Got laid off in a 20% RIF of corporate headcount at my old job and been seeking opportunities but I have the ability to be selective.

Got my first offer yesterday and it's from a start-up that has a lot of upside and should be a good fit but almost simultaneously gotten a lot of other interest.

The offer from the start-up is, unsurprisingly, a little vague on details that I would want fleshed out before accepting and I also want to buy some time for other potential offers.

Thoughts on how to respond.

One in the hand is better than two in the bush. If it checks most of the boxes, do it. As OP said, try and buy some time but dont be too choosy.

Wait a day or so and send them a list of questions you have (but save 1 or 2) and ask for a call in a day or so to discuss.

Send the last questions a day after the call for clarification. Should buy you a week or so.

Communicate interest to other interested parties and explain you have a week to make a decision.

Be careful with that I just lost a job offer because I asked if we could push the start date one week

It was a quick turnaround, shortest interview process ever. Did one interview, called me the next day with an offer. I accepted, had some personal things come up, asked if we could push start date one week and they they voided my contract and didn't even call me

Startups are tricky. Are they pre-revenue? How well capitalized are they? If they have operating capital, what's their burn rate? Will they require additional rounds of funding to keep the lights on?

BlueSmoke said:

---

Startups are tricky. Are they pre-revenue? How well capitalized are they? If they have operating capital, what's their burn rate? Will they require additional rounds of funding to keep the lights on?

---

From what I can tell they're very well funded and this is a boutique real estate investment/development group focusing on the single-family rental niche where I'd be the VP of Land Acquisition. So funding is always needed to pay for these acquisitions and then the revenue is when we do the acquisition and initial development and flip to even larger investor funds which, according to all the market research, are plentiful as this space is rapidly growing.

The thing I would caution with is trying to leverage one offer to negotiate another. It can be done successfully, but you have to be strategic. I think most employers appreciate simply being candid.

I did it last year. But you have to get a feel for how desirable you are and if other candidates are in play. It also matters how elevated of a position they are hiring you for; generally less qualified candidates as you move up.

Checking back in on this- the first offer with the start-up basically cratered. They wouldn't put into writing the method commissions/bonuses/back-end participation would be calculated or determined.

And when they didn't, it gave off some really bad vibes so I'm out on that. That lack of trust and transparency is a non-starter.

SalesAg13 said:

---

99% of employers will not respond this way if handled correctly.

---

What's more, it tells you a lot about the company. He most likely dodged a bullet.

ryange05 said:

---

One in the hand is better than two in the bush. If it checks most of the boxes, do it. As OP said, try and buy some time but dont be too choosy.

---

Agree with this.

About 7 years ago, I had 3 offers in hand after I got laid off. The Senior VP of one of those jobs called me personally saying he wanted me, and agreed to bump up my salary. It matched another company that I wanted to go. So I ended up going to the other company. In 2 months the company got bought and then a month later the buying company got bought again. Had 4 managers in 10 months and my life was hell. Yes, I got laid off again. What a frikkin disaster that was.