Job offers and interviewing

[Anonymous]

I am expecting to get an offer this coming Monday or Tuesday from Company A. I have a second interview Wednesday with Company B. I expect Company B to move quickly in making their offer to whom ever they choose. I would prefer to have the position with Company B. What do I say to Company A if they call on Tuesday with the offer? Company A is full of very genuine people and has very low turn over, so they focus on finding the right candidate. I'm not sure I'm going to be perfect in the position, but I think it would be a good challenge and if it really didn't work, I feel like I could tell them that honestly. The position is in an area of my field I have been trying to venture away from, and the position with Company B is in the area I have been focusing the last few years. Any ideas for how to phrase things talking to Company A to buy myself some time with Company B? How horrible is it if I take the offer, set a start date in 2-3 weeks, and if I receive a better suited offer, tell them I changed my mind?

[Anonymous]

Tell Company A thank you for the offer and that you are very interested but would like to think it over for a few days. Then do the interview with Company B and ask when you could expect to hear back. I would avoid telling Company A that you accept the offer, want start in 2-3 weeks and then say you changed your mind.