Could I get into trouble?

[Vividcoral]

Your genuine thoughts please…. (Long time mumsnet user/lurker)
i need to leave my place of work (Education sector) for many reasons and am applying for jobs. There are two I’d be happy to do. (They are in different counties) But one of them is much preferable. Problem is the other one interviews before the second - quite a few weeks before. Not to be big headed but if I’m offered the first one what do I say? Is it wrong to accept and then see what happens with the second one? Could I get into any trouble? Is it morally wrong? I can’t stay at my work any longer as it’s making me miserable and don’t want to just hold out for the second job in case I don’t get it. Sorry for slightly boring work related post but I cannot stay in my current work! Any advice? Anyone an employment expert?? Thanks.

In the UK, if you accept a job offer and then later change your mind, you can withdraw before starting. It won’t land you in legal trouble. The worst that usually happens is it leaves a bad impression with that employer, and in rare cases they could claim breach of contract if you’ve signed and then backed out — but usually, before your start date, they’ll just move on to another candidate.
However head of schools do network and they do talk. So be careful.

I would say play it as straight as you can. Can you ask the second one whether it's possible to do the interview any sooner? And it's also possible the first one may take a while to get back to you. But if they do offer you it before you've heard from/interviewed for the second, it should usually be OK to say you are very interested but are also waiting on the outcome from another interview, and do they mind giving you time to hear from them before you make your final decision? I have done this previously and they were fine about it, and it probably comes across better than anything that might make them feel you've been messing them around.

It's also possible that you either don't get offered the first one anyway, or the interview/application process confirms to you that you don't actually want it anyway, in which case the issue goes away...