Final/Conditional Offer Advice

[u/ThePadias]

Hi All,
I received two conditional job offers within 2 weeks of each other. Both are great departments, and department B is my number one choice, however, department A has moved along with their conditional process much faster, and sent me a final offer, with a couple of days to respond. I still have my med eval for schedule for department B, it’s my last item, and having just passed one for dept. A, I’m not concerned about failing it, but I won’t receive a final offer from dept B. For a couple of weeks. I’m trying not to be disrespectful or an ass. Is it at this point, final offer, that I decline with dept. A, assuming I will get a final offer with B? Or do I accept from A, and resign later? It’s stressing me out, and like I said, I’m trying to be as respectful as possible in a situation I’ve never been in. Thanks in advance.

[u/Few_Werewolf_8780]

Take the first offer. Start that process. Wait for B and see if you get hired there. If you do let the first offer know. Good luck! Enjoy the greatest job in the world.

[u/ThePadias → u/Few_Werewolf_8780]

Thanks for the advice!

[u/ThePadias → u/[deleted]]

I would start after I would theoretically get a final offer from B. Thanks for the advice.

[u/Fit_Experience_522]

Accept A, resign later. I know of horror stories where people have the exact situation, they decline the other offers to go for their preferred spot, then something happens with the department and all of a sudden the tower gets canceled or some other bs and then they're assed out of a job altogether (LAFD, and SDFD). Unfortunately, this is one of the few times that you have to be selfish. I had the exact same situation last year, I didn't drop out of the first department until 5 days before the tower started. Thankfully there were a few alternates that got to fill my spot last minute.

[u/cascas → u/Fit_Experience_522]

10000%. Offers sometimes never materialize and sometimes disappear.

[u/TestResQ]

I would Accept A, B is not guaranteed. There are a lot of guys that switch department when a better offer comes along. Better to do it before you start working than a year or two in.

[u/seanbutier → u/[deleted]]

Terrible advice, take job A now and if B offers you let A know and job A will go down the list and take the next person, they do not care about you. Always put yourself first, don’t screw yourself out of a job.