if you are applying for jobs and get offered one before you complete the recruitment process for another which you want more

[zippitippitoes]

..is it ethical to accept the first one because you probably won't be offered the second and then if you are offered the second and have just started hand in your notice?

What do people do?

this is hypothetical but I am applying for jobs at the moment and there is the potential for this to arise

I would accept and then resign if I got the better job.

That's my inclination...I don't have a lot of confidence in my ability to get a job but I need the money and can't really afford to turn one down if offered while I'm waiting for the perfect one.

any other opinions?

Yes, I'd accept and then not take it if I hadn't started or leave/resign if I was offered something I wanted more. I wouldn't say it's necessarily nice but you have to do what's best for you.

I'd accept it and then turn it down/resign if you get the better one. It's one of those situations where you have to do what is best for you, even if you feel awful doing it, imo. (You'd be surprised how many people leave jobs in the first couple of months. )

agree with the others, do what is best for you - its tough enough out there. Also, if you had only been in the first job a short time before resigning they might just offer it to the second placed candidate so would save on a further round of recruitment anyway.

one is a local council one promoting children's services and the other is a top secret government one which is much better paid..

I don't think I'll get either but just contemplating

I'm working full time for myself but I have to accept that my income is nil for loads of effort and dp isn't getting anything because he is on crutches

Take the job your happier with and don't worry about anything else unless it will affect your professional standing.

I think it is unethical, and extremely annoying if you are the person recruiting (can you tell it's happened to me!) I would wait until they offered it me, and then explain the circumstances (ie being interviewed next week, or waiting to hear back from x) so at least they are in the picture, and can have the opportunity to let the next placed candidate know there may be an opportunity, or sell the job they want you to do that bit harder. Recruitment to relatively senior jobs in the public sector takes ages and is expensive, and having to go around the loop again when you think you have found someone is frustrating. I was once in the very embarrassing situation of giving someone post interview feedback (perhaps this isn't the career move for you etc etc) one day, and the next trying to get them to accept the job when the first choice candidate pulled out with no warning for another opportunity. Also it is a small world so these things can come back to you. If you are honest in the first place (and people won't be surprised if you are applying for more than one job) I think it works out better.