Ask early, express genuine enthusiasm, and give a clear reason for the request without oversharing every detail of the other process.

A practical message is that you are grateful for the offer, remain seriously interested, and would appreciate a specific extension date to complete an existing commitment or recruiting process.

Make the request once and keep the tone respectful. The firm may say no, offer a shorter extension, or ask what timing you need.

Do not bluff about competing offers or deadlines. Even if an extension is not granted, a professional request is generally better than waiting until the final day. For a related reference, see consulting offer next steps.