If your offered a job but want to keep your options open.

crazy_guy

Hi
Though some may say I am thinking too far ahead but I like to be prepared. In essence on Friday I have a job interview where the employer sounded dead positive on seeing my C.V. I thought great, the pay ain't super but the experience will be ace!!

Then today i've been offered an interview, again really positive stuff - not in the area I originally thought i'd go into but is still good experience and is also £4500 more p.a and that interview is on Tuesday.

I'm worried that this job on Friday will turn round and offer me the job, and i'd be thinking great but what about the job interview on Tuesday.

Would it be best just to accept the offer, go to the interview Tuesday - get the result on that job while i'm working my notice at my old job and then make my decision and if necessary let the first employer down. Instead of saying hold on a week, i'm really keen to join your organisation but I want to hold off to see if a better off comes along as it doesnt really reek of enthusium for the job does it :S

But I bet I'll come back on here and say I didnt get either :rotfl:

Claudie

If the interview is Friday they may not necessarily make any offers till the following week anyway. If they do offer you the job on the day, and you aren't 100% sure about it, you can always say something along the lines of "thank you that's brilliant, I will get back to you next week" or just "thank you". You don't officially accept the job until the details are posted to you and that usually isn't same day.

If Tuesday comes and you desperately want, and are offered, that job then you can phone back job 1 and sincerely apologise but explain that you can't accept their offer.

An interview is as much for you finding the right job as the employer finding the right staff - I can usually tell within minutes if I am interviewing for a job I really want vs "just" a job.

Good luck and keep us posted. And start practicing your best answers

LittleVoice

If you are offered a job before Tuesday's interview, accept it.

If Tuesday's interview goes well and that is offered too, accept it.

Then decide which you will actually take.

Do not resign from your current job until you have an unconditional offer from your new employer. That is if they are going to take up references before confirming the offer or if you have to have a medical, wait until that has all happened.

crazy_guy

Deleted due to me finding the solution to my problem myself

Savvy_Sue

crazy_guy wrote: »

Deleted due to me finding the solution to my problem myself

I like that attitude!

Just to say that it varies from employer to employer a) how quickly they make offers and b) how quickly they expect you to respond. Teaching, for example, seems to offer on the same day and expect your answer immediately! That, I'd say, is the exception rather than the rule.

Where I've been involved in selection the usual thing is to try and decide the same day who to offer to, and if that's not possible then within 24 hours. Offer made by phone, followed up in writing. You hope the person will respond immediately, but I'd say a reasonable employer would be happy for you to say "Thank you, before I accept do you mind if I think it over for xxx" - this gives them a chance to ask if there's anything else you'd like to know, and I don't think it does any harm not to look TOO desperate (even if you are!)

The only time we'd have wanted to push for an answer is if we have a reserve candidate: we don't want to reject them if you're NOT going to accept. And obviously we can't keep the reserve hanging around too long. So the difficulty might arise if you go to your interview on Tuesday, and they say they're interviewing for the rest of the week so won't be making offers before Friday.

Good luck anyway - how did Friday go?

Jarvisma

I would agree that (depending on the type of job as there are exceptions) timescale wise, if you attended an interview on Friday it is highly unlikely you would have a decision before Tuesday.

Don't forget you will not necessarily be the final applicant to be seen, so they may still be interviewing either today and or tomorrow (or more!) and obviously can't make any offers untill they have seen everybody.

The issue will really arise if you get an offer from Co A before you've heard a result from Co B.

In which case I would agree with the above posters, you would either say you are really pleased and thank you can I let you know within a couple of days or call you back tomorrow with a decision. Or accept it in principle, if you wouldn't feel too guilty about later changing you mind if you do get the other job. All of this is obviously based on an offer in writing too so this will obviously add another day on to the waiting time.

The only thing I would say for definite, is if you are offered both jobs, don't turn the first one down untill you have an offer in writing from the second one.

Worst case scenarion would be to turn down the first, then the offer in writing fom the second never arrives because they've had a 'rethink' and hey presto, you've lost both jobs!

I think you should relax though, I'm sure you'll have time to make you're mind up about both without too much inconvenience to any party.

crazy_guy

Thanks for all the responses, I just didn't know what the approach would be in such a situation. The interview on Friday went quite well but am never confident as ultimately the ideal candidate is in the eye of the recruiter but i could do no more than what i did.

My situation has somewhat changed though, I have cancelled the tuesday interview which may of caused the dillema. This is because i got another job i was not expecting, its only on a temporary basis but may go permanent but i don't think i will want it as a long term option. Thus if i do get accepted for the job i interviewed for on the Friday i will take it as its in the ideal area i want to go into plus its a permenent position.

I'm afraid i got another question or dillema, as i've just started a temporary position during office hours it will become difficult going for any future interviews for different jobs, would i be right in thinking i am risking my temporary assignment if i request time off work - would it be wise waiting a few weeks so they would think twice in bringing in someone new?

Thanks again guys

studentphil

crazy_guy wrote: »

Thanks for all the responses, I just didn't know what the approach would be in such a situation. The interview on Friday went quite well but am never confident as ultimately the ideal candidate is in the eye of the recruiter but i could do no more than what i did.

My situation has somewhat changed though, I have cancelled the tuesday interview which may of caused the dillema. This is because i got another job i was not expecting, its only on a temporary basis but may go permanent but i don't think i will want it as a long term option. Thus if i do get accepted for the job i interviewed for on the Friday i will take it as its in the ideal area i want to go into plus its a permenent position.

I'm afraid i got another question or dillema, as i've just started a temporary position during office hours it will become difficult going for any future interviews for different jobs, would i be right in thinking i am risking my temporary assignment if i request time off work - would it be wise waiting a few weeks so they would think twice in bringing in someone new?

Thanks again guys

Follow your heart and go for the jobs you really want. Until they offer you temp to perm then you are missing out by not looking for a perm job

Claudie

If the new post is temporary they should understand that you may still be looking for permanent work. What I would suggest is that you try to schedule any new interviews for hours that are least disruptive to your work ie very early or late in the day, lunchtimes etc (or as close as poss). If you explain to potential employers why you would like to schedule like that then they too should be understanding - it also should stand you in a good light as it shows respect for your current job.

Well done on getting a job btw!

Savvy_Sue

I agree completely with Claudie, if it's a temporary job then the company ought to be understanding about the need to go for other interviews, and by trying to arrange it with as little disruption as possible you are showing respect to your temp job, which should impress a potential permanent employer.

Note the 'ought' and 'should' in that sentence: people aren't always as understanding or flexible as they might be ...

Give it a week, unless the subject comes up earlier, then see if you can agree with your line manager what they would consider reasonable. Obviously it partly depends on the nature of the temp job: if you can make your hours up at other times you're in a better position than if, say, you're on a switchboard / reception desk / shop counter which has to be staffed certain hours.

crazy_guy

Firstly THANK YOU for everyone that have given me their advice - though in the end there has been a happy ending.

I've been working as a temporary legal assistant - but have now been offered a job as a paralegal in a field i'm really interested in - the money is a bit of a letdown but the experience will be fantastic - and its a permanent position yay wooooo