Job offer quandary

wantsajob

I wouldn't worry about it. Whatever happens happens, just go ahead with the other job. It's not as black and white as some of the replies you have received would suggest. If you withdrew your offer, then I am sure they had a backup choice to approach anyway - in case of CRB check failing etc, any school that didn't would be rather stupid. I'd have thought signing on the dotted line was the be all end all.

InsideInsurance

You can always go for another job irrespective of if you currently employed, have just started a job or have accepted an offer and not started.

The risk you run, particularly in incestuous industries, is getting a bad reputation. Certainly in the industry I work in it is very rare I see a job application from someone who I do not have some level of connection to and a quick call to an ex-colleague to find out what the applicant is like gives me a much better guide as to if to take them on or not than any formal reference ever would.

I think the chances you simply applied for another job with a good reason to prefer it isnt going to cause you a major issue

smileylondongal

As much as schools would like to think they have their own version of employment law, they don't. Simply put, you are free to do what you want until you sign on the dotted line. If heads talk, which I very much doubt, then this is a breach of confidentiality and if they withdraw, you should have solid reasons why.

EleanorRig

Yes, that's a good point!
What is the difference between applying for a job when you're already in a position of employment and applying for a job before you start?

Never thought of that!

williacg

EleanorRig wrote: »

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.

How spiteful, they sound like a real pair of lemon suckers.

You've applied for several jobs, and were fortunate to be offered the first one because they felt you were right for the post, and like with buses, another interview offer appears, based on all of the hard work and effort you have put into your job search, and as most people probably would, you attended the later interview to weigh up all of the pros and cons. You have done nothing wrong, but I can understand your concern based on the above posts. Slap yourself on the back and go out for a drink and celebrate the fact that you have found employment, and leave the crowing witches to tend their cauldrons.

t0rt0ise

I can't imagine relying on a verbal offer of a job. I'd certainly want something in writing before I'd make any plans. And before I'd signed anything, I wouldn't consider anything wrong in my accepting a better job offer.

If teachers think differently then they need to come into the real world.

jojo1973

If it makes you feel better I was on a work placement a mile from home during uni. After graduating I applied for a few jobs and agencies and got offered a position 30 miles away. Nothing else was coming up so I accepted and before I started I was actually offered a post in the place I'd been on placement in. I was devastated to say the least as I felt obliged to take 1st post so I went with it but you know it was actually beneficial. I'd never worked outside my hometown, knew all the available resources but downside was I also knew the clients, their families or friends so could be a bit awkward in the pub!
The post 30 miles away I learnt a stack of new skills, new resources to tap into and never bumped into clients lol! The travelling was awful some days but weighing against what I learnt I felt this really gave me a great experience

EleanorRig

Thank you all for your supportive comments

Having slept on it I am now starting to wonder whether I would have preferred the nearer school after all, it was considerably bigger than the school where I've been offered a post (I'm used to working in a tiny village primary) and it's really only about 20 mins further away. Always look on the bright, etc.