Rude to cancel interview?

[peanutbutterpizza]

I received a response to a job I had applied for last week this morning. Spent the afternoon sending about 4 emails back and forth confirming the interview time/date (it's scheduled for tomorrow). Another email back and forth confirming my details so I can get a visitor's badge to the offices.

About 2 hours after our final confirmation email, I received a conditional offer for another job pending the arrival of my certs. This job is near DS's school which would make drop offs so much easier. Would it be rude to call up and cancel this close to the interview date?

DH thinks I should just show up and see how it goes as I might not be a good fit to the organisation anyway and cancelling would burn bridges. I think that's the worse option as I'd be wasting even more of their time doing that if everything goes smoothly with my conditional offer.

YABU: DH is right
YANBU: I'm right

There's nothing worse than waiting for someone to turn up who then doesn't. Basic manners would mean you let them know. They might be able to rejig their timetable rather than wasting time.

The other job isn’t actually official yet so I wouldn’t cancel the interview, you never know what will happen.

I think PP has missed the point.

OP if you’re adamant you won’t take the job then don’t go to the interview and waste more of their time or a place for someone else to have the interview!

Welldone!!

@swashbucklecheer op said she’d call up and cancel, not leave them waiting.

Cancel

I think you should go as the other one isn't signed and sealed yet.

But it's not rude to cancel. If you're absolutely sure, you just let them know you've accepted something else. Thank them for their time.

I know I'm agreeing with her that its better phone and cancel.

Yes that's right, I was planning to call up and cancel. My conditional offer is till I receive my certs from uni (mature student so only just graduated) to ensure that I have actually completed my degree.

100% I’d still go and give it 100%. Nothings set in stone with the other job and you could end up with a potentially very competitive offer

Wasting the company's time would burn far more bridges than politely and honestly cancelling. Ignore your husband and go with your instinct.

Are people deliberately misreading?!

I'd still go, you never know what could happen with the other job. I know it's harder to say no to a job once you've gone that bit further, but they know that job-hunters might have other offers.

Show up and go

I'd still go. The conditional offer could still go wrong due to nothing to do with you or your certificates.

I’d go. The other job might fall through for all sorts of reasons (I’ve had to pull jobs just before people start when funding falls through, for instance). Or they might give you an amazing offer that makes you reconsider the other.

Job interviews are two way, so as long as you say no promptly if you’re actually offered the job, I wouldn’t see it as time wasting.

I would go as well - you have a conditional job offer - but interview practice is interview practice and you may be pleasantly surprised - I would keep options open at this stage

Don't waste your time or theirs - please cancel.

Until you've signed the contract with the other job I would proceed with interviews already arranged. Job offers do get pulled.

It would be perfectly reasonable to attend the interview, and then turn down a job offer. Employers know most people make multiple applications, it's not rude or bridge-burning to take up a better offer. (Just like it's not rude of them to interview more than one candidate!)

So if pulling out isn't rude at that stage, then of course it's not rude at an earlier stage. If anything they'll be pleased if you pull out now and don't take up interviewing time needlessly.

They said: go to the interview! The other job isn't set in stone yet, anything could happen. And this job might turn out to be an even better fit for reasons you're not even aware of yet.

I would go without hesitation. You have nothing to lose by going if something bad happens (touch wood) with the other offer, you could lose an opportunity.

I would go. The new job might not happen or you start and realise it's awful. Going to the already arranged interview means you get a feel for the place and people. Should they also make you a job offer there is nothing wrong with saying you were very impressed with their school but have accepted an offer in the meantime. If you impressed them and they impressed you it might even benefit you at a later stage.

Go to the interview.
They might have more to offer, either moneywise or be able to give you better experience, than the first one.

Interview experience is always good.

I'd still go to the interview. You haven't got a contract signed with the other one yet. All sorts of things can go wrong. My husband once verbally accepted a job and then his would be line manager had a heart attack and was off for months. We were obviously very sympathetic, and thankfully the manager recovered, but it did cause problems for us financially as DH was out of work at the time and had turned down other jobs for this one.

Don't slam a door closed on yourself.

Interviewing people is time-consuming and tedious. I would be grateful to you for being honest by calling us and cancelling if you intended to take another job.

It wouldn't burn bridges. I'd be happy to interview you again in the future.

I wouldn't be impressed if I spent time interviewing you and then found out you had never intended to take the role.

Please do phone and cancel.