Non Synchronised Job Offers?
Discussion
I have been in my current role since 2012, with continuous employment back to 2009. Public sector, very specialised role. Had expensive residential training, exams, earned niche qualifications (give you an idea how niche - there’ll be two awarded to people working in the UK in 2023).
Funding crisis looms - first formal meeting next week, but I have been told that there’s nothing in the budget for my post from April next year. Redundancy payment will be decent, and I can influence the pace by applying for voluntary redundancy in parallel to the involuntary process.
There is a demand for my skill set, mainly still public sector, but also transferable to some top end private sector employers.
First interview today, first interview for different employer next week, a few others in the process for January. Complication is that there’s a pecking order of desirability of these jobs, in terms of “know exactly what I’m doing from Day One”, employer prestige, and - especially - commuting pain. 30 mins on the bus, 40 mins in the car . . . 2 hours. My wife has a stressful, demanding job, we have a teenager in peak, em, teenagerdom, so I would prefer not to be absent for fourteen hours a day.
Money’s all in the same ballpark.
So . . . how does one handle the timescale of (fingers crossed) job offers you can’t control, when first one might be least desirable? You don’t know whether there’ll be a better one along soon, but you can’t sit on it forever, and - presumably - changing your mind after acceptance is piss poor etiquette and unfair to both the employer and other applicants?
Especially pertinent in that next week’s interview is the one I’d want least - pretty much what I do now (good), but less desirable employer . . . and two hours away. Today’s interview is for a plum job, and the other desirable job so far will be January interview. Still have more applications to complete for vacancies with later closing dates.
Chickens, counting, hatching, birds, hands and bushes . . .
Funding crisis looms - first formal meeting next week, but I have been told that there’s nothing in the budget for my post from April next year. Redundancy payment will be decent, and I can influence the pace by applying for voluntary redundancy in parallel to the involuntary process.
There is a demand for my skill set, mainly still public sector, but also transferable to some top end private sector employers.
First interview today, first interview for different employer next week, a few others in the process for January. Complication is that there’s a pecking order of desirability of these jobs, in terms of “know exactly what I’m doing from Day One”, employer prestige, and - especially - commuting pain. 30 mins on the bus, 40 mins in the car . . . 2 hours. My wife has a stressful, demanding job, we have a teenager in peak, em, teenagerdom, so I would prefer not to be absent for fourteen hours a day.
Money’s all in the same ballpark.
So . . . how does one handle the timescale of (fingers crossed) job offers you can’t control, when first one might be least desirable? You don’t know whether there’ll be a better one along soon, but you can’t sit on it forever, and - presumably - changing your mind after acceptance is piss poor etiquette and unfair to both the employer and other applicants?
Especially pertinent in that next week’s interview is the one I’d want least - pretty much what I do now (good), but less desirable employer . . . and two hours away. Today’s interview is for a plum job, and the other desirable job so far will be January interview. Still have more applications to complete for vacancies with later closing dates.
Chickens, counting, hatching, birds, hands and bushes . . .
Well, you can't make any decisions until someone offers you a job.
You can potentially work out what the likely scenarios are and what decision you'd make. Maybe start by treating them as independent decisions.
If you get offered job 1, and it still looks appealing after today's interview, in what scenarios would you turn it down?
Would you take job 2 if it's the only one you get offered? Or let the voluntary redundancy thing play out and keep looking?
It sounds like you've already decided you'd take job 1 over job 2, so that makes job 2 irrelevant if you're offered job 1.
Ask at the interviews when you'll hear the outcome, and if you get offers ask when they need a response by, that will help you work out whether there's actually any interaction between the decisions, but I'd suggest you can't string jobs 1 or 2 along into the new year for the next round of jobs to be relevant.
Good luck, hope it works out for you.
You can potentially work out what the likely scenarios are and what decision you'd make. Maybe start by treating them as independent decisions.
If you get offered job 1, and it still looks appealing after today's interview, in what scenarios would you turn it down?
Would you take job 2 if it's the only one you get offered? Or let the voluntary redundancy thing play out and keep looking?
It sounds like you've already decided you'd take job 1 over job 2, so that makes job 2 irrelevant if you're offered job 1.
Ask at the interviews when you'll hear the outcome, and if you get offers ask when they need a response by, that will help you work out whether there's actually any interaction between the decisions, but I'd suggest you can't string jobs 1 or 2 along into the new year for the next round of jobs to be relevant.
Good luck, hope it works out for you.
Don't mess with Mr,or Mrs/ miss other genders available, in-between,sounds like there's little point going to next week interview, except for bit interview 'practice'?
If you have a few interviews in Jan,tell them when your available to start,if your skill set is so specialized and in demand you call the shots.
The Mrs stressful job? In reality very few jobs are stressful,people tend to create that situation,if you can get time off between jobs, highly recommend take her away for a bit suprise break
If you have a few interviews in Jan,tell them when your available to start,if your skill set is so specialized and in demand you call the shots.
The Mrs stressful job? In reality very few jobs are stressful,people tend to create that situation,if you can get time off between jobs, highly recommend take her away for a bit suprise break
E63eeeeee... said:
If you get offered job 1, and it still looks appealing after today's interview, in what scenarios would you turn it down?
Would you take job 2 if it's the only one you get offered? Or let the voluntary redundancy thing play out and keep looking?
It sounds like you've already decided you'd take job 1 over job 2, so that makes job 2 irrelevant if you're offered job 1.
Ask at the interviews when you'll hear the outcome, and if you get offers ask when they need a response by, that will help you work out whether there's actually any interaction between the decisions, but I'd suggest you can't string jobs 1 or 2 along into the new year for the next round of jobs to be relevant.
Good luck, hope it works out for you.
Thanks. Well I think Interview 1 went well. We’ll see . . .Would you take job 2 if it's the only one you get offered? Or let the voluntary redundancy thing play out and keep looking?
It sounds like you've already decided you'd take job 1 over job 2, so that makes job 2 irrelevant if you're offered job 1.
Ask at the interviews when you'll hear the outcome, and if you get offers ask when they need a response by, that will help you work out whether there's actually any interaction between the decisions, but I'd suggest you can't string jobs 1 or 2 along into the new year for the next round of jobs to be relevant.
Good luck, hope it works out for you.
If offered, I’d jump . . . decent money, top drawer employer, walking distance on a sunny day if you have a couple of hours. Only downside is that it’s all transferred skills / learning curve as opposed to basking in my comfort zone.
Interview 2 was first job I applied for - enthusiastic at first as it’s exactly what I do now, in a different place. But it’s a two hour drive away, so would want to work from home when possible. I don’t like changing jobs, but not such a good name on my CV if I have to again.
Another great job possibility (similar to today’s interview, but more within familiar subject lines) should be interviewing in Jan. Lovely 40 minute drive, or direct train. Other possibilities after that.
Hopefully offer from today will materialise . . . difficult decision would be if no offer from then, but one from Interview 2! Stick or twist! Just fortunate to be at the stage of life where I’m not desperate . . . been there back in the 90s!
Octoposse said:
So . . . how does one handle the timescale of (fingers crossed) job offers you can’t control, when first one might be least desirable? You don’t know whether there’ll be a better one along soon, but you can’t sit on it forever, and - presumably - changing your mind after acceptance is piss poor etiquette and unfair to both the employer and other applicants?
Chickens, counting, hatching, birds, hands and bushes . . .
You accept Job Offer 1. if a better Job Offer comes along then you send your regrets to Employer 1 and accept Job Offer 2.Chickens, counting, hatching, birds, hands and bushes . . .
It's not great etiquette but it happens all the time. When a person is looking to move on they are likely to have several irons in the fire (and most Employers will be aware of that). It's nothing personal but you have to look after Number 1.
Even if you followed your conscience and stuck with Job Offer 1 you'd always be thinking about Job Offer 2.
Countdown said:
You accept Job Offer 1. if a better Job Offer comes along then you send your regrets to Employer 1 and accept Job Offer 2.
It's not great etiquette but it happens all the time. When a person is looking to move on they are likely to have several irons in the fire (and most Employers will be aware of that). It's nothing personal but you have to look after Number 1.
Even if you followed your conscience and stuck with Job Offer 1 you'd always be thinking about Job Offer 2.
This. You'll be a on a 1-3 month notice period which should be ample time for the second/third interviews to wrap up. You could even say 2 or 3 if you're on 1 to buy some time.It's not great etiquette but it happens all the time. When a person is looking to move on they are likely to have several irons in the fire (and most Employers will be aware of that). It's nothing personal but you have to look after Number 1.
Even if you followed your conscience and stuck with Job Offer 1 you'd always be thinking about Job Offer 2.
B9 said:
Countdown said:
You accept Job Offer 1. if a better Job Offer comes along then you send your regrets to Employer 1 and accept Job Offer 2.
It's not great etiquette but it happens all the time. When a person is looking to move on they are likely to have several irons in the fire (and most Employers will be aware of that). It's nothing personal but you have to look after Number 1.
Even if you followed your conscience and stuck with Job Offer 1 you'd always be thinking about Job Offer 2.
This. You'll be a on a 1-3 month notice period which should be ample time for the second/third interviews to wrap up. You could even say 2 or 3 if you're on 1 to buy some time.It's not great etiquette but it happens all the time. When a person is looking to move on they are likely to have several irons in the fire (and most Employers will be aware of that). It's nothing personal but you have to look after Number 1.
Even if you followed your conscience and stuck with Job Offer 1 you'd always be thinking about Job Offer 2.
You are a number on a spreadsheet that gets evaluated on an annual basis. There is literally zero loyalty to you, especially if the going gets tough.
With this in mind.. have no moral or etiquette worries about taking the above approach. You owe these employers nothing.
Update: well I didn’t get the “dream job” (interesting, world class employer, walking distance on a sunny day), but I did get offered the less perfect one the day following a single Teams interview. The conundrum that wasn’t.
See how quickly I can leave my current employer (they’ve already blown their compulsory redundancy timetable - 45 days “consultation” plus three months notice takes me beyond April 1st).
Had already applied for another job with closing date 31/12 - will see what happens. More money, closer.
Won’t apply for any others although there were a couple that looked OK. I get the “owe no loyalty” thing, but would leave the people who’ve offered in a real hole if I pulled out.
See how quickly I can leave my current employer (they’ve already blown their compulsory redundancy timetable - 45 days “consultation” plus three months notice takes me beyond April 1st).
Had already applied for another job with closing date 31/12 - will see what happens. More money, closer.
Won’t apply for any others although there were a couple that looked OK. I get the “owe no loyalty” thing, but would leave the people who’ve offered in a real hole if I pulled out.
Countdown said:
Is this the one that's two hours away?
Only you know what's best for you but I would keep applying.....4 hours commuting is a LOT (imho)
Thanks - quite agree. I brought up remote working at the interview and they’re really positive about it. And the post is currently only funded to April 2025 (that’s the Public Sector nowadays!).Only you know what's best for you but I would keep applying.....4 hours commuting is a LOT (imho)
Also there is the possibility of working from other locations of the funding authority slightly closer . . . although that’s probably pointless if I can work from home, as the reason for going in would be for face-to-face.
Nice to be wanted, and looks like workload will be lighter than current job - one plate to spin instead of four.
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