'Career' dilemna.

szam_

Hi all,

I was hoping to get some advice.

I went for a number of interviews for a very large company around a month ago, at the time i was hoping I'd get it as it was a huge career move for me. Anyhow, i was turned down due to my location despite me assuring them I'd relocate

I've been frantically looking for work since i was made redundant, and was offered a place at a company today for a fairly nice starting salary.

However! I didn't intend this to be my career path, just something to get back in to work. I was approached by a recruitment company a couple of weeks back about a role at the large company i had interviews for around a month ago. This is a role which is actually more advanced than i went for originally, they want to interview me next Thursday (the same person who interviewed me for the first role). This is more my route as it deals with a lot more SQL and consulting, with a view to visiting customers in the long run.

Now, i was asked to start Monday at the job offered. I accepted, of course, i need to work and have an income. Shortly after i was called asking me to attend and interview for said large company after i start working at this new place. Apparently they are really keen as they've met me before, and since moving anyway, they'd like to have me in.

What can i do? The recruitment guy suggests calling in sick next Thursday and going in to work in the afternoon. I really do not want to do this, especially in my first week, plus i never take a day off sick. Should i just stick it out with the job i've been offered and just not attend this other interview, surely something else will crop up in the future?

It's relatively the same pay, or less but with more career prospects advancing through the company.

What would you do in my situation? I'm a bit lost.

Cheers.

andrewjf

Tricky one. I would be inclined to go for the other interview that offers better career development. Not a great thing to do to your current company, but these things happen. People get offered jobs, even accept them, then change their minds and go to something better.
Ultimately you really want to do what's best for yourself, this may be your best chance to get into that other company and develop your experience. Trust me, you don't want to be locked into a job which isn't going anywhere, or isn't the path you want to go down.

Acc72

Have you tried to reschedule the time ? - eg. 8 am or 6 pm ?

This will also show you commitment to your current job plus show your willingness to meet with the other company.

szam_

Acc72 wrote: »

Have you tried to reschedule the time ? - eg. 8 am or 6 pm ?

This will also show you commitment to your current job plus show your willingness to meet with the other company.

Unfortunately due to the distance between the location of both jobs (pretty much in the opposite direction to each other), even changing the times like that wouldn't really work due to the amount of time I'd spend getting back from an interview.

andrewjf, i don't think I'd be locked in long term. This week has been manic, i've had calls from every angle you can think of and more responses from employers than i have in any other week. Given I will hopefully be up to a junior developer standard in C# in the next year or two, and Java (maybe ASP.net) and given my present skills in SQL and IT in general, I'd say i could probably find something later down the road.

My main concern really, is would i get fed up of the role i've accepted, and should i risk everything on maybe getting a position that's not guaranteed. At the end of the day, i want to come out of this with a job either way. 20k a year for something i can do with my eyes closed is pretty damn good to be honest, and would probably give me freedom outside of work to start my part time degree in the autumn. Given I'm only 25, is it right i should be rushing and jumping for a fast career progression just yet? I've a long way to go yet, and my Dad didn't get into his career until he was 30, he's doing fantastically for himself (he does what i hope to do one day)

an9i77

It's a tricky one. It sounds like the job you took is not the best one for you, but you felt you had to take it. Can you afford to not take it and stay on the market? Or get a temp job to give you an income but look for something better?

I think if you're having doubts now about the job you've accepted then it's not right for you and you should stick it out a bit longer being unemployed if you can afford to