[whatnow]

I have been actively searching for jobs for about a month now (received CPA license last month) and verbally accepted a job offer today. After I verbally accepted, I received a call from another company requesting I apply for a job and then we would schedule an interview.

I would like to explore this opportunity, but how do I approach letting the “new” company know that I would need an expedited timeline?

[Dog pounder1977]

I am in the same boat. Before accepting a job offer I always ask for “time to discuss things over with my family” even though I don't have one. But it is so that I avoid scenarios like this. However, I waited over two months for one position and its like the Universe sat there, watched me and waited until I accepted another offer, and then came back to tell me “oh here is the job you really wanted”. Sometimes life is very upsetting. However, I recommend you contact your new employer and make up something that did not cross your mind before accepting and now you would like to think about it. But keep in mind, being a veteran job hunter yourself, you should already know that an interview is not going to be instantaneous after you apply. So just because the other employer is interested, does not mean that they will meet with you right away. This in turn is going to play against you with your new employer. I would give it 72 hrs max (in business days).

One day I will face that exam.

[Anonymous]

Any “I'm not sure” contact with the employer you accepted an offer from is going to put a bad taste in their mouth. I assume you have at least 2 weeks before you start the new job. You could interview during this time if you want to, but I wouldn't contact the accepted-employer and tell them anything about interviewing. To have asked for a day or two to think about it is OK, but to rescind your acceptance – or even to indicate you're reconsidering – just to see if you get another offer is playing with fire.

Before doing any more interviews, though, I would stop and consider why you would do so. Is the offer that you accepted not good? Do you have reservations about it or the company? If it's just a matter of “never know what's out there”, then I'd probably stop interviewing and focus on preparing for the new job.

[Missy]

You're asking how to let company 2 know if they want to interview you it has to be asap. When you talk to whoever is setting up the interview let them know you've accepted another offer but this position intrigues you and you'd like to interview before you start. They'll decide what to do with that information either rush or move on to another candidate. That person will also pass the info along to the hiring manager.

Old timer,  A71'er since 2010.

Finance manager/HR manager

 

 

Licensed Massachusetts Non Reporting CPA since 2012
Finance/Admin/HR Manager

[536FrenchmenStreet]

Former hiring manager (15 years) here. Either rescind the acceptance, or prepare to begin the new job. Backpedaling after you've accepted an offer is very bad form, and they will know you're not being candid with them.

BEC: Fall 2016
AUD: Spring 2016
REG: Summer 2016
FAR: RETAKE

[Missy]

OP isn't asking to backpeddle with the company he's already accepted from. He/she is asking how to let this new contender know he has already accepted an offer elsewhere but still wants to interview.

Old timer,  A71'er since 2010.

Finance manager/HR manager

 

 

Licensed Massachusetts Non Reporting CPA since 2012
Finance/Admin/HR Manager

[whatnow]

I know I have already accepted the job offer, but I would like to explore the opportunity that was presented to me. I'm not actively looking for other opportunities at this time. Some may disagree, but I'm selling my talents on an open market and if a company can make a better offer based on tangible and intangible benefits. I'll “sell” my skills based on best offer I can get.

[greg2015]

I wouldn't tell the new company anything. Just go on the interview and see how it pans out. Don't mention you've accepted an offer, it could leave a bad impression. To expedite things, the most you could do is mention to them how excited you are about the position and how eager you would be to start “as soon as possible” so that you can begin helping the company “right away.” That is really all you can do; it's their hiring process and they will decide how quickly or slowly it will progress. Companies can be notoriously slow with hiring decisions, so there is really nothing you can do to speed up their process as it has to go through various approvals, plus they are very busy trying to cover their normal work, the open position as well as the hiring activities. If the process doesn't complete before your new job starts, then it wasn't meant to be. In that case, you start your new job. You really don't have a decision to make until/unless you get an offer from the new company. Until then, proceed with starting your accepted position.

AUD: 99
FAR: 95
BEC: 89
REG: 87

AICPA Ethics: 91

Licensed Illinois CPA

[536FrenchmenStreet]

@mla11692

Got it, with it now. I understood ‘new' company to mean the employer which had already hired OP, and was responding to the suggestion to make something up in order to buy time.

I agree with others who have said there's not much you can do to speed up a hiring timeline; and there's no guarantee OP will get an offer from Company B.

BEC: Fall 2016
AUD: Spring 2016
REG: Summer 2016
FAR: RETAKE

[Missy]

IMHO speeding up the hiring timeline depends entirely on the type of company the interview offer is from. In a fortune 500 company theres basically a checklist they have to follow and nothing can move that timeline.

In a smaller company with a sole proprietor or very small management yes you can absolutely speed up the timeline if they feel you have something to offer that nobody else does. I had interviewed at a small home health care company (very small) when I interviewed here and told them I had an offer on the table. During the conversation where I stated I had another offer the home health care president made me an offer immediately. I ended up declining because of the two, this was the better offer.

That said for someone who does not have another offer in hand, don't ever try that as leverage. It can and often does backfire. Only reason I did it was because I knew there was a 70-80% chance the second company would say “thanks for your time” and show me the door and was comfortable with the risk involved since I had the offer I wanted.

Just get a feel for company 2, if its small enough that someone has enough authority to make unilateral decisions its worth telling them you've accepted another.

Old timer,  A71'er since 2010.

Finance manager/HR manager

 

 

Licensed Massachusetts Non Reporting CPA since 2012
Finance/Admin/HR Manager

[Author]

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