anxiety after getting a verbal offer

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anxiety after getting a verbal offer

anon (guest) 10 Mar 2014 18:08

I received a verbal offer and put together my start up request and emailed it… I am still waiting to hear from the chair, and I don't think that I requested something unreasonable (all within the limit of what I discussed with the chair in the phone conversation when he extended the offer). As I am waiting, I am getting a little nervous about the fact that I don't have anything in writing about the offer.. is it just a usual way to go about this, getting a verbal offer, negotiate verbally or in writing, and THEN get a formal offer in writing?
I fully believe in their integrity and I know I am being a little ridiculous here, but I am feeling nervous about all the what ifs… how long does it take usually to hear back after requesting start up and stuff?

8ball (guest) 10 Mar 2014 18:31

I remember this. I went on a job interview like RIGHT after getting a verbal offer from the place I'm at. That was frustrating. The night after my talk I just went down to the hotel bar and got HAMMERED.

But seriously: How are they going to give you a written offer if you haven't verbally worked out the details?

a_new_year (guest) 10 Mar 2014 20:00

How long ago did you email the chair? Remember, the chair has other responsibilities that may have delayed this.

anon (guest) 11 Mar 2014 13:51

I wouldn't worry much- the department I accepted a job with asked for a salary and start-up request prior to even really giving me a verbal offer, and I didn't hear back for a couple weeks. It was really stressful, and I worried about everything (did I ask for too much, too little, why isn't anything in writing, etc. etc.). But it all worked out in the end. I didn't get ANYTHING in writing until AFTER a lengthy negotiation process, so the offer letter included all of the terms we agreed to. Seems like they waited on the written offer until all of this was hashed out, and yes, it took awhile, but again, all worked out!

anony (guest) 11 Mar 2014 18:25

Yeah I'm in a similar situation. I'm not sure exactly how this all works. What do I sign and when? When are things kind of official vs. really official. I'm trying not to email my new chair every day with vague naive questions (should I do a 2nd visit? when?). The people I've talked to are all over the place. Some had all the details signed and set within a week. Others took until they arrived on campus. Didn't seem to be a correlation between speed and lack of issues later.

anon (guest) 11 Mar 2014 20:24

Try your best to get things in email, if you can. Even email exchanges in which you recap verbal conversations are very useful for keeping track of these types of things.

anon (guest) 12 Mar 2014 00:44

I don't think you have anything to worry about. My experience was the same, and as 8ball pointed out, you can't get a contract until the offer is settled. However, I would try to get something in writing as pointed out above. I noticed that the dean I dealt with was very careful to do everything over the phone. I won't go into details, but today I found out that something I got a verbal agreement to might not be honored. I wish that I had sent an email saying "this is the deal as we discussed on the phone, will you confirm this?" before signing the contract and canceling other interviews. Hopefully it will all get ironed out, though.

anonbanon (guest) 12 Mar 2014 14:13

Remember that the official offer (and the money that pays your salary and startup) is likely coming from the dean, not from the chair. So, there is a lot of back and forth and lag time as the dean and chair negotiate. Also, even if what you asked for is reasonable, and seems reasonable to another psychologist (the chair), it might seem very UNreasonable to a non-psychologist (the dean perhaps). That means there will be further back and forth between the chair and the dean justifying and negotiating your requests. Sometimes the chair is asked to get evidence that you "need" this stuff, or to prove that what you're asking for is comparable to what people are getting at other schools. That type of research can take time to pull together. Or, someone might request that the chair get price estimates if your lab needs renovations or if you're requesting expensive equipment.

I also agree with above: just save ALL emails, and when you get the official offer, save that (I needed to include my original offer letter in my tenure materials; luckily I had the pdf saved still!).

calm in the storm (guest) 12 Mar 2014 20:39

Don't get yourself all worked up if you don't hear back right away. Chairs often are extremely busy with things other faculty never have to deal with and it is the middle of the semester so it's busy all around.

I just accepted an offer after some back and forth negotiating and now I'm waiting for the contract to sign. Initially I was worried too about having a verbal offer but nothing in writing, but now I realize it's such a pain for the administration to write up these contracts and get them signed off, that you do have to work out negotiations first and accept verbally before it goes to that phase. Asking around, that's the consensus across multiple universities with so don't worry too much.

Also congrats on your offer!

riverdrive (guest) 12 Sep 2014 19:00

I was verbally offered a month ago. Later after two weeks I was called for drug test, reference details and to sign the background check consent form; they told me it will take 10 days to get the result. At same time they also gave me Notice of exempt employee with salary details, I filled the W-4 tax form, and also provided employment handbook & orientation date. After 10 days I called them to inquire next steps and I was told my physical and background check is cleared, they will let me know start date. Its been 3 days still waiting for their call or email; but no response. I also haven't recd any formal offer letter.

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