2 interviews next week

bobblebob

So i have 2 internal job interviews next week, both within a day of each other.

Job A on Tuesday. Job B Wednesday. Usually with internal jobs here you find out within 24hrs but not always

Now i would prefer job B, but what happens if Job A offer me the position before i find out the outcome of job B? I could delay my decision hoping job B decide my fate quickly. Or can i accept job A and then withdraw before i sign anything if job B offer me the position? But then am i just messing them around too much

General_Grant

bobblebob said:

So i have 2 internal job interviews next week, both within a day of each other.

Job A on Tuesday. Job B Wednesday. Usually with internal jobs here you find out within 24hrs but not always

Now i would prefer job B, but what happens if Job A offer me the position before i find out the outcome of job B? I could delay my decision hoping job B decide my fate quickly. Or can i accept job A and then withdraw before i sign anything if job B offer me the position? But then am i just messing them around too much

Presumably HR are aware that you have applied for both positions.

If you have an offer from Interview A before the outcome of Interview B, they should understand you would like to know the outcome of the second before accepting, even though that might suggest hesitancy about A.  

In my opinion, it is better to delay an acceptance than to accept and then withdraw.  In fact if you accepted and HR were aware they might say you don't need to attend B.

Accepting orally and then changing your mind is no less "messing them around" than signing an acceptance in some form.

Brie

Just say "thank you for your kind offer!  Let me collect my thoughts and i'll get back to you asap."  Or ask them to confirm in writing the extra money/holiday/benefits you will get.

Jillanddy

I would definitely not accept a job then turn it down for internal interviews. You might get the job you really want,  but it leaves a bad taste with someone already your employer. You know your employer better than anyone here- are they likely to balk at the truth? You applied for two jobs, and would presumably be thrilled to get either.  But it's only human to have a preference. So if offered the first job,  given you are only asking them to wait 24 hours, would it be awful to say that to them? As a recruiting manager, I would respect the honesty,  and if it meant a short wait to see if I get my first preferred candidate, I'd be fine with that. 

bobblebob

Jillanddy said:

I would definitely not accept a job then turn it down for internal interviews. You might get the job you really want,  but it leaves a bad taste with someone already your employer. You know your employer better than anyone here- are they likely to balk at the truth? You applied for two jobs, and would presumably be thrilled to get either.  But it's only human to have a preference. So if offered the first job,  given you are only asking them to wait 24 hours, would it be awful to say that to them? As a recruiting manager, I would respect the honesty,  and if it meant a short wait to see if I get my first preferred candidate, I'd be fine with that. 

Yea i will tell them can i have some time to think about it, and hope during the 24hrs or whatever im given, then the other recruiting manager makes a decision either way

Sandtree

As an internal candidate its totally different as the same HR will oversee both processes, you just need to be honest (to a degree) and say you;d rather know the outcome of both processes and what offers are on the table are before making a decision (no need to say what your preference is).

Its very possible the two managers will discuss anyway, HR doesnt generally like departments trying to outbid each other for the same internal candidate.

Brie

@Jillanddy said As a recruiting manager, I would respect the honesty,  and if it meant a short wait to see if I get my first preferred candidate, I'd be fine with that. 

And if a manager said "NO!  I must have an answer NOW!!" I wouldn't be too anxious to work for them as they are obviously a bully.

@Sandtree said Its very possible the two managers will discuss anyway, HR doesnt generally like departments trying to outbid each other for the same internal candidate.  

Unless it's a big organisation.  I've worked for some that are huge and a manager may not even be aware of the other department's existence let alone know who works there.

Sandtree

Brie said:

@Sandtree said Its very possible the two managers will discuss anyway, HR doesnt generally like departments trying to outbid each other for the same internal candidate.  

Unless it's a big organisation.  I've worked for some that are huge and a manager may not even be aware of the other department's existence let alone know who works there.

Thats more an issue of a poor HR department than symptom of a big organisation... the only caveat is that very large corporations may have more than one HR department and so the visibility of the two applications in one place is lost. Wasnt suggesting the guys/gals chat in the "managers break room" but that HR actively discuss the matter with both.

Even if its no HR's preference that teams compete with each other and drive the costs up that doesnt stop certain managers ignoring HR and knowing they've more budget to play with and so outbidding the other department anyway. As long as salary was within the bands HR were only advisory not the decision makers.

TELLIT01

With both jobs being internal, accepting job A and then attempting to reject it for job B may result in both offers being withdrawn.

bobblebob

Few people at work have suggested just be honest and say you want to hesr both outcomes before deciding

At work we're going through a transition where jobs will be going, so lots of people applying for multiple internal jobs to keep a job basically. So each department is aware of this and will understand (in theory)

74jax

I would never accept a job on a verbal offer, so to me it's reasonable to ask to have the contract before you decide.