When to Use a Match
I am often asked “how much time can I ask for?” in reference to negotiating offers as well as setting interview dates. A bit of a tricky question but I’ve decided that “matching” is a good rule of thumb.
Let’s say you receive an offer for a new job on a Monday and the company asks you to give them a decision by Friday, which is 4 business days. If that isn’t enough time (you’re waiting on another offer, you need to discuss it with a mentor or partner who is out of town, etc), I’d recommend asking if you can have until the following Thursday or Friday to decide, thereby matching their 4 business days – give or take.
This can be particularly helpful if you are changing industries and aren’t sure of the culture. A recent client was invited to an on-site interview with a progressive technology company. He currently works in an academic setting which moves at a much slower pace particularly with hiring processes (understatement!). The recruiter proposed an interview date 10 days out from their conversation. He asked to delay the date 3-4 weeks, which would have been reasonable in academia, but he unfortunately hasn’t heard from them since.
I wish he had matched their offer.