Work and a Start Date
September 14, 2011 5:36 PM Subscribe
I will be offered a job tomorrow and at the interview I told them I could start this coming Monday. However, the interview was last Friday, and between then and now I have been offered three days of work MTW of the following week, i.e. the week of I am supposed to start the full time job. Is it poor form to say that I cannot now start on Monday but must start on Thursday due to a commitment I made in between the interview and being offered the job?
Seconded, do not have your first impression be "person who said they could do X, and then could not."
posted by oblio_one at 5:42 PM on September 14, 2011 [3 favorites]
posted by oblio_one at 5:42 PM on September 14, 2011 [3 favorites]
Go with the long term sure thing. Back out on the MTW job as much as it would be bad form to them. No need to start off on the wrong foot with your new long term employer.
Besides, it has only been a couple of days since the interview!
Good luck!
posted by lampshade at 5:44 PM on September 14, 2011
Besides, it has only been a couple of days since the interview!
Good luck!
posted by lampshade at 5:44 PM on September 14, 2011
I think it would be fine to ask in a very low-key way -- making no demands, just seeing if it migth be possible -- maybe they wouldn't mind?
posted by AwkwardPause at 5:46 PM on September 14, 2011
posted by AwkwardPause at 5:46 PM on September 14, 2011
...but wait until after the offer is actually made, because they might not want you to start immediately.
While that's likely, it's not a given. Better to wait a few hours more to be certain, just in case.
posted by batmonkey at 5:47 PM on September 14, 2011
While that's likely, it's not a given. Better to wait a few hours more to be certain, just in case.
posted by batmonkey at 5:47 PM on September 14, 2011
As an employer I get truly pissed off when this happens, and it clouds my opinion of a person, they are either disorganized, lied to me, are indecisive, whatever... . If you said you could start on Monday, start on Monday.
posted by tomswift at 6:02 PM on September 14, 2011 [9 favorites]
posted by tomswift at 6:02 PM on September 14, 2011 [9 favorites]
I don't see why it would be bad to change the start date. If I understand it correctly, they haven't actually made you an offer. You had other, *certain* employment opportunities in the mean time. You have no obligation to them because up to this point they have not made any obligations to you.
What could they possibly have you doing the first week that you *need* to start then? If they needed you that bad they should have given you an offer sooner.
*After* they officially make you an offer say something like "since we last spoke I have made some temporary work commitments, so the soonest I'll be able to start now is September Xth."
If they really want you I'd think they'd be willing to accommodate you.
Seconded, do not have your first impression be "person who said they could do X, and then could not."
But at the same time, they don't want their first impression to be "the boss who is a slave driver."
posted by cupcake1337 at 6:04 PM on September 14, 2011
What could they possibly have you doing the first week that you *need* to start then? If they needed you that bad they should have given you an offer sooner.
*After* they officially make you an offer say something like "since we last spoke I have made some temporary work commitments, so the soonest I'll be able to start now is September Xth."
If they really want you I'd think they'd be willing to accommodate you.
Seconded, do not have your first impression be "person who said they could do X, and then could not."
But at the same time, they don't want their first impression to be "the boss who is a slave driver."
posted by cupcake1337 at 6:04 PM on September 14, 2011
I am with tomswift on this. You risk looking like a flake if you try to change a start date you have already committed to. That said, you could play it by ear when you are offered the job, there is no guarantee they need you on Monday.
posted by archaic at 6:16 PM on September 14, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by archaic at 6:16 PM on September 14, 2011 [1 favorite]
If I were your new employer this would annoy me.
Risking the long term, large scale gain, for the short term, small scale gain is simply irrational.
Blow off the three days of alternative work. You have to annoy someone, and, for your sake,it should be the people that you don't have to deal with every day for the next few years.
posted by His thoughts were red thoughts at 6:24 PM on September 14, 2011
Risking the long term, large scale gain, for the short term, small scale gain is simply irrational.
Blow off the three days of alternative work. You have to annoy someone, and, for your sake,it should be the people that you don't have to deal with every day for the next few years.
posted by His thoughts were red thoughts at 6:24 PM on September 14, 2011
Play it by ear and avoid going back on what you told them before. Could you say something like, "And do you still want me to start on Monday?"
When cupcake1337 says "What could the possibly have you doing the first week that you *need* to start then?" I can think of a half-dozen things! As a former hirer-and-supervisor of unskilled part-time workers, I got this a lot and I got really tired of it, and it was never a good sign.
posted by mskyle at 6:25 PM on September 14, 2011 [1 favorite]
When cupcake1337 says "What could the possibly have you doing the first week that you *need* to start then?" I can think of a half-dozen things! As a former hirer-and-supervisor of unskilled part-time workers, I got this a lot and I got really tired of it, and it was never a good sign.
posted by mskyle at 6:25 PM on September 14, 2011 [1 favorite]
It seems to me that you should be permitted a two week grace period between the offer date and your first day. They can't expect you to give notice before you have a solid job offer in hand.
posted by politikitty at 6:34 PM on September 14, 2011
posted by politikitty at 6:34 PM on September 14, 2011
It seems to me that you should be permitted a two week grace period between the offer date and your first day.
True, but josher71 should have said that when they asked when he could start.
If you said you would start Monday, and they ask you to start Monday, I would do it.
posted by grouse at 6:48 PM on September 14, 2011 [1 favorite]
True, but josher71 should have said that when they asked when he could start.
If you said you would start Monday, and they ask you to start Monday, I would do it.
posted by grouse at 6:48 PM on September 14, 2011 [1 favorite]
"It seems to me that you should be permitted a two week grace period between the offer date and your first day. They can't expect you to give notice before you have a solid job offer in hand."
and, sunshine and rainbows for everyone.... The unemployment rate is going UP each day... now is not the time to piss off a potential employer with a better job.....
posted by tomswift at 6:49 PM on September 14, 2011
and, sunshine and rainbows for everyone.... The unemployment rate is going UP each day... now is not the time to piss off a potential employer with a better job.....
posted by tomswift at 6:49 PM on September 14, 2011
What type of job matters a lot. If you are doing labor or working retail where they may need a body then you need to start on Monday. If you are doing highly skilled work then you can probably delay without a problem.
posted by IronSurfer at 7:25 PM on September 14, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by IronSurfer at 7:25 PM on September 14, 2011 [1 favorite]
I agree with IronSurfer that the type of job does matter.
But still ...
You didn't *really* commit to starting on Monday because they didn't *really* commit to giving you a job on Monday. (Unless you've left something out.)
some observations:
- more than a few days had passed since the interview. i could see if the interview was yesterday, and then you change your mind the next day, that would look flaky.
- wouldn't it also look bad to your employer to know that you screwed the people at your temp job?
- in this economy, how could you turn down the temp work because you *might* get a job? surely the people at the permanent one could understand.
- it wouldn't hurt to at least *ask*. if they are firm on you starting on Monday, you could still do that and then back out of the temp job. you can acknowledge that it's not the best thing to do to the temp job people. this would make you look good.
posted by cupcake1337 at 7:52 PM on September 14, 2011
But still ...
You didn't *really* commit to starting on Monday because they didn't *really* commit to giving you a job on Monday. (Unless you've left something out.)
some observations:
- more than a few days had passed since the interview. i could see if the interview was yesterday, and then you change your mind the next day, that would look flaky.
- wouldn't it also look bad to your employer to know that you screwed the people at your temp job?
- in this economy, how could you turn down the temp work because you *might* get a job? surely the people at the permanent one could understand.
- it wouldn't hurt to at least *ask*. if they are firm on you starting on Monday, you could still do that and then back out of the temp job. you can acknowledge that it's not the best thing to do to the temp job people. this would make you look good.
posted by cupcake1337 at 7:52 PM on September 14, 2011
If you renege on the part-time job what do you lose?
If you renege on the full-time job (assuming a job offer is made) what do you lose?
Avoid the bigger loss.
posted by oddman at 8:24 PM on September 14, 2011
If you renege on the full-time job (assuming a job offer is made) what do you lose?
Avoid the bigger loss.
posted by oddman at 8:24 PM on September 14, 2011
"I can start on Monday, but I prefer to start Thursday to take care of a few personal items. Otis not imperative and I will do whatever you want."
posted by JohnnyGunn at 8:40 PM on September 14, 2011 [4 favorites]
posted by JohnnyGunn at 8:40 PM on September 14, 2011 [4 favorites]
If you accepted the job and agreed to start on Monday then you've made a commitment and the employers have something to be upset about. But giving them information at the job interview is not a commitment. Several days have now passed, that information is now out of date, this is what happens in life. You have to make decisions based on what is in front of you, and until you get a formal offer you are fully within your rights to assume you have no job and to therefore accept other work.
If they wanted to hire you before your situation changed, they should have given you an offer straight away. I think some of the employers in this thread want to have their cake and eat it too, wait around and hire someone on their timetable but expect that person to put their life on hold in the meantime. When you get a formal job offer, *then* you can negotiate starting times along with all the other terms of employment. Just tell them your situation has changed and you're now available to start on Thursday. Then you both make a commitment to each other, and after that it's bad form if you flake or try to change things. If they really need you on Monday they can negotiate.
posted by shelleycat at 11:53 PM on September 14, 2011 [3 favorites]
If they wanted to hire you before your situation changed, they should have given you an offer straight away. I think some of the employers in this thread want to have their cake and eat it too, wait around and hire someone on their timetable but expect that person to put their life on hold in the meantime. When you get a formal job offer, *then* you can negotiate starting times along with all the other terms of employment. Just tell them your situation has changed and you're now available to start on Thursday. Then you both make a commitment to each other, and after that it's bad form if you flake or try to change things. If they really need you on Monday they can negotiate.
posted by shelleycat at 11:53 PM on September 14, 2011 [3 favorites]
Why are you even considering delaying the full time job? Does the MWF pay more per hour (more than 5/3 more such that you'd make more money that week)? Is that job more fun? Is it for a friend you enjoy working with? Give us some reason the one shot job is attractive.
posted by at at 1:30 PM on September 15, 2011
posted by at at 1:30 PM on September 15, 2011
Can we get an update?
posted by cupcake1337 at 1:37 PM on September 16, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by cupcake1337 at 1:37 PM on September 16, 2011 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Hey,
Thanks for all the responses. It seems that I made several mistakes in my question, however.
First, I have not yet been offered the job although I've been led to believe by someone already working there that I will be. Second, the MTW days of work aren't this week but next week.
I'll give a final update when I know. Again, thanks all.
posted by josher71 at 1:54 PM on September 19, 2011
Thanks for all the responses. It seems that I made several mistakes in my question, however.
First, I have not yet been offered the job although I've been led to believe by someone already working there that I will be. Second, the MTW days of work aren't this week but next week.
I'll give a final update when I know. Again, thanks all.
posted by josher71 at 1:54 PM on September 19, 2011
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by DetriusXii at 5:41 PM on September 14, 2011