Job opening for better role than the one already offered

[rrhuth]

If anyone knows anything about job etiquette I would be grateful for input - I've had an informal job offer, but there is another role open I feel I would prefer and I am not sure whether it is acceptable to pursue this second opportunity given I have provisionally said yes to the first.

I have not yet had a formal offer on the first, but have been told it will be coming.

All the same place as I currently work, interviews are quite a formal process.

Go for the 2nd job and see what happens

Totally acceptable, do it.

Honestly you don’t owe your employer anything. Take the first job. You’re not guaranteed the second job. If you get the second job then leave the first job. It’s not ideal for your new team but it’s not the end of the world.

This is what I thought in my head but I started to feel a bit sick at the thought of actually doing it! The second job is working for someone I already respect too, the first job is an unknown quantity.

Thank you to all for thoughts btw, three thinking the same is encouraging. I have written the application this evening (not closing just yet).

Depends if it’s a different employer (in which case obviously go for it) or a different role within the same company, in which case that’s very awkward, and probably best raised verbally with HR if at all. Depends on loads of other stuff too like are you are talented hard to find candidate or easily replaced if you upset them. What’s the balance of power, basically.

@rrhuth name change fail

Oh yes - doesn't matter really, had switched for something else and it pinged back!

I am as replaceable as anyone else I think!

I have decided I will submit the application to job 2 as I still don't have a formal offer for job 1 and TBH this is concerning me - I am worried there may be behind-the-scenes changes that could make the offer unsuitable, and if so I do not want to miss this alternative opportunity.