Two interviews three weeks apart - I really want the second one!

[RobertSmithdoesmyhair]

I have an interview next week, then another three weeks later. I really want the second one, but what do I do if I am offered the first? Three weeks is a long time to stall things. I am cautious of telling them the truth, as they will (rightly) assume that I am more interested in working elsewhere! The first school is lovely and I could imagine working there, but the second is a rare opportunity that's too good to ignore! Help!!

Accept the offer then politely decline it if you're offered the one you really want. It happens all the time. You have to look after yourself.

And don't tell them you'd rather the other job at the interview.

I had a colleague who was on a temp contract and so interviewed for and was offered a job elsewhere which he accepted. A couple of weeks later a permanent pest became available at our school which he was offered. He wanted to stay so phoned the other school up and apologised and said he wouldn't be taking the job after all. They were understandably very cross as they had to readvertise and interview and lost out on lots of potential good teachers but since he hadn't signed anything it was tough.

Unless it could come back to bite you down the line just take it and see what happens.

But accepting the job verbally means you have entered into a verbal contract. I know it hardly ever happens, but the school can technically sue you for recruitment and readvertisement costs, and if it's local to you, you'll get yourself a bad reputation.

There's no way you'll be able to stall for 3 weeks in education. It's bad form to have the interview and then decline if you're offered the job. If you really want the second, don't accept the first.

Withdraw from the first. You can’t accept a post and then decline later. Apart from the issue of entering into a verbal contract, head’s talk.

Providing you haven't signed anything??

It doesn't matter whether you have signed anything or not, if you verbally accept then that's a contract.
Can you imagine if a school offered you a post and then, three weeks later turned round and said "Oh, sorry, someone better has turned up and we've given them the post instead"

Very true @spanieleyes

I agree, you can't take it then decline later on.

Hmm..lots of food for thought and dome very sound advice- thank you! I think I am going to pull out of the first interview and hedge my bets on the second!

Some, not dome!

It depends how desperate you are for a job tbh. What if you don't get the second one?

millimat Yes, you're right. There is a risk of me not getting the second one (or even the first!) and I do need a job for Sep, which is why I'm so torn!

Really only you can decide, but you know that. You definitely can't take the first job and then interview for the second. Teaching is a very small world, everyone knows each other. You like the first job, what makes the second one so special, can you tell us?

The second one is in a private school. Jobs rarely come up there and the teachers I know who work there absolutely love it! They are telling me NOT to apply for the first job, but there are no guarantees that I will get the second!

That was quick Robert, thank you! If you really, really want the second job I'd drop out of the first then. I qualified last year and didn't apply for anything unless it was perfect for me. As it turns out I applied for the perfect job (just one) and got it. I'd say put your absolute all into the second job. If you get the first you absolutely cannot turn it down and you'd be thinking 'what if' about the second. How are you doing in training, are your grades good? Will your references be excellent? If yes, you can do it. Good luck! I think that you can do it!

Sorry, you haven't said that you are training, I just assumed you were a NQT.

Unless you’re in a rural area with a very small number of local schools then my advice would be to withdraw from the first job and put everything into the second one. I think you’ve made the right call. It’s still fairly early in the year for September jobs. There’s always a wave of jobs after the May deadline for resignations if you don’t get the dream school. Being in the right school is everything in teaching. It’s a great job in the right school and absolute hell on earth in the wrong one. It’s worth the risk IMO. Good luck!

I think that especially if the second school is telling you not to go the the first then it says a lot.
Like pp, there's ages until September to secure a post.

I asked my union about this scenario because it has happened to me so many times!

Accepting a Teaching post verbally IS a contract. The union advised that I decline the earlier interviews for the one that I really wanted. It is really poor professionally to accept then decline the post.and Head teachers DO talk! (At least they do where I work)

Op when is the interview?