When qualified applicants are scarce, recruiting becomes extremely competitive, particularly when two companies go after the same candidate, as often happens in the case of searching for professionals. After interviewing three short-listed candidates, a high-tech company, Company X, made an offer to one and advised the other two candidates that they were unsuccessful. The successful candidate was given one week to consider the offer. The candidate asked for a week’s extension to consider the offer but was granted only an additional three days. At the end of the time period, the candidate verbally accepted the offer and was sent a contract to sign. Rather than returning the signed contract, the candidate informed Company X that he had accepted a position at Company Y. He had received the second offer after verbally accepting the first position at Company X. The second company knew that the candidate had verbally accepted Company X’s offer. Before accepting Company Y’s offer, the candidate had consulted a respected mentor who advised him to ignore his verbal commitment to Company X and to accept Company Y’s offer. There were no substantial differences in the salaries being offered by each company or in the work that each would expect the candidate to perform. The candidate simply saw Company Y as the more prestigious of the two employers. 1. Describe what Company X should have done to maintain the candidate’s interest in the position. 2. What would you have done if you had been in the candidate’s position?
When qualified applicants are scarce, recruiting becomes extremely competitive, particularly when
two companies go after the same candidate, as often happens in the case of searching for
professionals.
After interviewing three short-listed candidates, a high-tech company, Company X, made an offer
to one and advised the other two candidates that they were unsuccessful. The successful candidate
was given one week to consider the offer. The candidate asked for a week’s extension to consider
the offer but was granted only an additional three days.
At the end of the time period, the candidate verbally accepted the offer and was sent a contract to
sign. Rather than returning the signed contract, the candidate informed Company X that he had
accepted a position at Company Y. He had received the second offer after verbally accepting the
first position at Company X. The second company knew that the candidate had verbally accepted
Company X’s offer.
Before accepting Company Y’s offer, the candidate had consulted a respected mentor who advised
him to ignore his verbal commitment to Company X and to accept Company Y’s offer. There were
no substantial differences in the salaries being offered by each company or in the work that each
would expect the candidate to perform. The candidate simply saw Company Y as the more
prestigious of the two employers.
1. Describe what Company X should have done to maintain the candidate’s interest in the
position.
2. What would you have done if you had been in the candidate’s position?
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