How to stall a job offer?

I suggest just telling the truth. (Always my suggestion ;-) ) If the main issue is salary then let them know. They can use this information to adjust things if they can't find someone for the position. But it's also better for you because they might reconsider the salary offer soon enough to increase their offer to you. Who knows perhaps multiple people have already turned down the offer for that same reason?

 

That's a good point. Perhaps would be better to do that if I am offered the position. Since they let me know the range when they contacted me for the Zoom interview, they probably would say I knew the pay from the beginning.

 

I would recommend being direct as Bill recommends, but not necessarily disclosing more detail than necessary. "Thank you for the opportunity to participate in the selection process. After reflection, I have decided to withdraw my candidacy at this time. Thank you for your interest in me to this point, and I wish you luck in finding the right fit."

 

That shouldn't be an issue, IMHO. For example,

"I really appreciate the opportunity to interview ... it is a real honor to be considered ... etc. But, after further reflection and discussions with my wife (or significant other) I've decided to that I need a larger salary. We decided something in the range of $xxxxx would be more in line with what I'm looking for. I thank you again. It has been a real pleasure!"

 

Mostly that it prolongs the conversation when you likely want to rip the band-aid off. If you're at the point of withdrawing, there's not likely anything they can say or do (outside of raising the salary to the bottom of your range) that would change your mind, but they may not see it that way. Lots of ways to approach this though, of course.

 

Thank you everyone for your feedback. I sent the following email:

Thank you for offering me the opportunity to participate in a face-to-face interview. I greatly appreciate the Search Committee’s continued interest in my application. Unfortunately, after careful deliberation, I’ve decided to proceed in a different direction.

I wish you the very best in your search for the ideal candidate.

 

To the OP:

When faced with an oncoming car, the squirrel in the middle of the road who makes one decision lives. The one who makes two does not.

Alternately, while it is the early bird who gets the worm, it is the second mouse who gets the cheese.

 

The pay was one, but there were other things - rank (lecturer) and requirements (criminal investigation focus). I don't care about TT vs. NTT, but I prefer to be an Asst. Professor. I also would prefer teaching general CJ courses. While I am experienced in crime scene investigation (more so as a first responding officer), the position strongly emphasizes crime scene expertise. They wanted me to do a crime scene demonstration for or involving the students during the campus visit. I mean, I did mock crime scenes and fingerprint collection with my students for the three years I taught high school. So, the demo wouldn't be an issue. I prefer to teach a range of CJ courses like I'm doing currently - police administration, intro to CJ, juvenile justice, comparative CJ, research methods, etc. I am not a crime scene expert. I want to be sure that I'll be competent in any position I take.

 

You're speaking in riddles and parables.

 

I know what I'm watching tonight

 

Sigh. Okay. I'll translate. The first: choose one and let the other go. The second: be patient and make the right choice, which doesn't have to be the first one (or the second, for that matter).

 

Captain Conundrum!

Mr. Furious : Okay, am I the only one who finds these sayings just a little bit formulaic? "If you want to push something down, you have to pull it up. If you want to go left, you have to go right." It's...

The Sphinx : Your temper is very quick, my friend. But until you learn to master your rage...

Mr. Furious : ...your rage will become your master? That's what you were going to say. Right? Right?

The Sphinx : Not necessarily.

 

I didn't think it was that hard.

Every such decision comes with an opportunity cost. Pick one.

 

Thank you. The first one was not clear but the second one I had figured out. I like idioms and proverbs (especially Jamaican and Nigerian Pidgin). I've gleaned a lot of wisdom from them over the years.

 

BTW, I LOVE Mystery Men. It was based (loosely) on a comic book.

My absolutely favorite line is when Captain Amazing is complaining to his publicist (played by Ricky Jay) that there are no more supervillains to battle. The publicist says in his defense, "I'm not a magician." Ricky Jay was, in fact, a world-class magician, RIP.

My favorite hero trying out was the PMS Avenger. And my "inside" hero was Dr. Heller because he was played by Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Tom Waits.