Accepting one job, interviewing for another

[WinterPearl]

Advice please.
I was made redundant in February. My redundancy package wasn’t great, as I’d only been with the company for three years. That money has now run out, and I’m living off my savings.
Since then, I’ve applied for at least 70 jobs – had five interviews – but no luck. The roles tend to go to internal candidates or to people who exactly match the job spec. I’ve also been rejected for being ‘too experienced’ and told I’m more suited to senior roles (I’d love a senior role that matches my experience – but most of the time I’m not even getting through to interview stage for those!). The job market is horrendous right now, especially in my industry (copywriting).
I recently applied for a junior comms job (despite being in my 40s!), and to my surprise, was invited for an interview. I was offered the job yesterday, which is a huge relief as I really, really need the income. The pay isn’t great (£30k, full-time), and it’s not very flexible, so it’ll be hard to juggle around the kids. But it’s better than nothing, and I’m grateful for a lifeline after months of unemployment and stress. I’m just finalising a few details, but I plan to accept the job today.
However, this morning I received an email inviting me to interview for a senior role next week. The salary is nearly double what the comms job is offering, and they also offer flexible working.
Would it be wrong to accept the comms job today (they need an answer ASAP) but still attend the interview next week? Obviously, there’s a good chance I wouldn’t get the senior role – but if I did, the extra money and flexibility would make a huge difference to my situation.
It’s all hypothetical at this stage, but I’d feel awful accepting one job – knowing they’d then be rejecting other candidates – only to potentially withdraw my acceptance a week later. At the same time, my redundancy experience has shown me that there’s no loyalty in business, and I should probably put myself first.
What would you do?

Absolutely put yourself first and good luck with the other job.

I would accept and if you get offered the other job give back word.
You won't be the first to do this, its happened several times in my job with both internal and external candidates.
Nothing bad happens, they just readvertise.

You have to look after your best interests.

You should absolutely interview for the other role - wishing you the very best of luck! X

Accept the junior role as you have to for your own finances.
Go to the interview for senior role
If you are successful cross that bridge when you come to it
You could ask the junior role if you could have more time to give a decision. However senior role may take a week or 2 to let you know the outcome. So not ideal to string things out.
Just take the junior role and let things pan out

Do whatever works for you and your family OP

Absolutely fine from a legal perspective to accept the first job and interview for the other one. If you get the more senior role then you just (very apologetically) give notice for the more junior role. They could want you to work the notice period but it’s not really practical so they are far more likely to just re advertise.

Put yourself first. Most businesses will have a reserve list for if the preferred candidates references don't check out or something so should have a fall back candidate. Take the first job for money coming in and interview for the second. You can always keep looking whilst in the first job too if this second one doesn't work out. And well done!

Do what is best for you. Its a tough market

Put yourself first and accept the job but interview for the other. Both businesses would undoubtedly put themselves first

Put yourself first and do the other interview.

As you know from being made redundant businesses don't hesitate to get rid of people when it suits them, so you should not feel any loyalty to a job you have not even started yet....

For the love of God, these companies will show you no loyalty, you have no obligation to show them any.

I once worked for an organisation for 8 days before they folded. As we were clearing our desks after being made redundant we had people coming in who had handed in their notice at the current job and were due to start work with us the following Monday! They’d now heard, on the grapevine, that they were up shit creek without a paddle!

Absolutely accept the job!

I’ve been on the other side of this when recruiting and it is enormously frustrating when you’ve got someone lined up who pulls out at the last minute, particularly if you had other appointable candidates who you have now turned down. However, I wouldn’t expect candidates to turn down an opportunity in similar circumstances to yours, so you just have to accept it as part of the process.

If you succeed in getting the more senior role I would call or email the hiring manager and be very apologetic and acknowledge the headache you will have caused, as it pays not to burn bridges.

It’s fine. You have to take what’s in the table and if you get another offer, you can reassess. There will be other candidates. Good luck!

Accept the job and continue to look for something better.

Yes to both, no brainer
5 years ago I was in your shoes. I took a role after taking much of my management experience off my CV. I was apparently over experienced and over qualified. It took 2 and a half years but I moved back to the right level and am now, 5 years on earning 2 and a half times my starting salary in the role.
It's tough but keep going.

Thanks, all. I’ve accepted the comms job (they were so pleased – they seem like a really nice team, which makes it harder 😬), but I’ll still attend next week’s interview. I think I’d always wonder “what if…” if I didn’t at least try, especially when there’s such a difference in salary and the 2nd job is better suited to my experience and skills. Either way, it’s a win-win: I know I’ll soon have employment and some money coming in, which is a massive relief after a really shitty few months.