How to tell a company you have another offer

Why telling them matters

Hiring teams often have no internal pressure to move quickly. A candidate who says nothing waits indefinitely while the team schedules another round of approvals. A candidate who shares a real deadline gives the recruiter something concrete to bring to the hiring manager.

Most recruiters say they appreciate the heads-up. It lets them advocate for you internally with a reason: 'We need to move or we lose this person.' Without that reason, urgency is hard to manufacture.

When to send the message

Send it as soon as you have a written offer in hand, not when you are expecting one. A verbal offer is not reliable enough to use as leverage, and mentioning one that falls through damages your credibility.

Give the company at least five business days to respond if you can. If your other offer deadline is in two days, say so honestly, but acknowledge that the timeline is tight. Asking for an extension from the other company is also reasonable and often granted.

• You have a signed or emailed offer letter from the other company
• You are genuinely interested in the company you are notifying, not just using them as a backup
• You have enough time left on the other offer for a realistic response

What to say: exact wording

Keep the message short. One paragraph is enough. Name the deadline, express genuine interest, and ask what their timeline looks like. Do not name the other company unless you are comfortable doing so, and do not name the salary unless you are asking them to match it.

Here is a template you can adapt for email or a message through a recruiter portal:

1. Subject: Update on my application for [Role] at [Company]
2. Hi [Recruiter name], I wanted to let you know that I have received an offer from another company and need to respond by [date]. [Company] is still my first choice, and I am very interested in the [Role] position. I wanted to give you the chance to update me on your timeline before I make a decision. Please let me know if there is anything I can do to help move things forward on your end.
3. Thank you, [Your name]

How to handle their response

There are three likely responses: they accelerate, they ask for more time, or they go quiet.

If they accelerate, great. Move through their remaining steps as quickly as you can and be responsive. If they ask for more time, decide whether you can grant it. Going back to the other company and asking for a one-week extension is a normal request and is usually approved once. If they go quiet for more than two business days after your message, follow up once by phone, then make your decision based on the information you have.

Do not wait past your deadline hoping they will come through. If they wanted to move, they would have.

Adjusting the message by country

The core message is the same everywhere, but tone expectations vary slightly.

In the US and Canada, directness is expected and recruiters are used to competing offers. In the UK, a slightly more formal opening ('I hope you are well') fits the culture without changing the substance. In Australia, the tone is generally relaxed and a brief, friendly message works well. In all four countries, putting the message in writing protects you and creates a record.

• US and Canada: direct, brief, no apology for having another offer
• UK: slightly more formal opening, same direct content
• Australia: conversational tone is fine, keep it concise

What not to do

Several common mistakes turn a reasonable update into a problem.

• Do not bluff. If you do not have a real offer, do not say you do. Recruiters talk, and a fabricated offer can end a process immediately if discovered.
• Do not name a salary you are not actually prepared to walk away over. If you mention a competing number, be ready for them to match it and for you to accept.
• Do not send the message and then disappear. Stay available by phone and email for the next few days.
• Do not apologize for having another offer. It is a normal part of a job search.
• Do not give a deadline that is already past or less than 24 hours away. That reads as an ultimatum and rarely ends well.

Keeping track of multiple processes at once

Managing several active applications while waiting on competing offers is where things get complicated. Deadlines overlap, recruiter names blur together, and it is easy to lose track of where each process stands.

Break-In Bad brings all employer replies into one inbox with interview alerts and day-before reminders, so you can see at a glance which companies have responded and which are still pending. When you are juggling two or three live processes, that single view makes it easier to time your competing-offer message correctly and follow up before a deadline slips past.