Week 92: How long should you wait?

Week 92: March 14, 2026

How long should you wait?

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This week, we're planning to tackle a tough question - how long can you hold out for the job of your dreams? And how long do you want to hold out, especially if you've got another offer in hand? As you've undoubtedly realized, job offers do not usually come all at once and some offers expire before you're able to fully flush out other opportunities.

We're here to try and clarify ways that you can think through choices.

The 100 Week Sprint team

To-do's this week

Got 5 minutes? Think through any outstanding offers to see if your gut instinct tells you whether or not to take them.

Got 30 minutes? Revisit your ProValues to ensure that you've analyzed all of the details of any offer you have in hand.

Got an hour? Do some research into any industry/company you are still hoping to recruit with; make sure you know typical recruiting cycles, approximate number of MBA hires each year, and any other relevant recruiting information.

Four reasons to take an offer

If you have an offer in hand that seems pretty good, but you're just not 100% sure about it, this is the perfect time to refer back to your ProValues. Revisiting what you value most in a position - as well as what you consider a dealbreaker - will help you make the call. As you complete the exercise, here are some signs that you might want to take the offer:

1. Potentially negotiable factors: if the offer doesn't appeal due to details that may have potential to change (e.g., supervisory responsibilities, travel requirements, or flexible work arrangements), remember that those factors are often negotiable - especially after you've made a name for yourself! Consider accepting the offer then requesting that those factors be revisited a few months in.

Read on for more benefits of taking an offer now!

Four reasons to hold out

If you've completed your ProValues and confirmed that the offer meets your required dealbreakers, but just isn't optimal for you, here are some reasons you might want to consider passing on it.

1. You have irons in the fire: if you've been networking and going through the recruiting process with other companies, and you've received indications that an offer may be forthcoming from one (or more) of them, you might choose to hold out in hopes that an offer does come through from one of these organizations.

Click here for more reasons why you'd consider waiting longer!

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