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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

WIBU..to go to this job interview knowing I can’t accept the job?

152 replies

xSummerStarsx · 13/10/2015 09:25

…If offered, obviously!

I FINALLY have an interview at my dream company. I have been applying for roles there for the last 2 or 3 years and have always been gutted as haven’t managed to get an interview.

Until now! I saw a job advertised a couple of weeks ago, it is a drop in ‘responsibility’ and I am slightly over-qualified so I knew it would probably be a pay decrease but applied anyway as you never know (salary wasn’t stated on advert, just said ‘dependant on experience.’)

I got a phone call last week to say I have an interview and that she would email me the details, great.

On the email it stated the salary and it is a 6k salary drop. I just cannot afford to take that sort of drop. However, I really would like to go to the interview so I can FINALLY get in front of these people and meet them. I’m hoping if they meet and like me, that they may keep me in mind if I apply for roles in future, or if a more ‘suitable’ role comes up?

WIBU to go, knowing that I can’t accept the position if offered to me? I know I’d be a ‘time waster’ but I don’t see how else I’m ever going to get an interview for this place!

OP posts:
Buttercup27 · 13/10/2015 09:28

I would go. You never know the salary may be negotiable.

MrsWickens · 13/10/2015 09:28

I'd go and if offered see if I could negotiate a higher salary.

Mistigri · 13/10/2015 09:29

If they like you enough there should be room for negotiation on salary, or at least on an agreed path to salary improvement.

I would definitely attend the interview.

Shutthatdoor · 13/10/2015 09:32

However, I really would like to go to the interview so I can FINALLY get in front of these people and meet them. I’m hoping if they meet and like me, that they may keep me in mind if I apply for roles in future, or if a more ‘suitable’ role comes up?

Be careful with this.

I'm not sure I would keep you in mind though, if a job was offered, you declined it knowing full well what the salary etc was before you attended.

lifesalongsong · 13/10/2015 09:32

I would go, if you can make a good impression for the future it's not a waste of the interviewers time. Other applicants might be unsuitable for other reasons, that's always the way with any job interviews, the employer is happy to take that risk when they invite people for interviews imo

vulgarbunting · 13/10/2015 09:34

I would go. I have been interviewing people recently and anyone who is really good, but not quite right for the role, I have made sure we look for something else for them.

I wouldn't give the salary as a reason if/when you decline though.

Funinthesun15 · 13/10/2015 09:34

If they like you enough there should be room for negotiation on salary, or at least on an agreed path to salary improvement.

6k is a big difference though. You are talking in the realms of a whole different role.

PurpleDaisies · 13/10/2015 09:35

I agree with shutthatdoor, if you actually want to work for them in the future turning down a job with them when you knew what the terms and conditions were before wouldn't go down very well at all. Could you call them and ask how negotiable the salary is in advance and pull out if you really can't afford the drop? I wouldn't want to waste their time or jeopardise a possible future move there.

Georgethesecond · 13/10/2015 09:40

If you really really want to work for them are you sure you can't take the drop in salary for a while? Would there be chance of promotion? If you turned down a job offer I doubt you'd be given another in future, tbh.

Georgethesecond · 13/10/2015 09:41

Also "salary dependent on experience" means it is negotiable to some extent, I think.

Original poster
xSummerStarsx · 13/10/2015 09:42

Argh, I don’t know what to do now Sad

I feel like if I don’t go I’m wasting what could be the only opportunity I get for an interview at this place, but at the same time, I don’t want to mess them around and annoy them and jeopardise any future chance I could have if I were to apply for any other roles there.

OP posts:
vulgarbunting · 13/10/2015 09:47

If it's a big company and they recruit a lot they won't be bothered.

If it's a small company and they don't recruit a lot you are wasting their time.

OnlyLovers · 13/10/2015 09:51

Did the email actually say words to the effect 'Whoever gets this job, their salary will be £X'?

If not, then I'd assume that, as per the advert, it is dependent on experience and the salary stated in the email is at the lower end.

I don't really know why they'd re-state the salary on an email invitation to interview though.

But anyway, I'd probably go, and assume that it was going to be negotiable.

ChristmasZombie · 13/10/2015 09:52

I'm a firm believer in the idea that all experience is useful experience, so yes I think you should go.
You never know what the outcome may be. Salary may be negotiable; ok maybe not £6k, but 2 or 3 thousand could suit you both.

AnchorDownDeepBreath · 13/10/2015 09:58

What drop could you accept?

If 5k would be workable, I'd go with the intention to take this job.

If you'd be looking at a raise of more than 2k to be able to consider the job, I wouldn't go. You might be in front of the interviewers, but it'll be for all the wrong reasons. I know where I work, we wouldn't reconsider someone who applied for a job and then rejected it based on information that was available before the interview. You are not going to make friends, you are going to fill a vacancy that they have - and you are not intending to do that.

I presume they know that this will be a hefty drop for you and that's why they've put the salary in the invite, so you know what you are playing for and don't waste everyone's time if that's an unacceptable salary. They are probably aware that people will drop out at this stage, due to the salary being lower than expected.

senua · 13/10/2015 10:00

They don't know that there is a £6k differential, only you know that. You can pretend that you are currently on offer+£3k and talk them up to that.
Are you comparing like with like - are you factoring in things like pension, free parking, commuting costs etc.
Can you ask at interview about progression - how likely is it that you will be promoted to dreamjob within a reasonable time frame.

Original poster
xSummerStarsx · 13/10/2015 10:02

The salary wasn’t stated on the advert, it just said ‘dependant on experience.’

I then got the phone call for the interview, I accepted.

The next day I then got the emailed details through, as promised. The email said ‘the salary for this role is up to ‘XX’ but may be increased to ‘XX’ as of April next year.

The April next year salary is £5k less than I’m on now, the salary until then is £6k.

Not really sure why the advert stated then that it was dependant on experience??

OP posts:
PeterParkerSays · 13/10/2015 10:03

You are more likely to get a better paid job if you are an internal candidate so I'd look to interview for the job, take it, and work your way up to a better pay grade from the inside.

If you were interviewed and were not successful, they would remember you as a good candidate but not quite good enough on this occasion which could fit in with your plan; banking on you negotiating for a higher salary, them saying no so you turn it down and them wanting you to work for them in another better-paid post in a year's time is probably a non-starter, sorry.

Is there any way you could cut costs at home to enable you to take this job as a foot in the door to something better, in the same way it would be worth someone taking a pay cut to retrain or do a degree?

senua · 13/10/2015 10:03

we wouldn't reconsider someone who applied for a job and then rejected it based on information that was available before the interview.

So you make up some bogus 'reason' eg my current employers think I am so fabulous that they have counter-offered with a salary increase so I'm staying put.

Original poster
xSummerStarsx · 13/10/2015 10:09

No, I think after posting this it is best if I just don’t go :cries:

She only sent the email on Friday so I will ring either today or tomorrow and cancel and I WILL be honest and say that I am desperate to work for them and really want the opportunity to attend an interview, but at the same time, don’t wish to waste their time as I know I cannot afford to take this role.

If that goes against me, well, so be it, not much I can do!

OP posts:
LBOCS2 · 13/10/2015 10:09

Why not ring them and ask? Say "I'm very keen on your company and really interested in the role but on your advert it says that salary is dependent upon experience and in the job specification you've recently sent me, there is a specified salary. Is there any room for negotiation on this, as it's a fairly significant decrease from the (very similar) role I'm doing at the moment?"

That way you both have your cards on the table and you don't waste anyone's time. If you were going through a recruitment consultant they'd be doing the same thing for you, it's just you need to have the conversation directly. Money is not a dirty word; you need to be able to live on your salary!

senua · 13/10/2015 10:11

Go for the interview OP. Make a good impression, make sure that they keep you on file. But don't accept a £6k pay cut and a lower job - that's crazy. Decide what you can afford to lose and stick to that. They may not have that much wriggle room on negotiating wages because they have to bear in mind the knock-on to other people eg if your job goes up £3k then so does Mary in accounts and Mark in production.

Have a ready-made excuse (that makes you and them look good) as to why you are not accepting the job.

Original poster
xSummerStarsx · 13/10/2015 10:13

It is further away than my current role, so my commuting costs would go up. I really don’t see how, at the moment I could afford to lose £6k. I would definitely notice it every month!

OP posts:
descalina · 13/10/2015 10:16

I'd go and try and negotiate. They were happy to waste your time applying for the job without telling you the salary - now they've offered the interview I would go and try and make that time spent worth your while!

NameChange30 · 13/10/2015 10:20

Don't cancel the interview! I think you should go and then negotiate if you're offered the job. But if you're worried about being seen as a time-waster (which I don't think you are tbh) you could always call and ask whether the salary is negotiable, as LBOCS2 suggests.

If this is your dream company you should really attend the interview. Even if the salary is non-negotiable and you have to decline, if you make a good enough impression I'm sure they'd consider you for other roles.