Job offer quandary

EleanorRig

I recently applied for two separate jobs as a teaching assistant. I was asked for an interview for one, and was subsequently offered the job, which I verbally accepted.
A few days later I was asked to attend an interview at a school which is much nearer to me, more hours and generally a better school all round.
I had the interview today but wasn't fortunate to get the job, the head rang to tell me that she knows of another school looking to employ teaching assistants and that she would put my name forward. When I asked which school it was the one I'd been offered a position with.
I had to come clean and tell her that I had already been offered a position but that I would have preferred to work at her school.
Now I'm worried that she'll speak to the head of the other school and they'll retract their offer..
Am I within my right to try for another job, when I haven't signed a contract yet?

McKneff

There is no reason that she would contact the other school, none that i can think of anyway.

Even if she did, and like I say, why would she, there is also no reason for them to retract their offer.

Youre overthinking.

Congratulations on your new job. enjoy.................

EleanorRig

I only thought that as she appears to be friends with the other head...
I was told on a teaching forum that heads talk, I shouldn't have gone for the other job and that I don't deserve the position! (Hence my worrying)

thegirlintheattic

Schools (for teachers at least) view a verbal agreement as binding. If you had got the second job and pulled out you would have been blacklisted by the 1st schools head and would have got a reputation for it most likely.

The school should not retract your offer if they get told, verbal agreements work both ways unless your references or CRB checks don't pass.

EleanorRig

I'm getting real mixed messages with this one. Some people say that I'm within my right to go for a job that is right for me, and others (fewer, I might add) are saying that I've done wrong.

Gleeful

EleanorRig wrote: »

I only thought that as she appears to be friends with the other head...
I was told on a teaching forum that heads talk, I shouldn't have gone for the other job and that I don't deserve the position! (Hence my worrying)

Was it TES? Ignore the crones on there!

AllThatStuffIsJustStuff

You've done nothing wrong and there shouldn't be any risk to your offer. After all, if they thought you were the best person for the job then, why shouldn't they now? You were job hunting. Only the most moronic employer would expect that their potential employees only wanted to work for them and wouldn't be applying for other positions.

If you want to do something to calm your nerves on the issue, contact the school where you have the offer to "confirm a detail" or something similar to make sure they know you still intend to take the post.

suicidebob

EleanorRig wrote: »

I'm getting real mixed messages with this one. Some people say that I'm within my right to go for a job that is right for me, and others (fewer, I might add) are saying that I've done wrong.

Who is saying you are doing wrong? Paste some of the comments here, so they can get torn apart.

Gleeful

It is unprofessional, in the 'world' of education, but you gotta do what you gotta do. I have found the thread and I think they were harsh, but a lot of people on that particular website can be harsh.

We've all done similar. I got a job as a Cover Supervisor last year as the end of term was fast approaching and I hadn't secured a teaching job. Verbally agreed it, then 2 days later had an interview for a teaching job. I knew about both interviews before I went to the first interview. I got that one too, so had to turn down the CS job. The head totally understood, as the teaching job paid twice what the CS job did but I felt awful.

thegirlintheattic

If the OP posted this in TES as well then it is very likely she is getting told she is wrong.

In teaching (and often extending to TAs) a job offer is made verbally and once that is accepted, that is it. A few weeks later you get a letter that states your hours/pay etc. but from the moment you verbally accept you are employed by them (subject to CRBs/references). Those in education who accept a post then back out are not treated kindly. Usually at a school interview you will be asked "If you were offered the post would you accept?" and that is your chance to back out.

EleanorRig

These are the comments I've received:

"If you have accepted a job, that is a verbal contract and you should not have attended another interview. This is unfair on other candidates who are still looking for employment, not only the other candidates today, but the candidates who attended the interview in which you were successful, and were rejected in favour of you. This is totally unfair on the school who think you are their new employee and have stopped looking for candidates. I don't understand why you would apply for another job if you already have one? If you are desperate for a job, you have one, you have what you need. If you were not so desperate you wanted to keep looking, you should not have accepted the job from the previous interview.
What was your plan going to be if you had been successful today? Heads talk! As you now know, the other head and today's head are in communication, so if you had got today's job, the other head would have found out!
If I were the head today, I would feel obliged to inform the other head of that her new employee was still attending interviews, though I obviously don't know if this will be the case as I am not a headteacher. But you definitely shouldn't be applying for other jobs if you have accepted a job with the head of the previous interview. It's just wrong. How would you feel, having been offered the job, if they rang you and said actually they'd found someone else? When you turn it round that way, surely you'll see that it's totally unacceptable.

and also:

No, s/he is not being harsh.She is actually being legally correct. You have not acted either professionally or correctly. You accepted a job, you had entered into a contract with that school.
You have deceived the second school by letting them think that you were free and able to enter into a contract with them, which you are not.
How would you feel if the first school went on interviewing candidates after it offered you, and then rang you up to say "Sorry, we've seen someone we like better"
The first school may wish to reconsider its offer to you now, as it is bound to hear of your unacceptable behaviour.