Interview/acceptance timing clash

[Japveesix]

Hi all,

I'm after a bit of general advice on a situation I've not been in before and I'm not sure what the accepted best practice would be.

I have a job interview on the 12th Sept, it's a job I have a fair chance of getting and am confident I'd enjoy and be happy in.

However I have a second application due in on the 10th Sept that I expect to get an interview for, likely to be around a week after that I imagine. This job, for many reasons would be preferable to the first - ideal/dream job in fact.

So, if I were to be offered the first one it's likely to be before I've even interviewed for the second. Do I:

- accept but then go to the other interview and if I get it just phone back and let them down.
- be upfront, once offered, and say I'm waiting on another job offer and can I delay my answer a week etc?

Can they retract an offer if I ask for a delay. Is it wiser just to say nothing?

Can I accept one job but then phone a week later and go "oops sorry I've accidentally accepted another"?

I realise this is all hypothetical as I've not been offered either but I'm fairly confident in my chances of both.

Thanks, if you've followed that, any advice appreciated!

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

Don't try to ride two horses is my advice.

Nothing more guaranteed to naff off a new employer than the whiff of a less than 100% enthusiastic employee.

[a311]

I'd go with option 2 personally. I guess they can do what they want in terms of withdrawing the offer etc until contracts are signed.

I was in this position myself a few years ago just said thanks for the offer and had another interview so would be in touch, spoke to the guy hiring too.

If someone is actively seeking a new role I don't think its unreasonable to have a few irons in the fire.

[dundarach]

Bird in the hand and all that jazz!

Get first job offer and verbally accept, ask for a lovely offer letter and contract to read etc, buying you time.

Go to second job and get offer

Make decision as appropriate.

https://www.geppsolicitors.co.uk/site/blog/employm...

[p4cks]

Whichever you choose, it's important not to burn your bridges with either of them (or your current employer).

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

Yes, don't tell number one about number two.

If you accept job 1 and then are lucky enough to get job 2 just tell number 1 soonest.

They'll maybe be a bit disappointed but they'll get over it.

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

2 sMoKiN bArReLs said:

Don't try to ride two horses is my advice.

Nothing more guaranteed to naff off a new employer than the whiff of a less than 100% enthusiastic employee.

What I mean is, don't have job 2 in your mind when interviewing for job 1!

[Scrump]

When I interview candidates I always ask if they are talking to any other prospective employers. I don’t see them doing so as a negative, in fact if they are not then I wonder why not.

What would really annoy me is having a job offer accepted and then they pull out if they get another offer, especially if they told me they weren’t looking anywhere else.

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

Scrump said:

When I interview candidates I always ask if they are talking to any other prospective employers. I don’t see them doing so as a negative, in fact if they are not then I wonder why not.

Me too. I was more thinking about a delay between offer & acceptance.

[wiggy001]

Scrump said:

When I interview candidates I always ask if they are talking to any other prospective employers. I don’t see them doing so as a negative, in fact if they are not then I wonder why not.

What would really annoy me is having a job offer accepted and then they pull out if they get another offer, especially if they told me they weren’t looking anywhere else.

I'm the same. An interview works both ways - the employer needs to sell the role as much as the candidate needs to sell themselves, especially in the current job market. Be honest that you have another prospective role and employer 1 will know they need to compete with employer 2 for you to join them, assuming they make an offer that is.

[Countdown]

Japveesix said:

Hi all,

I'm after a bit of general advice on a situation I've not been in before and I'm not sure what the accepted best practice would be.

I have a job interview on the 12th Sept, it's a job I have a fair chance of getting and am confident I'd enjoy and be happy in.

However I have a second application due in on the 10th Sept that I expect to get an interview for, likely to be around a week after that I imagine. This job, for many reasons would be preferable to the first - ideal/dream job in fact.

So, if I were to be offered the first one it's likely to be before I've even interviewed for the second. Do I:

- accept but then go to the other interview and if I get it just phone back and let them down.
- be upfront, once offered, and say I'm waiting on another job offer and can I delay my answer a week etc?

Can they retract an offer if I ask for a delay. Is it wiser just to say nothing?

Can I accept one job but then phone a week later and go "oops sorry I've accidentally accepted another"?

I realise this is all hypothetical as I've not been offered either but I'm fairly confident in my chances of both.

Thanks, if you've followed that, any advice appreciated!

Accept but if you're lucky with the 2nd one the call the first one back and let them down.

Trust me it happens ALL the time for a million reasons. The one thing i would say is to try and do it as soon as you've got the 2nd offer. Chances are that their 2nd/3rd choice is still available, in which case it isn't a big issue.

[Countdown]

Scrump said:

When I interview candidates I always ask if they are talking to any other prospective employers. I don’t see them doing so as a negative, in fact if they are not then I wonder why not.

What would really annoy me is having a job offer accepted and then they pull out if they get another offer, especially if they told me they weren’t looking anywhere else.

I'm not sure how relevant that is tbh. Some people can be very happy in their current job and not looking to move at all but then a certain opportunity comes along which ticks all the right boxes so they apply.

Also they might tell you truthfully that they aren't talking to anybody else but then get a phone call from the recruitment agency 5 minutes after they walk out of your office.

[Japveesix]

dundarach said:

Bird in the hand and all that jazz!

Get first job offer and verbally accept, ask for a lovely offer letter and contract to read etc, buying you time.

Go to second job and get offer

Make decision as appropriate.

https://www.geppsolicitors.co.uk/site/blog/employm...

Yeah, that's pretty much how I hope it will all go.

Obviously it relies on me getting either offer in the first place! Perhaps I'll get neither and be a stay at home dad instead.

Part of the added stress is that my current contract runs out at the end of October and my second baby is due 2 weeks later!

Not the position I intended to be in but there we are!

[Japveesix]

2 sMoKiN bArReLs said:

What I mean is, don't have job 2 in your mind when interviewing for job 1!

This is also sound advice and I will try hard to stick to it.

The 2nd job is far more important however the first is still 100% an acceptable and happy outcome if it came to it.