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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to think that job offer should not be withdrawn?

22 replies

Northeastgirl · 09/03/2011 11:34

I was offered a job recently. They then changed their mind and gave it to someone else instead. I'm really upset about it as I was really looking forward to starting work.

OP posts:

atswimtwolengths · 09/03/2011 11:36

That's really horrible. Did they give it to an internal candidate instead?

Amateurish · 09/03/2011 11:40

Did you accept their offer - if so there may be a binding commitment.

Original poster

Northeastgirl · 09/03/2011 11:41

I'm fairly sure it didn't go to an internal candidate. They did give a reason for rejecting my application, but it didn't ring true. Basically I think they just changed their mind.

OP posts:

Hassled · 09/03/2011 11:41

Were you offered the job subject to references? Could it be a dodgy reference?

Original poster

Northeastgirl · 09/03/2011 11:45

Amateurish - I'd made it clear I wanted it. Don't know if that would count as a formal acceptance. May have to re-apply to them later for another job, so can't really afford to make enemies by challenging them on this.

Hassled - No they hadn't taken references. My last boss was brilliant and has promised me a good reference for anything I'm likely to apply for, so that's not the problem

OP posts:

RevoltingPeasant · 09/03/2011 11:53

What do you think the reason was, really?

How did you 'make clear' that you wanted it? Verbally or in writing (e.g. email)?

Cloudbase · 09/03/2011 11:53

When you say they offered you the job, I presume you mean that after an interview they phoned you or wrote to you and said "We would like to offer you the job"?

Sorry, I know that sounds a bit obvious, but am curious as to how they worded it if they could then change their minds? I didn't think they could do that, as it would have constituted a verbal offer which should be binding?

If it wasn't references (which is the only valid reason for this that I cna think of) can I ask what reason they gave?

ashamedandconfused · 09/03/2011 11:56

need more detail of what the application/offer entailed, how they offered it,how & when you accepted, how and when they withdrew the offer

ashamedandconfused · 09/03/2011 11:58

am wondering if this is some internal cock up?? eg someone phoned offering the job to the wrong candidate now they are having to back track

Original poster

Northeastgirl · 09/03/2011 12:05

I do want to be cautious just in case they happen to see this thread, so I think it's best if I don't give the details. Sorry if this is a bit irritating but I hope you will understand my reasons for not giving away too much on a public thread.

Bottom line is they did offer me a job, I accepted it, they then interviewed other people and gave the job to someone else. I feel really let down. I feel that having offered it to me, they should have honoured that.

OP posts:

ashamedandconfused · 09/03/2011 12:08

have you got the job offer in writing?

I would see if CAB can help you - what if you had rejected another job offer or interview on the basis of having that one in the bag! from what you say it sounds very odd

but i dont think, unless they asked for your MN name, that they will be finding this thread? really ?? all the jobs/employers in the land and they stumble upon this and know its about them??

Amateurish · 09/03/2011 12:12

If they clearly offered you the job and you unamiguously accepted it then a contract of employment is in place (even if there is nothing in writing). They cannot then change their mind without terminating that contract.

Original poster

Northeastgirl · 09/03/2011 12:15

ashamedandconfused I'm sure you're right they wouldn't see this, or even realise it was about them, but I'm too cautious (paranoid?) to take that risk.

I've decided not to challenge them on it, in case I have to apply to them for another job, but I'm pretty annoyed / upset about it

OP posts:

squeakytoy · 09/03/2011 12:16

Did they offer you the job in writing?

wannaBe · 09/03/2011 12:19

if they offered you a job and then carried on interviewing people or went on to interview more people for the same job then I would put money on you getting an unsatisfactory reference.

They're not likely to have changed their mind unless something came up subsequent to your interview which would lead to that happening iyswim.

Does the job require you to have a crb? do you have a caution in your past? or anything else you haven't disclosed?

Do you have a public facebook profile that they might have accessed and found something that would lead them to think they wouldn't want you working for them?

Or is it possible you misunderstood the job offer and that it was just an informal "so would you like to work here then?" as opposed to "we'd like to offer you the position."

Original poster

Northeastgirl · 09/03/2011 13:23

No criminal record or Facebook page problems. Confident it wouldn't be a bad reference. Think they just decided they preferred someone else.

OP posts:

gramercy · 09/03/2011 13:29

Sometimes interviewers are a bit too positive, which is rather misleading.

They ask questions such as "When can you start?" or say "Your colleagues will be Mark, Jane and Sue" when in fact they should be using the conditional tense - "When could you start?" and "Your colleagues would be..."

MintyMoo · 09/03/2011 13:41

did you go through an employment agency?

it all sounds very dodgy - you can't just offer someone a job, have them accept and then interview more people, there's either some reason they've changed their minds or there was a massive cock up. This could have cost you another job if you cancelled any other interviews etc.

I'm job hunting too and I feel your pain - I'd be so upset if this happened to me

(it did last year, massive cock up, I was offered a position only open to someone on JSA, I left my job for the job (the new job was to give me experience in my chosen field) only to be told I couldn't have it as the government wouldn't fund the job as I wasn't on benefits and disabled, I was just disabled. Even though the cock up put me on JSA! And they discussed the first job during the interviews I had. I was so so devestated, I cried for ages afterwards.)

stripeytiger · 09/03/2011 14:02

It all sounds a bit weird Northeastgirl. Sorry this has happened to you, how disappointing. I would be eager to find out why they changed their minds and I think they owe you that much. If they can't or won't tell you then I would assume it is their bad practice and nothing that you have done.

caughtinanet · 09/03/2011 14:05

Very unusual, why would they carry on interviewing if they'd offered you the job ? Was there more than one position available ?

HecateTheCrone · 09/03/2011 14:07

Did they actually say "We are giving you this job." ?

Because even "do you want the job" is not a formal offer. It's asking you if you'd want it.

"We'll probably give you the job"

"It looks like you'll get it"

etc etc

It 100% depends on the exact language used. imo.

And of course, whether the person who said the job was yours actually had the authority to make that offer.

wannaBe · 09/03/2011 14:14

you've given so little information that it's really impossible to form a valid opinion.

But from what you've said i.e. that after they'd offered you the job they then interviewed more candidates etc, it sounds to me tbh as if you mistook an implied job offer for an actual job offer.

There is just one other possibility - do you have a disability? In the past I had a job offer withdrawn because of my disability which is strictly speaking illegal but not unheard of, although most employers are a bit more inventive when they want to discriminate.

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