What to do when you're offered a job and you need more time to decide

Tony Alter/flickr

You've been waiting so long to hear those words. But you're not quite ready to accept. You say you'll get back to them "as soon as possible." But then that second call comes in.

"Have you made a decision yet?"

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You haven't. And you need more time.

This is a situation many people find themselves in.

"You don't want to jump at the opportunity - nor do you want to seem uninterested," says Lynn Taylor, a national workplace expert and the author of "Tame Your Terrible Office Tyrant: How to Manage Childish Boss Behavior and Thrive in Your Job."

So how do you politely stall to ultimately get what you want?

"The company may try to push you to make a decision in a short period of time, but a little push back is often expected, as daunting as that might seem with a prospective employer," Taylor says.

She says even if you plan to take some time with your decision, you should always acknowledge the job offer promptly. "A general rule of thumb is that you can take two to three days for your final response," she says. "If the employer is vague about the requested response time, you may have up to a week, but a lot depends on the circumstances."

Most employers understand that you need time to think over the opportunity and that it's an important decision. If they don't and use hardball tactics, that should be a red flag - and you may have just dodged a large bullet.

Here are some steps to follow to help you bide time, but stay in the game: