What happens if I get one job offer before another interview?

[Holdinguphalfthesky]

I’m lucky enough to have an interview next week. I also sent another application for a different job which hasn’t closed yet, and it’s a different sort of role with more money attached.

I’m still hesitant about which professional path to follow, but if I (by a long shot) am offered the one next week, what would/could/should happen if I’m then invited to interview for the second?

Yes it is jumping the gun, but I like to know what I can do if these whatabout scenarios arise.

I’d be honest and say you are interviewing for another role, and you would like to see that through.

I accepted one job offer and interviewed the next week for another and got that, I contacted the first company and told them I’d been offered another which suited my circumstances better they were fine about it.

From my personal experience, interview for all roles right up until you get the offer(s). Be honest if asked regarding other interviews.

No repercussions on you?

This is a school job (not teaching), i don’t know if that makes a difference. When I was a new teacher 20 years ago, we were told that if we accepted and then declined a job we would be blacklisted by the local authority, so that puts me in fear a bit!

Depends on the timescales. If it’s likely to be a short interval, thank job #1 for the offer, ask them some questions for clarification ie stall for a bit, and hope job#2 makes a prompt offer or rules themselves out because of chemistry or something else.

the questions do not have to be genuine as in can be something you already know like pensions or holiday or professional qualification support, but would be useful to clarify. Good luck

You need to decide to accept ir decline if they offer. Its unprofessional to accept then later decline.

I think so- I agree with you- but the other job hasn’t closed yet, and pays (a lot) more. I wasn’t expecting to be shortlisted for this one and there isn’t a guarantee I will be shortlisted for the other!

The two jobs represent quite different professional futures, but both are potentially extremely useful and intrinsically rewarding for me.

Local authority here too , both were with same authority, working in early years. No repercussions.

While the employer might be frustrated or disappointed, accepting a job and later declining it generally has no real repercussions. It happens all the time.

I have done the accept an offer and then decline and have had it done to me as a manager. I think it's OK. I have not had any bad repercussions and the person who declined after accepting my job offer I still see around professionally and if anything I have an interest in their career as knew it was a good option for them. You have to do what is right for you. I would just not lie if asked the question directly. But if not that's fine. A bit of frustration but if there are long term repercussions then I wouldn't have wanted to work for them anyways