use me again" etc.

Reply was along the lines of "many apologies, water under the bridge" etc, and I got the role.

[Rabotnik]

Tell the first role you accept subject to contract review and get them to send the contract to you. It takes about 5-7 inc delays (cough) days for QDOS to review them which the agent will know (but won't be happy). If in that time the other gig appears you advise it didn't pass review so you will have to decline...

Agents do have feelings, particularly a feeling of extreme anger when you drop him in the doo doo. Expect handbags to fly and threats of legal action.

I think accepting verbally is a last resort. You have legally accepted and he will also continue on as a full blown acceptance so you won't be in any less crap than if you signed the thing in blood and handed it back. Hiding behind the 'it was only verbal' counts for nothing in the end.

Ah, I wasn't aware that the verbal agreement was binding, I always thought they couldn't come at you unless you signed something. I like that "subject to contract review" line, I think I will be using that as my standard response from now on! I was concerned about QDOS taking a while, and me having to make changes to the contract to make it IR35 friendly, but I guess this can work in my favour if I make the agent aware of this beforehand and that any problems with it could mean I will be forced to take another option.

[northernladuk]

Ah, I wasn't aware that the verbal agreement was binding, I always thought they couldn't come at you unless you signed something. I like that "subject to contract review" line, I think I will be using that as my standard response from now on! I was concerned about QDOS taking a while, and me having to make changes to the contract to make it IR35 friendly, but I guess this can work in my favour if I make the agent aware of this beforehand and that any problems with it could mean I will be forced to take another option.

Don't quote me on the exact legal implications but I am sure you can be held to it... whether or not they can prove you said it is the get out but I am sure a verbal contract has some weight and not to be taken too lightly. It will certainly be treated as cast in stone by the client/agent but that is a different matter.

[Sausage Surprise]

Tell the first role you accept subject to contract review and get them to send the contract to you. It takes about 5-7 inc delays (cough) days for QDOS to review them which the agent will know (but won't be happy). If in that time the other gig appears you advise it didn't pass review so you will have to decline...

Agents do have feelings, particularly a feeling of extreme anger when you drop him in the doo doo. Expect handbags to fly and threats of legal action.

I think accepting verbally is a last resort. You have legally accepted and he will also continue on as a full blown acceptance so you won't be in any less crap than if you signed the thing in blood and handed it back. Hiding behind the 'it was only verbal' counts for nothing in the end.

I was just about to say the same thing. I've used the same ploy myself in the past.

[Rabotnik]

I was just about to say the same thing. I've used the same ploy myself in the past.

Don't they just say they can change whatever QDOS had a problem with? What do you say when they ask what QDOS said it failed on?

[Sausage Surprise]

Don't they just say they can change whatever QDOS had a problem with? What do you say when they ask what QDOS said it failed on?

I just told them that while waiting for the outcome of the review I got a better offer. What can they do?

[psychocandy]

Legally accepted? Even if you say "subject to contract review"? Not sure that is correct.

Either way, the agent will def assume that is it accepted despite the caveat, and will likely mump about his agency never using you again.

An agency once threatened that with me when I simply withdrew from going for an interview for a permie job years ago. I got mails from her and her boss "we will never represent you again".

A few months later someone else from the agency got in touch with a role, I forwarded him a couple of the emails "I thought you'd never use me again" etc.

Reply was along the lines of "many apologies, water under the bridge" etc, and I got the role.

Exactly. If theres dosh involved for them down the line their recollection of previous issues will be about 3 secs.

Like I used to say, you could spit roast an agents mother and upload the video to youtube on a monday, but by Tuesday they wouldnt care if they could see some commission in getting you a role.

[bobspud]

Yeah I know the wording isn't great, not sure how else to say it though. Just mean, how long to make people wait for a yes or no from you on a role. I think this is a power game the agents play - they always ask the candidate first if he would take the role - they never just come out and say the client wants you in, will you accept? So it's like I am asking him if I can have the job. They both said they want to know my feedback first so that when they speak to the client they can tell them straight away I want the role. Why not speak to the client first then ask me if I want it? Clients are far harder to get hold of anyway, so get on them as soon as possible!

No you have your whole thought process the wrong way around. You have a role in hand. Accept it, and honour it. The end. The other agency has no relationship with you, and it will matter not a fig to them if they screw up your chances with the role that you have. You have given them the chance to get the other role sorted they didn't, so move on.

[SimonMac]

'How do you handle multiple offers?'

Well there's your answer : you only have 1 offer.

WHS

You could buy some time with an IR35 review on our contract, if still nothing in a few days accept the only offer on the table. My opinion is that a yes comes through in a few days, any more than that write it off

[Rabotnik]

Just spoke to the agent for the role on the table and told him I'll take it, so he's got the wheels in motion at the client. Don't know what the other agent is playing at, interviewed on Tuesday and there is still no apparent decision from the client, unless the agent is playing some kind of game with me. The role I took is actually about half the travel time, and only 9-5, though the rate is slightly less. Kind of wanted the experience from the 2nd role, but hey, you got to take what you can when you can.