Job application wwyd?

[LifeInsideMyhead]

Im looking for new work and have seen 3 jobs i am interested in. They all have deadlines in the next 2 weeks but it looks like the interviews are spread out a bit.

What do you do in this situation? Assuming I get the interviews and even luckier get offered a job how do you decide? These are 3 quite different jobs and I dont think you can say "I want this job but can I wait to see if I get the other job first". But equally I dont want to say no to a job and then not get the next one!

Thanks in advance.

Honestly? You don't even know you've got an interview for any of them. Cross that bridge when you come to it. If you get an interview, like the sound of the job and feel you are a good fit then the adage, "a bird in the hand" comes into play.

Oh absolutely know I haven't got an interview and I am sure I might not but it was more a question about what do people do - I imagine I may apply for many more over the next few months and it seems common for people to make multiple applications.

Do people then take whatever they can get or try to work out which roles they would rather have? I do have a job at the moment but its zero hours so looking for another one. And where I'm over 40 know that I havent the time to just drift like you do after graduating.

It really cant be uncommon that jobs you apply for dont line up in the dates you'd like them... (I may be overthinking this)

I mean its not a "take a job /any job" situation just yet.

And i know no job is perfect but Ive been trying to weigh these up against each other and whether the downsides make the leap okay (lower pay but more hours in most cases... )

When I'm job hunting, I cast a pretty wide net, because the probability of getting to the next phase in the process gets smaller at each step. Apply for 50 jobs, get 5 interviews, move to second stage with 3, get one job offer. Etc. (Best case scenario, that!)

Apply first, see what happens next. Don't get too attached to any one position at this stage.

It's fine to say to one job offer 'can I have a few days to think about it' while interviewing for somewhere else. You can use your first offer as negotiation for the other job... tell them time is of the essence as you have an offer on the table. They may proceed to offer and at a higher salary than the first. You can then play that off against for the first job ..."Acme have offered me £50k more plus bonus"

If everything is equal between roles then take the higher salary but they may call your bluff and consider you too expensive or demanding and now out. It can also show you are in high demand

Having said that this more relevant for senior roles. It's not going to work for a checkout role at Asda v Sainsbury's but it's always fine to ask for a few days to consider their offer even if you are then interviewing elsewhere.

It's very likely that one job will stand out anyway for whatever reason, salary, location, role etc I've taken lower paid jobs because I've not liked the person I'd be reporting to in the higher paid one.

Thanks I haven't really done this before (had a career job pre kids, then a linked 0 hours role I got when I applied). Now I'm 40s, less of a catch and applying for "jobs".

Youre right about the being attached! Im trying to weigh up pros and cons of each one and visualise the job. Im finding it so hard to make the leap even though I need stable income and want to leave what I'm doing.

Im getting tied up into "is it right?" "what if I leap and I dont like it?" "What if kids dont manage in holidays?" And all the what ifs. As well as dealing internally with being a good graduate applying for low level jobs.

I have applied for a few over the last 2 years but each time got psyched up and wanted the job then didnt get it after interview. I realise now I need to cast my net wide but haven't applied for more than 1 at once before!

"Life inside my head" is a bit of a muddle at the moment so I appreciate the thoughts from people with more clarity than me!

I’ve got 3 Interviews this week, all final stage interviews (or the only interview in today’s case). I was just open with the recruiter who asked me if I had any other opportunities.

They’re all for experienced, professional roles in an area where companies expect anyone good to have different options anyway. It’s in no way unusual for people to say that they will wait to hear back from all the potential employers before deciding. It would be silly not to weigh up all the options. And negotiate where appropriate. You can end up with a fat better salary package in the end.

it’s different if you’ve just put in lots of applications, I guess. But it’s pretty normal to make multiple applications at the same time. Companies often expect it.

Thanks Smug. They are lower paid roles (a few charity type roles that arent well paid but i imagine attract people like me after a career, and nhs admin which would be a different leap- but contained within 2.5 days and routine etc.)

I guess part if it is I don't know what I want. Or rather I missed the boat to retrain in what I wanted to do so working out what I can do!

Soggy good luck with your interviews! I am not at a senior level at all I wonder if that makes a difference.

In teaching you had to accept that day, and it was bad form to "string people along" but aware teaching is in its own bubble.

remember to be very keen otherwise you run the risk of not getting any job due to your attitude
show them at each interview that you really want their job, and then make a decision

They will likely also have more than one person to interview so if you are going via an agency then just tell them you've got other interviews (and maybe even offers) sometimes that even incentivises them to up their offer if they want you.

Apply for them all, accept all interviews, go to each interview with the mentality you want that job.

I had this applied for 4 jobs got interviews for them all. My 2nd and 3rd interview were a week apart. 2nd job offered me the job an hour before I went in to 3rd interview. I asked 2nd interview if I could be sent a copy of the contract just to look at before I fully accepted. They said ok.

Did 3rd interview, didn't quite like the feel of the organisation. Called 2nd organisation back 5 minutes after contract dropped in to my e-mail and accepted.

4th interview then came along, I interviewed, they rang back a day later to offer me the job but again didn't quite like the feel of the line manager, so declined the offer.

Just don't put all your eggs in one basket, keep your options open and you can always ask for a copy of the contract to delay.

Def will go for esch job as if its the only job and I do really want it. Hence not thinking I can say if I got one "hang on I just need to wait to see if the other interview next week is better...!"

Objection well done! I think I may well get interviews but this may not translate into jobs. I doubt they'll be as conveniently close to each other time wise (I suspect nhs one will take forever!). Sounds like you handled it well.

They're diverse roles I'm applying forn(spreading that net!) and I guess it feels like I am decising which way my career goes based on which one Ibget first rather than active choice!

Recruiters entirely expect good candidates to have more than one offer on the table.

You might not say "I'm waiting incase I get a better offer" but you might reasonably say you have some other offers and need some time to evaluate them all. And then as PP says, pressure the others to come up with an offer quickly.

Im trying to weigh up pros and cons of each one and visualise the job.

You can't realistically do this until you get the offer and know the actual details. Focus now on getting a good range of offers. Don't stress about it until the offers come in.

Having said all that, my favourite role ever I only applied on a whim. After several interviews I was really impressed, their offer came in as I was in the car on the way home and I accepted in the spot. Been there over twenty years now.

Sometimes you can get lucky and just know. Meanwhile, my advise is to apply for anything that looks possible and see what happens. Good luck

And yes, teaching is a very different world.

Sorry about the typos...

Thanks Finally here - I really am appreciating hearing people's thoughts and knowing what is more usual in the Outside World.

The jobs I am applying for aren't through recruiters they are smaller jobs (some local council/ nhs/ some charity but all around 24-34, a drop from teaching but can't see how to aim higher!) I suspect that the world of finance/ computing/ higher level jobs will be more used to competing jobs.

I think I do need to stop overthinking and just keep applying and hope for the best!

Thanks everyone (next 2 applications due in this week...)

It's likely each one has set dates for interviews so it wont be a case of asking them for a quicker offer... one I know has a deadline this week and has a set date in 2 weeks time for interview. Whereas nhs deadline has already passed and I imagine takes ages. They're different jobs with different hours and pay structure... but I need ot stop my mind going back into comparing now!

I am scared of deskilling.

can't see how to aim higher

What do you have to lose in trying some recruitment agents, to see what they might come up with.

My impression only just from what you have written here is that you don't value what you have to offer a potential employer. That you are somehow thinking they would be doing you a massive favour to employ you?

Take some time to think about all your good qualities and get clear in your mind what you would bring to the role. The recruitment process is actually two equals comping together to decide whether they are a good fit, not you hoping to be considered from someone on high.

You have got this. Good luck.

Thankyou ever so much. That has really helped me - genuinely. You are right I have lost a lot of confidence. I have some great facilitation/planning/learning quickly/adapting and working with a huge variety of demographics. I have just lost sight of how to transfer this.

I will ponder on your post a bit more today. I wonder if I came across a bit like that in previous interviews (thinking they'd be doing a favour to employ me.) Realistically I am well educated and will have a lot of skills to bring, especially to the lower paid roles Im looking at!

Im getting hung up on job descriptions or thinking Ive never done anything like X before and to be honest I'm burning out in my current role so nervous of anything over demanding... however I have a lot to bring.

Thankyou again.

I wouldn't worry too much about which job is 'the right' one. I'd have the mindset that you are looking to get a job with contracted hours, at worst, do it for a year and move on. I work at a big organisation where a lot of colleagues who I class as friends have left recently. They wanted a change and are happy to move on and reevaluate after a year or two.

Agree with others you can't worry about 'what if' for now. Apply for roles that you are interested in and let the processes take their course. I generally tend to think that a lot in life fate; things work out one way for a reason.

You mention that you've applied for charity jobs and also the NHS. I'd bear in mind the NHS often get large no of applications for admin roles, especially part time, so rejection rates can be high.

One last thing to mention, have you taken the time to think on paper what you are/aren't looking for in your next role? I've done this exercise - thinking about areas such as culture, team, hours, location, fulfilment and red lines! It's really help me focus on what I'm looking for, and as roles come up, I'm crosschecking them against what I want and have rejected applying for a few. I think I am generally unlikely to get everything I want, but it will help with pros/cons down the line if you get more than one offer on the table.

Thankyou.

Ive been googling the charity's history and I so want to work for them now. It would tie in with my current role and there is so much I could do. It is v low pay comparitavely but would bring a lot of satisfaction and use the skills I have.

I want to submit my application today so keep researching and googling reports and get into a spiral where I dont actually write the thing (reminds me of coursework at uni!)

I'm feeling a lot more positive about making a leap into the unknown today :) Thankyou all.

I agree with others that you can frame this positively. You have several possible opportunities (interviews and/or offers) and of course you want to have all the information about your choices to enable you to make your decision.

It might push them to make you the best kind of offer they can (where they have flexibility). But it doesn’t tell them anything negative - you are telling them that you are in demand, which is a good thing. Other employers will also want good candidates.

i don’t think it’s a problem that they’re somewhat diverse roles. My 3 interviews are for 3 very different roles: one public sector (with a different job title to the others, but drawing on some of the same skills), one private sector company, and one a consultancy (that serves public and private sector clients).

I’ve spoken to the latter who are keen to make an offer it seems. The diversity involved reinforces their assessment of me as having a diverse and adaptable range of skills. I’ve told them about the timescales involved (and the recruiter has worked in the public sector, so he’s aware that it won’t necessarily be a rapid process!) and that I would want to have all the information available to me so I can weigh up my options before making a decision.

The context itself may push them to making me the best offer they can. Regardless of any negotiations, I (quite reasonably) want to make sure I’m making the right decision for me and my career, based on the offers available to me.

Anyone would.

The weird situation you describe in teaching is just a reflection of the level of dysfunction in that profession generally. Elsewhere, organisations realise that people will need time to consider and decide on an offer. It’s a big decision and they need to be sure it’s the right move for them. Not just at senior levels (or mid-senior levels), but at any level really.

Where you’ve applied and are waiting to hear back about an interview or not, I wouldn’t hold out on decision making. But remember that you can change your mind about an offer at any time. Or decide to accept a different job shortly after starting. You can frame it on your CV about an outstanding opportunity coming up and you needing to change. So long as your CV isn’t covered in stints in jobs measured in days or weeks, it shouldn’t set alarm bells off.

You can accept a different offer just after starting a job?! Is that really not frowned upon.... (I am appreciating learning How Things Work, thankyou.)

I've been in this job 6 years and so need out. I am crafting my application for Preferred Charity job now. Thanks for all the help everyone