To be so upset at being offered a job?

[DisappointedDeepDown]

I've NC for this cos I feel like I'm being a brat...

I've been unemployed for about the last 6 weeks now. My job history is almost entirely support roles (PA, secretary etc) in the financial sector; I've always longed for a career in marketing but without the direct experience or qualifications it seemed impossible.

Recently I've been in the running for two jobs. One is a Team Assistant role in a well established investment bank in the City. It's a good job; generous holiday allowance, decent benefits etc; but realistically I'm not going to learn anything that will put me onto a path of anything other than similar support roles in future.

The other role is an entry-level role in marketing; within financial services, again in a well-established and reputable company, with the opportunity to advance within the field and possibly study for qualifications. It has slightly better hours- start half an hour later, finish half an hour earlier; the salaries are the same- not particularly amazing. I've been through 2 HR interviews (phone and face to face) one interview with the hiring manager and another team member and was told yesterday morning that they'd like me back for another interview with the hiring manager and the marketing director. I said I'd be available all this week for the interview.
Late this afternoon my recruitment consultant called me and told me that the company that I was really interested in still hadn't come back to them with a date/time for this interview, that they have an internal candidate in the running and that they're still seeing people for first stage interviews, so we should probably leave that be for now. In the meantime, the other company has offered me the Team Assistant job. I was given half an hour to decide whether I wanted to accept or not.
I've accepted the job, because beggars can't be choosers and there's no guarantee that I'd have been offered the other role, but nonetheless I'm absolutely crushed. I feel like the other job was the last real chance I had to break into that field; I can't stay on this salary level forever and I'll certainly have no hope at anything other than entry level roles in future. I've now taken myself out of the running for a job I desperately wanted, just because the other one got in there first, without ever knowing whether I could actually have had it or not.

AIBU to be so bitterly disappointed by this, or should I just shut up and be grateful I have a job, and settle myself in for a future of booking people's meetings and travel and binding presentations for god knows how long? I'm honestly so upset, I think it's the first time being offered a job has made me cry with disappointment.

You're still in the running for the marketing job. Push your start date for the new job back as far as you can. Go to other agencies and sign up for entry level marketing only and refuse to go on any other interviews or to have your CV put forward for anything else.

Even if you have to start the other job, you know what you want and you will get there. Why do you think this was your last chance?

Why have you taken yourself out of the running for the marketing job? Can't you go to the potential interview before the new job starts?

It was the same recruiter handling both roles, there's no way they'd have let me accept one role and continue with interviews for the other; they'd potentially be screwing over their own clients. The company whose job I've accepted wants me to start asap as they've been looking for someone for this role for quite a while.
My CV over the last few years has been jumpy to say the least- too many short term roles and more than my fair share of redundancies after the credit crash- so whatever my next role is I'll need to stick at it for a good few years or risk looking unreliable to future employers.
The problem is that marketing roles that will consider candidates without either marketing experience or a marketing degree (or both) are once in a blue moon, and in a few years I'll be looking to get married, have kids and move into a bigger place with my DP and going to the bottom of the chain yet again would make this really difficult.

Email the company then. Explain why you've done what you've done and ask them (not to put pressure on them, but for your future CV) what else you could have done and where you've gone wrong.

This is NOT the end of your career. Keep looking!

If you've 'always longed for a career in marketing' why did you apply for a job outside of that field?

Tell the recruiter that, after further consideration, you have changed your mind about accepting the investment bank's offer and wish to stay in the running for the marketing job.

Also tell her/him that you only wish to be put forward for employment in the field of marketing and that you would be willing to consider support roles as well as entry level roles similar to that which, as far as you know, is still a possibility depending on further interview(s).

Good companies promote from within and there's no reason why a competent pa/secretary who demonstrates that they're a team player with a desire to succeed can't make the transition to marketing executive or similar.

Don't let the recruiter deter you - no reputable company would give the successful candidate only half an hour to accept a job and my guess is they hustled you to secure their commission.

Make contact with other recruitment agencies/consultants, give them the same brief, and pester call them on a regular basis. In the meantime, look for temporary office or other work to keep you going until you get a job that won't may you cry at the thought of having to stay stuck in the same subservient rut.

As you've said, this is most probably the last chance you'll have of fulfilling your dream - don't blow it!

You were hustled to get a job order on the August board.

Agree with Godess. I'm in Marketing and can't see why you couldn't move from a PA to a marketing role. Could you look into getting your CIM qualifications yourself as this would help.
If you do end up at the Investment firm, speak to their Marketing department and see if you can help them out or do some work experience (possibly using annual leave). If a role comes up, you'll then be in a good position.

I was in your position - a series of admin support roles which bored me to tears. I really wanted to break into something involving writing. I applied for everything I could - and was rejected from everything. I finally got the job I am in now two years ago, but it took 8 years! Keep trying. Why is it your last chance?

I am a recruiter, your recruiter just wants the fee from the company and doesn't care it's your second choice role.

Tell them you want the marketing role and to get you a second interview confirmed.

Tell them you will "verbally" accept the role you have been offered but you want to see the contract and offer in writing before you commit entirely and that you want to complete the process with the marketing role. Totally reasonable request.

They can't force you to start immediately, if someone else was in work they would have to wait for them to work their notice period. Reinforce with the recruiter its your career and you want to make the right decision. They won't want to lose you so they get paid, ball is in your court.

Good luck!

I disagree. I'm really sorry but I think if you've had three interviews and they want another one for a no qualifications, entry level job that they are still holding other first interviews for that your chances are slim. Why give up a real job for a slim chance of another one? Can you afford to?
Why not work and study outside of this?
It's a bit rude to refer to support roles as subservient - when I worked in a finance based role I wouldn't have dared think of the secretary in that way!

I agree with Noeuf, sorry.

But what it comes down to, is, can you afford to be choosy at this stage?
If you have enough £ to keep you going for X weeks / months, while you look for a marketing job, then keep going, but if not you'll need to take what you can to pay the bills.

Marketing is a popular sector, and there are always going to be lots of people applying for jobs, and I have to say, without any direct experience or qualifications, I think you're going to struggle to get your foot in the door this way. A better idea would be to take another role more suited to your experience in a large company where you can gain experience and go for a sideways move, toward something more marketing related within the same company.

But, can I ask why you want to work in marketing? Without any experience of it? People always see it as glamerous but 99% of the time, it's not!

Take the administration role. When you are settled and doing the job well contact their marketing team and ask for some work experience, small bits you can do on your own time. Build this up and get known then when a role comes up put your name forward.

The agent is rushing you and downplaying your chance for the ideal job. This is their modus operandus - they want you through the system quickly as long as they get their cut.
If you can hold out another few weeks, wait for the ideal job. There are many PA roles in the City and with your experience you will get another if the dream job falls through.

Keep trying! You don't have to stay in the other job for ever.

IIWY I'd take it, make it clear to the other company that you would be interested if anything else came up and keep applying for marketing jobs. Why wouldn't you?

Oh I've rtft now, I agree, agent is being pushy to get it in the bag.