Job offer - how would you feel?

goggle

At work, we advertised & interviewed for a role a couple of weeks ago. Came down to 2 excellent candidates & very hard to choose but we offered the job to A. They accepted, we therefore told B & the rest that they were unsuccessful.
A has now said they are not accepting the job as their current employer has offered a higher wage.

If you were B, would you still want the job, having been told that you hadn't got it initially? (Assuming you are still looking for work?)

Angry_Bear

Yes. If you were still looking for work and had applied, then you would want the job (I would think).
I might be a little put out that I was "second best", but I'd get over it pretty quick and would try to make sure that my new job was glad they'd ended up with me!

elsien

If it was a job I really wanted, then yes. My last interview (didn't get the job), I spent the week after hoping the preferred candidate would turn it down and I'd be the next in line.
I'd work on the presumption that although I wasn't first choice, I couldn't have been that bad or they'd have readvertised.
So on the off chance you interviewed me, yes please.:D

RichardD1970

If I was "B" and nothing had changed in my circumstances then yes I would want the job, that's why I applied.

Getting all indignant because I wasn't the first choice is just cutting off your nose to spite your face.

HappyMJ

Yes there is no need to go too much into details. Just say after some reconsideration we would like to offer you the vacancy.

Next time don't tell people they don't have the job until the first choice of applicant actually starts work. If they ring you then tell them they are still amongst the few at the top of the list (unless of course they are nowhere near it) but you are taking some time to consider your options.

I personally always accept job offers over the phone then take time to negotiate the details. If the details aren't good enough I don't sign the contract.

shiney85

Of course I'd still want the job! I was the same as Elsien a couple of months ago, hoping the lucky b*gger who got my dream job would turn it down, haha! Even if you're 2nd best, you're still good enough to be offered the role!

PlymouthMaid

Definitely.

TBagpuss

You have nothing to lose by offering the job to B. They may, of course, have found an alternative job in the mean time, or have changed their mind about wanting to work there, but equally, they may still want the job.

ska_lover

Yes, if I was B - I would take it

makeyourdaddyproud

RichardD1970 wrote: »

If I was "B" and nothing had changed in my circumstances then yes I would want the job, that's why I applied.

Getting all indignant because I wasn't the first choice is just cutting off your nose to spite your face.

I had this happen to me: I was the first choice selected for and job and thus received an offer. It was only when I started that my line manager made it abundantly clear I wasn't his first choice, the other guy was.

How would you feel now performing in that job, eh?

This scenario could easily crystallise in the OP's situation.

sulphate

HappyMJ wrote: »

Yes there is no need to go too much into details. Just say after some reconsideration we would like to offer you the vacancy.

Next time don't tell people they don't have the job until the first choice of applicant actually starts work. If they ring you then tell them they are still amongst the few at the top of the list (unless of course they are nowhere near it) but you are taking some time to consider your options.

I personally always accept job offers over the phone then take time to negotiate the details. If the details aren't good enough I don't sign the contract.

This isn't very realistic considering some people have to give 4 weeks notice, or even longer, at their current place of work and many people don't give notice until they have written confirmation of an unconditional job offer, with all this taken into account they could be looking at around 6 weeks between interview and starting their new role. Most people would expect feedback within 1-2 weeks of interview, not providing this looks poor on the organisation.

OP, I was in B's situation once. I was told I hadn't got the job then received a call 2 months later to ask if I was still interested. Turns out their first choice never turned up on the first day. I actually had another job by then but had realized it wasn't for me, so was very happy to receive the phone call and started the job 10 days later

I didn't feel "bad" that I was the second choice - I just got on with it and was glad to get the offer! I ended up doing really well in the job and got promoted 18 months later (I was their first choice for that one )