Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Work

Chat with other users about all things related to working life on our Work forum.

Original poster

Two interviews, what to do?

24 replies

IceandIndigo · 18/07/2022 14:31

I was made redundant from my last job and am currently looking for work. I was with the company for about 10 years so it's been a while since I was looking for work.

I work in quite a niche field and good jobs don't come up that often, however two happened to come up around the same time and I applied for both.

I have been shortlisted for the first one and have an interview this week. I have now had an email to say I have also been shortlisted for the second one with an interview the following week.

Both are decent jobs but the second one is paid about 10% more and with a higher profile company.

If I am offered the first one, what's the correct etiquette? Can/should I be honest and tell them I have another interview and would like to see what happens? Is it likely they would withdraw the offer if I don't accept immediately? Obviously the best thing would be to have the choice but given I don't have a job at the moment I am nervous about not accepting one that's offered.

Obviously I may not be successful at the first interview and then the issue goes away, but I just want to think in advance about what to say if I am offered.

OP posts:
TheBestBitch · 18/07/2022 14:36

Go for both, see what happens. If you’re offered the first, accept it on the basis that you don’t know whether you’ll be offered the second. If you’re then subsequently offered the second, accept it, assuming you want that one more, and then when it’s in writing decline the first.

protect yourself, you don’t have to explain everything to everyone but you can say you’re interviewing elsewhere. Good luck.

Chronicallymothering · 18/07/2022 14:37

Tell the hiring manager for the first post you’re being interviewed for you are on holiday for 7-10 days somewhere with poor wifi.

TheBestBitch · 18/07/2022 14:38

So if you accept the first you might want to stall the start date, say you have commitments on xyz dates - that’ll give you time to find out what happens with the second

HGC2 · 18/07/2022 14:41

Be honest. When you are in a niche line of work the truth often comes out and then you look bad. Just say that you need a bit of time to consider the offer, if pushed then there is no harm in saying that you have another interview, I recruit often and people say it all the time, just do it at offer stage and not before then. Good luck

Original poster
IceandIndigo · 18/07/2022 14:43

Surely it's incredibly poor form to accept a role and then pull out because you get a better offer? Is that really something that people do?

For context these are middle management, professional roles.

OP posts:
Original poster
IceandIndigo · 18/07/2022 14:48

@HGC2 yes it was my instinct to be honest, but I sometimes worry that I'm too honest.

In the past I've been asked as part of the standard questions at the end of an interview if I have any other interviews in the pipeline, what would your advice be in that case?

Also, how much time do you think would be acceptable to ask for to consider an offer?

OP posts:
MoChridhe · 18/07/2022 14:48

You could ask the first interview to be rescheduled to the day after the second interview. Tell first interview that you're on holiday and cannot make the date. Interviews are always rescheduled so you will not be unreasonable to request this.

Lilithslove · 18/07/2022 14:52

IceandIndigo · 18/07/2022 14:43

Surely it's incredibly poor form to accept a role and then pull out because you get a better offer? Is that really something that people do?

For context these are middle management, professional roles.

Its not ideal @IceandIndigo but if other companies are prepared to make better offers then perhaps they are under valuing their employees. Most companies wouldn't hesitate to get rid of a member of staff who wasn't giving them "value for money" so it goes both ways.

HGC2 · 18/07/2022 14:53

IceandIndigo · 18/07/2022 14:48

@HGC2 yes it was my instinct to be honest, but I sometimes worry that I'm too honest.

In the past I've been asked as part of the standard questions at the end of an interview if I have any other interviews in the pipeline, what would your advice be in that case?

Also, how much time do you think would be acceptable to ask for to consider an offer?

Just say that yes you do however you are very interested in their job and are delighted that you have had the chance to discuss it with them in more detail

HGC2 · 18/07/2022 14:55

and I'd say anything longer than waiting a week would probably annoy me as an interviewer

TheBestBitch · 18/07/2022 14:55

IceandIndigo · 18/07/2022 14:43

Surely it's incredibly poor form to accept a role and then pull out because you get a better offer? Is that really something that people do?

For context these are middle management, professional roles.

It happens all the time

olympicsrock · 18/07/2022 15:01

You have to be honest. Particularly if the role is niche. They may well be aware of the other job advertised at the same time and might expect you to go for both.

I agree that if you are offered the job ask for some time to think and if pushed mention your other interview. They might even agree to match the other salary.

Don’t mention the other interview unless offered the job.

Butterfly44 · 18/07/2022 15:03

Accept the first if offered. You don't know what happens with second. If offered the second then you go back to first and say you've been offered another job you interviewed for (you are job hunting of course you will be applying to several). Say it's x amount more so really sorry but hope they understand. They may even up offer, who knows? But not worry about it. It happens more than you realise in recruitment.

Greenkitten · 18/07/2022 15:03

Happened to me last month! I thanked job one and asked for time to consider the offer. Had second job interview and got offered that too. Said same to them. Decided I liked job one better and went with that. Was about a week between offers. Luckily interview two offered straight after interview.

MikeWozniaksMohawk · 18/07/2022 15:05

How likely is it that it will be a one interview process? If two interviews before offers then you don’t have anything to worry about yet!

karmakameleon · 18/07/2022 15:10

In my industry you’d be blacklisted if you accepted an offer just to turn it down for a better one a couple of weeks later. Its a small world and that kind of thing comes back to haunt you.

Better is to say that you need time to think about the first offer and ask for a few days to consider. I’ve even asked to arrange a further meeting with key people in the team that I haven’t met yet to ensure that it’s the right fit. Also make sure that the other firm know you have an offer elsewhere so that they don’t string it out.

JamMakingWannaBe · 18/07/2022 15:10

Greenkitten · 18/07/2022 15:03

Happened to me last month! I thanked job one and asked for time to consider the offer. Had second job interview and got offered that too. Said same to them. Decided I liked job one better and went with that. Was about a week between offers. Luckily interview two offered straight after interview.

This sounds perfect.

weathervane1 · 18/07/2022 15:12

What about contacting the second interview firm and letting them know you really want the job but have another interview first, which could make it a bit awkward - and the. See if they would be willing to bring the interview forward.

To answer your question regarding if people sometimes accept a job and then decline it later when s second comes alongside, yes it happens quite frequently - and sometimes happens in the reverse direction with offers being withdrawn. It's a bit like house buying - until you start, you really owe them nothing.

Original poster
IceandIndigo · 18/07/2022 15:13

This is really helpful, thanks everyone.

Job 1 hasn't said anything to suggest there would be a second interview.

OP posts:
Original poster
IceandIndigo · 18/07/2022 15:15

I'm not sure it would help if the second company agree to move the interview forward, presumably they will be seeing other candidates and won't want to make a decision until they've seen everyone?

OP posts:
karmakameleon · 18/07/2022 15:29

weathervane1 · 18/07/2022 15:12

What about contacting the second interview firm and letting them know you really want the job but have another interview first, which could make it a bit awkward - and the. See if they would be willing to bring the interview forward.

To answer your question regarding if people sometimes accept a job and then decline it later when s second comes alongside, yes it happens quite frequently - and sometimes happens in the reverse direction with offers being withdrawn. It's a bit like house buying - until you start, you really owe them nothing.

I’ve never heard of a firm withdrawing an offer once made unless an issue came up with the candidate’s screening. If word got out in the market no one would work for an employer like that!

Lilithslove · 18/07/2022 15:52

I’ve never heard of a firm withdrawing an offer once made unless an issue came up with the candidate’s screening. If word got out in the market no one would work for an employer like that!

It happened to a friend of mine. It's not common because why would a company go for all the expense and hassle of advertising and interviewing unless they needed someone in post but it's not unheard of.

Seemslikeaniceday · 19/07/2022 12:16

Do not do what @weathervane1 suggested, highly unprofessional.

As you are currently job hunting as pp said if you are asked be honest, As you know I’m currently seeking a job and I do have an interview next week. However, what interests me about your job is …

If they offer you the job, say thank you and would you mind if I had a few days to think about it.

Paigeworkerx · 19/07/2022 12:20

I’ve never been offered a job there and then. There most likely interviewing others.

Id wait to see if they even offer you it before the second. People pull out of jobs all the time it is one of those things.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page