There are two major companies I am considering: A
and B
. I applied to both for a senior manager role. Both have given me verbal offers to join their companies, however in different circumstances. Both are private tech companies with about 300 employees each and are in SF.
I began my search expecting to be paid $x
in total comp.
A
is my dream company. However, they said that they have fixed ranges for salary and equity, and told me my range is tops out at x-10k
. I asked for x+8k
, slightly above x
, as a negotiation tactic. However this request seemed to freak out the COO and the finance teams. My direct manager (who has been fighting for my offer) said that they have been going back and forth for 7 days. This really concerns me, since most companies have taken 24-48 hours to come back with a written offer after a verbal offer. I still have not received the written offer, but I get daily notes from my recruiter that it is in progress and that I will get my written offer soon.
B
is a less preferred company. However they have given me a written offer with x+25k
, far higher than I would have expected. I never really thought I would get this much in this job search.
I decided to share this x+25k
figure with company A
in the hopes that it would accelerate their written offer. I also told them that I would be fine in them making up the difference with a sign on bonus, since that might be easier for the finance and COO folks to deal with. I realize this puts me in a slightly worse position, but I think they cannot bend their salary band 25k
outside their target.
I am concerned that company A
will not believe my offer from company B
, since it sounds too good to be true and out of market range. I don't want them to call my bluff, because I actually want to work at A
. Should I share my offer letter? I understand that this can be unprofessional. The offer from B
may have also come at a bad time, when A
already is having trouble giving me a x+8k
offer.
What should I share to make company A
believe my competing offer and soothe over tensions? The recruiter sounds frustrated and tired at this point, and I'm concerned these negotiations are impacting my reputation at A
before I even begin my job.
My ideal outcome is to make A
take the offer from B
seriously, find an exception to their salary band or give me a large sign on bonus, and allow me to accept that position at A
.
One final question: the behavior of A
throughout this process is making my question their professionalism and timeliness. The recruiter and manager have failed to deliver and follow up on their emails quickly, and this makes me question if A
is really my dream company after all. Do you think is this a bad sign? Or is HR often a slow-moving and unresponsive beast, and I might see a better picture once I'm on the inside?