10/31   No name employer X offered a nice job but gave me only 2 weeks to
        respond. Big name employer Y has just started interviewing me
        (phone) but X offer will expire in 3 days. What's the best way
        to delay X? By the way for tech jobs how long do offers
        usually last? 2 weeks? 2 months?
        \_ All the stuff below is true.  However, you must also consider
           which place you'd actually want to work at if salary wasn't an
           issue.  Your work environment is more important than your income
           after reaching a certain income level.  I've walked away from very
           high paying jobs because I absolutely hated going in everyday.
        \_ I've had this exact situation come up before.  When I got the
           offer from company X, I told them I had promised company Y that
           I would give them <insert number> time and asked if they were
           willing to leave the offer open.  The HR person said no, but the
           hiring manager overrode her.  Offer letters almost always expire
           in about a week to ten days unless the company has a 2nd choice
           they don't want to lose if the 1st choice falls through, or if
           there is budgeting pressure, such as a potential hiring freeze
           when the fiscal Q4 starts...
        \_ Take the offer from X. If you get Y then tell them. This
           happens all the time. People stress over it, but that's
           reality. They have no problem firing your ass, so don't feel
           guilty if you have to tell them 3 days in that you are leaving
           for Y. They'll be upset, but they won't blacklist you or
           anything.
           \_ Basically, you can expect that you will no longer be welcome at
              X anymore, if you ever end up wanting to go back to them.
              If you think you may end up wanting to work for X one day, tell
              them straight up you think their offer is good, but you would
              like more time to evaluate your options.  Sound reasonable?
              \_ Yes, I agree that X may not take you back again. However,
                 they may. It's not deceitful to leave in that situation.
                 How often do people gets offers after they've already taken
                 'their best'? OTOH, if you ask them for more time you may end
                 up with neither X nor Y. The best way to play it is to
                 take X unless there's some overwhelming reason you don't
                 even want to risk pissing them off.
                 \_ I think the risk/benefit is better for my option than yours
                    in general, but I guess you think the opposite.
                    Anyway, plenty of room for opinion, op can decide.
                    \_ Depends on how badly you need a job. If OP can risk
                       losing both then go for it. I really needed a job.
                       At some point X will say 'Is there some reason you
                       are taking so long to decide?' at which point you either
                       need to take X or risk losing it. You can't have cake
                       and eat it, too. My point is that if you upset X
                       it's not the end of the world. If you don't have
                       to, because you have the luxury of time/money then
                       don't. Don't worry about working for X again,
                       because if you don't want to work there now, then
                       why would you want to later? That's when you need
                       to shit or get off the pot. IOW, your strategy is
                       better but only works for so long. Eventually,
                       you come to the same point in the process (where
                       you must decide). In that case, just take X. There are
                       a lot more companies out there and X may even forgive.
                       More than likely, X will become a distant memory
                       anyway. I am most grateful for the jobs I didn't
                       get/hang on to.
                \_ I say it IS deceitful. They probably tell their other
                   candidates that the job is taken. Having said that, it's
                   probably not that big a deal. But, it's a small world and
                   you might just be screwing yourself a bit down the road
                   even if it doesn't involve X anymore. So I'd try hard not
                   to do that.
                   \_ It is not deceitful to leave X for Y if you've
                      already given up on Y and then they offer you the
                      job later (for example). There are lots of legitimate
                      reasons you might take X and then leave shortly afer.
                      We've had people relocate and then they get homesick
                      (or their wife does). X doesn't have to know the
                      specifics. They'll understand.
                      \_ Uh, in this case you haven't given up on Y and
                         are still actively pursuing jobs while accepting X.
                         I say it's deceitful. Whatever.
                         \_ How would you ever get another job if you
                            inform your current employer every time you
                            are interviewing?
        \_ Offers are anywhere from 3 days to a whole year or more if you
           interned and they loved you.  But in most cases, I'd say it averages
           a week to 1.5 weeks depending on when they offered.
        \_ Tell Big Name Employer Y that you're considering another job offer,
           and if they want to stay in the running, they need to move you
           through their interview process quickly.
           \_ This does work and you should do this, but it won't help
              with whether to take X or not. I've found it can prod Y
              into faster action, though. ("Are you going to make me an
              offer or not?") If Y still diddles you are at Square One.
        \_ Ethically, you should do a hybrid of the suggestions. Tell X you
           are interviewing with Y and ask for an extension. Tell Y you have
           a job offer and query if they can expedite your interview process.
           However, You can't ask X to hold you a place forever. At some point,
           you'll need to decide if you want job X or job Y. Figure that out
           and apply as directed.
           \_ Yes, and if Y hasn't made an offer then just take X. If
              later Y comes through and you prefer Y then just take Y and
              leave X. This is simple, folks.