Graduate job problem

LTL

sharp910sh wrote: »

Quick question. If I were to sign the contract for the job, then later get another interview before I start work, and got an offer and turned down the first job I signed for, how bad is that? Would I expect a good reference from the company I have turned down even before I started working.

Am I free to do that? I have applied for many places and expect to hear from them in the near future.

If you agree a contract with company X then go with them. If you subsequently get an offer which is better from another company, you are within your rights to take that offer and hand in notice at company X, whether you have started there or not.

No company has to provide a reference. If they do it must be true (either fact or valid opinion). It can be bad if you were a bad employee for them.

bodmil

When is the next interview coming up? Could you give them a call and say you have an offer but would really like to meet with them first before accepting. Don't sign the contract yet, string it out as long as you can, whether it's through clarifying the terms or blaming the royal mail, keep your options open as long as possible without peeing anyone off! Although, that said, if it's a grad job then you won't actually start for months, so you could just accept it then give notice before even starting?

sharp910sh

I am still waiting for the outcome of the interview I had last week. I had a first stage interview the other day, and the second stage interview is in Easter time, which I may not or may get through to.

I have applied for other places but on their website it says the interviews will be after easter.

The boss said he will send me the contract next week. I assume it will be by post. The boss is very happy with me. He has no problems said I've improved a lot since I first started working there. So in theory the reference will be fine.

I guess if I did get an offer before I sign the contract, I can thank the guy and reject it without any problems. Then if months away I were to be successful in an interview, and i have signed the contract I can just hand in my notice.

The problem was I told the guy I was not looking for other jobs even though I am. If I do get another offer, I may just say since we met I looked for another job and has an interview and was successful.

I did not want to tell him anything about my other job interviews, as he may see that his company is the last resort. I am free to disclose or withhold any information about my job interviews, as it should not concern him.

bodmil

I think it's fairly normal to be looking at more than one job! It adds pressure and reminds them that they also need to be competetive with what they offer. It would have been fine to mention it!

sharp910sh

bodmil wrote: »

I think it's fairly normal to be looking at more than one job! It adds pressure and reminds them that they also need to be competetive with what they offer. It would have been fine to mention it!

Will it make me look bad if I turn around and decline their offer as I have another offer? Even though yesterday I said I was not looking?

MoneySavingUser

You are free to look for other jobs if you like

However he is also free to not give you a reference

There is no fixed answer to your question

If you decide to take another offer and still want/need a reference from him then that may be a risky move - and that I'm afraid is life!!

bodmil

sharp910sh wrote: »

Will it make me look bad if I turn around and decline their offer as I have another offer? Even though yesterday I said I was not looking?

It won't look great, but there's no need to rush to turn him down, just slow everything down and breathe!!! I think you rushed into this in the first place but don't continue to make the same mistake. Thank him for the offer and tell him you would love to take it up and just need to sort a few things on your end before getting back to him officially.

It this company really worth all this fuss if you don't like working there anyway and don't neeed a job until you graduate in a couple of months? Are you the sort to be able to pick up temp work when you need it, because that may be a better and much more flexible option.

sharp910sh

bodmil wrote: »

It won't look great, but there's no need to rush to turn him down, just slow everything down and breathe!!! I think you rushed into this in the first place but don't continue to make the same mistake. Thank him for the offer and tell him you would love to take it up and just need to sort a few things on your end before getting back to him officially.

It this company really worth all this fuss if you don't like working there anyway and don't neeed a job until you graduate in a couple of months? Are you the sort to be able to pick up temp work when you need it, because that may be a better and much more flexible option.

Yes I think I rushed it, but I was worried if I asked him too late he would not give me a offer. Last year I came to him very late asking to return in the summer to work, he was very annoyed. He told me again and again I should ask much earlier.

I don't hate working there, it was just stressful working long hours and no overtime. Now the company is not doing too, so i guess I would have to work even harder for a "low" salary. Basically I want the best of both worlds, the company as a backup incase I do not get a better offer. That was why I planned to stall him for a week, see if the other job offer came through. I still wait.

I do not think I need to get back to him any time soon, he is in no rush. I will just see if I get this job offer from the interview I had, if not then I will just work for them. Unless I get called for another interview which may be months away. I could not have let the boss hang for months and months, hence why I asked him for a job.

sharp910sh

Damn I have ANOTHER interview next month. I guess before then I will need to decide if I will sign the contract!

sharp910sh

Update: i have another interview this week. I have too many interviews.