To decline a job

[LonelyInAutumn]

I had a job interview today but I didn't really feel too comfortable. My previous job, it was great, felt really comfortable from the start and felt like I'd worked there for years, even the staff said the same thing (christmas temp so couldn't stay on unfortunately). Usually the managers ask when you can start and I was hoping that I'd be able to start at the end of March since I have A LOT of uni work due in this month but the manager said that if they offer me the job, I will need to start on the second week of March and that if I don't, they won't be able to take me on. I can understand this to an extent but it just felt that there was very little room for compromise and I felt pushed to agree to what they wanted.

I've worked for horrible managers before and I'm not saying this one is horrible but, in my experience, this is how it usually starts.

So AIBU to decline the job if I get offered it?

Trust your gut. I didn’t once with a job interview, and it turned out exactly how my gut instinct said it would. Biggest mistake of my life!

It depends how badly you need a job I guess...

But the inflexibility would be a bit of a red flag for me. Most jobs would expect there to be a bit of negotiation around the start date.

I'm not in desparate need of a job right now as I have maintenance loan (FT student) but I'm aiming to be working over summer since it's a long time before uni starts again (second semester finishes May and new year begins end of Sept). I mentioned uni and he said to me "I've been to uni so I know how it works" which was a bit of a red flag for me too...

I agree with you but at the same time, what if I'm overthinking

Trust your gut. Don’t accept.

They probably schedule regular intakes so they can organise new starter training. I think you're being a little bit unreasonable.

IF you get the offer, then you can decline a job for absolutely any reason you want.

If it doesn't work for you, then it doesn't work for you. You could ask about a later start date and can walk away if they can't move it.

Nobody will be offended, it'll go to another candidate who interviewed or they'll advertise the role again.

I think saying you don't
want to start a new job for almost a month when they are looking for someone to start sooner is taking the piss.
They don't have to be "flexible" .
They can fill their vacant position with the next good candidate.
Are you very young? The working world does not revolve around you...

@Bluebellsway

I think saying you don't want to start a new job for almost a month when they are looking for someone to start sooner is taking the piss. They don't have to be "flexible" . They can fill their vacant position with the next good candidate. Are you very young? The working world does not revolve around you...

Unless the job is advertised as an immediate start I would be surprised at an enforced start date of less than a month.

A lot of people applying for jobs are already in employment so would need to work a notice period. It's not uncommon for a negotiation about start times to occur.

If they have a fixed time due to training they've screwed the pooch on recruitment.

Go with your gut op.

@Bluebellsway I can see where you're coming from but say if I was coming from one job that required 4 weeks notice I wonder if they would say the same thing. Also, if they'd posted the exact start date on the advertisement, I wouldn't have applied in the first place. Overall, I wasn't getting very good vibes from the guy, he seemed like a previous manager who wasn't very nice to anyone.

@Justkeeppedaling I can see what you mean. Thanks for your opinion

Yeah, they didn't advertise as immediate start, they just said "march" so to me, that meant any time in March. I told them I'd be available from the last week of March but they were very insistent that I'd have to start in less than two weeks. He also said the rota would be "very hectic" as he doesn't have everyones availability which worried me as employers can tend to panic and allocate a lot of hours to one person. My gut is telling me to decline

I don't think you are being remotely unreasonable - go with your gut.

Bluebells - you should apologise to the OP - your comment was rude.

Of course you can turn down a job offer why not ? Unless of course your desperate and you need the money and nothing else is around
Also if offered you can say yes but I can't start until xx date and if thats not ok again you say well thanks in that case I am not going to take it
I have even left a job 2 days in as it was awful ( interview lovely)

Saying it started in march though means anytime not end of march
And they prob interviewed people who didn't have jobs etc so no notice needed or may of asked and not everyone has to give a months notice , so they haven't done anything wrong either

Yeah I understand what you mean. I just submitted my cv through indeed but didn't ask for notice period or anything or else I wouldn't have applied if I knew it was going to be so soon

Sounds like they are desperate for staff to start asap, not uncommon right now there is quite a shortage. I wouldn't be pushed around, just state your boundaries, you can start end of March no sooner. Although tbh if you didnt get a good feeling from it I would be looking for something else there is plenty of work out there.

YANBU. Trust your gut. I feel like if you decline the offer saying sorry I'm not available until end of March so have to decline then there's half a chance they'll suddenly become flexible and offer you a late March start date anyway. Obviously don't do that expecting that response but I wouldn't be surprised.

Go with you gut - if you don't feel it's right for you turn it down. Don't sacrifice time on Uni work - especially for a job that's not a "dream job" if you see what I mean!

@Charliesgotachocolatefactory

Trust your gut. I didn’t once with a job interview, and it turned out exactly how my gut instinct said it would. Biggest mistake of my life!

Me too. Totally ignored my gut cos l was desperate to leave the job l was in but worst decision ever. The boss was a hideous bully who ended up inside for domestic violence towards his wife.

Well they are quite within their rights to say they want someone who can start straight away, they’ve got the needs of their business to consider. And I don’t really get why the manager saying he’d been to uni was a “red flag”.

However YANBU to turn down a job offer if you feel it would not fit with your life style. You are not obligated to accept just because you attended an interview.

Listen to your gut! A horrible and demanding manager can make your life horrible and, at the very least, it will impact on the culture of the team. His words were red flags to you and I don't think you're wrong. I interview regularly and we work with the successful applicant to agree the start date - the decision wouldn't rest on whether they can start in two weeks or not. If it was 2 or 3 months then that might be more problematic and only expected at senior levels. In fact, I'm not even sure that's legal if it's not in the advert.

Don't be forced into doing something that doesn't suit you. If you were desperate for work then it would be different but it sounds as though you're comfortable for now.

An interview is a two way process (despite what employers would have you think) Candidates should use it to decide if the job's right for them. If the employer offers you the role, you are well within your rights to turn it down for any reason you like. I agree, go with your gut. There are lots of opportunities around at the moment - keep looking for a better fit.

@Darkstar4855 tbh it was the way he said it "I've been to uni so I know how it works" in a condescending way as if I was making up excuses to not do the work schedule

I am a great believer in gut feelings.

I once went in somewhere to enquire about a job. After hearing staff conversations whilst their i didn't even go for interview.