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

[xSummerStarsx]

…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!

[ToTheGups]

I think you should go and negotiate if offered the job.

[Sazzle41]

HR suffer from 'new toys are better than old toys' syndrome, if you weren't right for that job or turned it down on salary they may automatically discard you next time as 'old news'. IME of working in HR depts saying we keep you in mind for future means filed & forgotten. (It's me that gets told to do that after you were unsuccesful so I do know their mindset, they never go back to that file next time round). And as Vulgar said, you might be seen as a timewaster to if you turn up for a job you just can live on salary wise.

[IWasHereBeforeTheHack]

Why does the vacancy exist? Is the organisation in a growth phase? If they are expanding then you may well be in with a good chance. I am part of a growing organisation. Several people were interviewed for different advertised roles until the right match was found, ie right job for them, right person for us.

I would go. If you think this is not really the job for you then the interview is low-risk for you. You almost don't want to be offered the job, do you? It gives you a chance to ask lots of questions about career development, options for promotion and sideways moves from this post, future direction of the organisation etc. If you like the answers you'll be seen as enthusiastic and a good fit, and who knows what could happen?

I'm in the public sector and I know some people have been paid starting salaries higher than the top end of the published scales. (All men, BTW.)

What do you have to lose? Just go.

[whois]

I would go, and then try and negotiate the salary if you get it. Nothing ventured nothing gained.

[SavageBeauty73]

I would go.

[summerainbow]

Go go go

[RandomMess]

I would see it as an opportunity to find out more about the company. At the interview you could ask about the opportunities likely to open up if you went in at level.

Do they often have openings with more responsibility etc. or do they prefer to promote internally? What career and promotion prospects are their likely to be?

[tywinlannister]

Go.

I went for a job at a huge national charity that I loved. Didn't get it. 2 months later got a call saying there were two jobs available, I could choose which one I wanted! No interview, more money and in a better team.

DO IT!

[PrimalLass]

If you go along and interview for this role knowing you will not accept it if offered, you have wasted the companies time. I appreciate it seems a great opportunity to get your face seen but I worked in recruitment and I'd be really annoyed at any candidate that did this. I would see it as you taking up an interview space that could have been used by a candidate who actually wanted the role.

This goes both ways. I had an interview last week for a job that I now cannot accepted even if they offer it to me, because despite huge amounts of info upfront they failed to mention a really crucial aspect of how the 'part time flexible' hours would have to work. It has made me so annoyed that I don't want to be offered it because I'll have to turn it down.

[PrimalLass]

*accept

[PrimalLass]

As someone who works in HR I would be pretty annoyed if I offered someone the role only for them to turn it down, you know the salary, you know you can't live on it. You're taking an interview spot from someone else who can work for them on those conditions and if you'd wasted my time I wouldn't consider you for another role, I'd think you were unreliable

We recruited for an internal position, and the first FOUR candidates turned the role down, because the process had taken so long that they had secured other internal positions we should have sacked them on the spot

[Beholdtheflorist]

I'd go, definitely. I do a lot of recruitment but it's third sector so salary is usually fixed but I've had people turn down roles before as they didn't feel it was a good fit for them.

Wait until you're offered the job to discuss salary. If you bring it up at interview then they might write you off there and then as opposed to thinking about the best candidate after the interviews are concluded.

[NumbBlaseCold]

As a Interviewer it is very frustrating to offer someone a job and have them turn it down because they wanted a much larger salary, which is what 6k is.

However, it is very obvious to interviewers who is over qualified and who is not so if you are they will have this at the back of their mind anyway.

This means if another position higher up becomes free they may think of you.

This is what we have done before.

The very first is only very annoying if you are offered the job and take many days to respond to the offer when you alreadyknew the salary was very much too low.

IMO I would do one of two things:

1. Be honest and say you would love to work for them, is their room to move on salary because you would love the job but would need X amount for your living expenses.
   
   If they say no, then ask them to please keep CV and application form on file.
   
   
2. Do the Interview and if offered the job, ask if you can negotiate on salary.
   
   Do not say you want 6k more, they will be frustrated you have interviewed when you will not actually take the job.
   
   See what they go to and then politely decline but ask to be kept on file.
   
   Do so promptly.
   
   This way you are not asking for a massive unrealistic increase, you look like you have wasted no ones time and a quick and polite response means if they do look later for more people you may be in mind.
   
   
   
   The latter could be better for you.

[anotherdayanothersquabble]

Read this - www.theladders.com/career-newsletters/do-women-avoid-salary-negotiations- Sorry I couldn't work out how to do a clicky link on this keyboard.

And go get that job at the salary you deserve.

You have written yourself, your dream job and this company off before you have even gone for the interview, if you want this, go and make it happen.

[knittedslippersx2]

Go!
My dd didn't get the job she was interviewed for but impressed so much that they created a role for her. She had no experience in that field and was only 18 at the time do you never know!

[knittedslippersx2]

I mean SO you never know!

[Bubblesinthesummer]

As a Interviewer it is very frustrating to offer someone a job and have them turn it down because they wanted a much larger salary, which is what 6k is.

I agree. You aren't talking a bit of difference in salary. 6k is huge amount.

Yes you may be able to negotiate, but it would depend. I have been on interview panels where there has been wiggle room though nothing like 6k and some where the salary is what the salary is and no negotiations.

Talk to them. Work out what cut you can reasonably take, but don't expect them to increase it by 6k, especially as the email that they have sent and from what you have said the 6k difference would apply to the top of their range for the post.

[Busybuzzybumblebee]

primal don't be ridiculous, there is a different with HR taking to long to make a decision or follow process and for people to turn down the role, than going to the interview knowing you can't take it due to salary

[twobambinos]

I think if you so desperately want to work for them go to the interview and show them what you have got.
You may not get offered then the salary won't be relevant. You may get offered then you can consider it.
You have said yourself you can't get the interviews for the roles you want, at the very least you might be missing something very obvious that might come to light after the interview.

I know it's not the salary you want to be on and you think you deserve at this stage of your life but alot of people find themselves in that situation study hard get qualification then no job because of recession or lower pay because employers market or lower pay than friends because you had your kids young insert reason here.

You need to get offered the job first so if I were you I'd go for the interview and if you get it and can't take it insert reasonable excuse as to why you can't take it.

Best of luck op I know what it feels like.

[SevenOfNineTrue]

PrimalLass

Your scenario about the hours is a completely different matter. In this case the OP is saying there is no way she can accept the salary on offer. If that cannot be negotiated and she goes anyway, that is a waste of time. I would not consider a candidate for another job if they did that.

If a company reveals a fundamental area at the job interview that was not previously disclosed, that is poor Recruitment practice and not the fault of any candidate being interviewed.

[Blu]

If you do decline, do not use words like 'desperate' to work for them or 'cannot afford '

You could call, say you applied because you are very interested in the company but having received the salary information it would represent too much of a salary drop, so what do they advise ?

[Mari50]

I'd go to the interview. It's a chance for you to find out more about this 'dream company'.
I do have a few issues though, if you're expecting to be at the pinnacle of your career in your late 20's then I'd assume you're already on a pretty high wage so is a 6k drop that much? I once took a 12k drop to get my ideal position so can relate to the quandary. Which for perspective was about 25%, I'm not one of the six figure salary MNs.

[Mari50]

Oops pressed to soon.
I've also gone for interviews knowing fine well I had no intention of taking a position because I felt I needed experience in interview techniques.
However if you are hoping to make an incredible impression and get a call back for another more suitable post then don't use money as an excuse, you may find the interview will throw some good reasons to turn down the position anyway but from what I can see it sounds like a good opportunity to 'interview' this company.

[Pedestriana]

I attended two interviews with a company a few years back where the job was ideal for me, but the salary was half what I was earning at the time.
I told the agency who put me forward for the interview. I spoke to someone at the company at the stage I was offered an interview and told them, but both said I should still go in.
At the offer of a second interview, I raised the issue again and said I had already mentioned the wage/salary at the first. Again, they said I should still go in.
I got offered the job at 5k more than they were advertising, but unfortunately, it was still way below a drop I could take at the time.
Shame, they seemed really nice, but it was good experience all round.

[fascicle]

Go. You responded to the advert in good faith, and you weren't provided with salary info until after you'd accepted an interview.

If you ask about salary now, you may well get a different response to the one you'd get after meeting them, if they think you are right for their organisation. They may have other benefits to offer that make up for a difference in salary. You might find out other details at interview that make a difference to your decision making. You've got nothing to lose by going.