# job negotiations

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/job-negotiations/567129>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [January 10, 2011, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/job-negotiations/567129 "2011-01-10T19:31:32Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![ultraman100](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/b77776/32.png) [@ultraman100](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultraman100)\
**Post date:** [January 10, 2011, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/job-negotiations/567129/1 "2011-01-10T19:31:32Z")

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Say you have passed a first interview with company A, but have been offered a contract position by company B before company A’s second interview. You take the contract position, but want to still leave things open with company A at the end of the contract. Is it realistic to think company A might still consider you? How would you word the letter/email to company A? Is there a business term for this situation?

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**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\
**Post date:** [January 10, 2011, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/job-negotiations/567129/2 "2011-01-10T19:39:11Z")

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I would take Job A and let the rest unfold. When it does, tell Company B you’re able to start on X date. See how they react and go from there.

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**Author:** ![Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barkis_is_Willin)\
**Post date:** [January 10, 2011, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/job-negotiations/567129/3 "2011-01-10T19:49:54Z")

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> [@ultraman100](#):
>
> Say you have passed a first interview with company A, but have been offered a contract position by company B before company A’s second interview. You take the contract position, but want to still leave things open with company A at the end of the contract. Is it realistic to think company A might still consider you? How would you word the letter/email to company A? Is there a business term for this situation?

What is the length of the contract? Not knowing that, or the nature of the positions you’re talking about, I lean towards thinking Company A will write you off when you tell them you’ve already taken another job.

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**Author:** ![ultraman100](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/b77776/32.png) [@ultraman100](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultraman100)\
**Post date:** [January 10, 2011, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/job-negotiations/567129/4 "2011-01-10T19:59:05Z")

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> [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](#):
>
> What is the length of the contract? Not knowing that, or the nature of the positions you’re talking about, I lean towards thinking Company A will write you off when you tell them you’ve already taken another job.

Company B has said a month or month and a half for the contract.

These are IT-field jobs.

I’m suppose company A would like to hire someone before a month is up, and very well might, but I’d still like to leave things open regardless.