A Tale of Two Job Interviews
June 30, 2017 1:13 PM Subscribe
I have had two phone interviews: one for a place I'm just OK about working for, and one for Dream Job at Incredible, Very Desirable Workplace. Obviously I want the second job more. But competition may be fierce, I've heard they typically only do inside hires, and they move at a glacial pace. Meanwhile, job #1 is zipping through the interview process. Help!
Job #1 has an upside, specifically the fact that my duties would be wide-ranging and help me transition into a career area that overlaps with my current work but offers more options down the road. But I'm concerned about this particular outfit's future (it's currently, very publicly, on the brink of what amounts to insolvency--its failure could harm thousands of people) and the fact that part of my responsibilities would be PR for them. I also had a fairly "meh" phone interview with the HR person and, as a result, am a bit surprised that they want to bring me in for an in-person interview, imminently. But I agreed to the interview. And, ironically, this job may pay more than job 2.
Job #2--This job would look great on my CV, allow me to go to work every day at a dream workplace, and engage a lot of the skills I've developed over the last few years. I had what felt like a warm, engaged phone interview with the person who would be my direct report. When I asked about the timeline/next steps for the hire they said they're interviewing several (undisclosed number) candidates over the phone and will then whittle them down for in-person interviews. This person gave me no reason to believe I was out of the running, but also no indication that they wanted to bring me in....and they didn't respond to my thank-you email. In other such scenarios I've often been asked to schedule an in-person meeting at the end of the phone interview, so I'm feeling a bit insecure about this. Also, this place has a reputation for taking a long time making hiring decisions, and I've been told they favor inside hires and people with connections. However, this is a very specialized position for which I have the exact skills required, and significant experience. I know I'd be really good at this job, and it seemed like the person I interviewed with knew that, too.
So, now I'm fretting. I need a job. If the interview with job 1 goes well it's possible I'll get an offer before even hearing back from job 2. And, to me, there's no question: I'd take job 2 in a heartbeat over job 1. Also, I can't stress enough how much I need a job. Like, I don't have the luxury of waiting for 3 months to see if one place will make an offer. But I'm not so desperate that I'll take the first job that comes along--I've actually already turned down one offer. So...how do I negotiate this situation?
Job #1 has an upside, specifically the fact that my duties would be wide-ranging and help me transition into a career area that overlaps with my current work but offers more options down the road. But I'm concerned about this particular outfit's future (it's currently, very publicly, on the brink of what amounts to insolvency--its failure could harm thousands of people) and the fact that part of my responsibilities would be PR for them. I also had a fairly "meh" phone interview with the HR person and, as a result, am a bit surprised that they want to bring me in for an in-person interview, imminently. But I agreed to the interview. And, ironically, this job may pay more than job 2.
Job #2--This job would look great on my CV, allow me to go to work every day at a dream workplace, and engage a lot of the skills I've developed over the last few years. I had what felt like a warm, engaged phone interview with the person who would be my direct report. When I asked about the timeline/next steps for the hire they said they're interviewing several (undisclosed number) candidates over the phone and will then whittle them down for in-person interviews. This person gave me no reason to believe I was out of the running, but also no indication that they wanted to bring me in....and they didn't respond to my thank-you email. In other such scenarios I've often been asked to schedule an in-person meeting at the end of the phone interview, so I'm feeling a bit insecure about this. Also, this place has a reputation for taking a long time making hiring decisions, and I've been told they favor inside hires and people with connections. However, this is a very specialized position for which I have the exact skills required, and significant experience. I know I'd be really good at this job, and it seemed like the person I interviewed with knew that, too.
So, now I'm fretting. I need a job. If the interview with job 1 goes well it's possible I'll get an offer before even hearing back from job 2. And, to me, there's no question: I'd take job 2 in a heartbeat over job 1. Also, I can't stress enough how much I need a job. Like, I don't have the luxury of waiting for 3 months to see if one place will make an offer. But I'm not so desperate that I'll take the first job that comes along--I've actually already turned down one offer. So...how do I negotiate this situation?
I think you have two options: let #2 know that you're in a fast moving process, and/or just start at #1 and then move to #2 if you do finally get an offer there. You might consider how much it would hurt your career to alienate a few people at #1.
posted by salvia at 2:05 PM on June 30, 2017
posted by salvia at 2:05 PM on June 30, 2017
It's just too early. When you have the initial calls with HR or the recruiter, you're not talking to someone you'd deal with day to day. They don't actually know the job or the challenges, just what they've been told. You can't start to evaluate a workplace until you go in to interview with them. So go interview with #1, see what happens, see if #2 does anything, and evaluate when you need to make a decision. Until then, don't consider this a decision to make.
I also believe that you are not actually in the running for a job if you have nothing scheduled with the hiring manager. That's not to say you never will be, but it's not something to consider until you have an actual interview.
posted by Pacrand at 2:07 PM on June 30, 2017 [5 favorites]
I also believe that you are not actually in the running for a job if you have nothing scheduled with the hiring manager. That's not to say you never will be, but it's not something to consider until you have an actual interview.
posted by Pacrand at 2:07 PM on June 30, 2017 [5 favorites]
Unless there are very specific circumstances that mean you absolutely cannot burn bridges at Job 1, it is totally fine to take Job 1 while still pursuing Job 2 and then bounce from Job 1 if you eventually get an offer at Job 2.
posted by Rock Steady at 4:04 PM on June 30, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by Rock Steady at 4:04 PM on June 30, 2017 [2 favorites]
I don't have the luxury of waiting for 3 months to see if one place will make an offer.
This struck me as the most important part of everything you said. In my experience, until you sign on the dotted line no job is yours, no matter how you feel it went and no matter what has been said. In other words, you're making assumptions based on the notion you'll get offered both jobs and that may not even happen. I totally understand why, I've done it, but I've also been bitten by it - I actually turned one job down in favor of another and then ended up not even getting it.
Given what you've said, I'd take the first job you get offered. If that's 1, so be it. Then if 2 offers you a job later, and it's truly your dream job, then and only then deal with that situation. Until then, you're stressing yourself out over hypothetically getting offered both the jobs, when if you really really need a job right now you're best only worrying about that scenario if/when it actually happens.
posted by AllTheQuestions at 4:40 PM on June 30, 2017 [4 favorites]
This struck me as the most important part of everything you said. In my experience, until you sign on the dotted line no job is yours, no matter how you feel it went and no matter what has been said. In other words, you're making assumptions based on the notion you'll get offered both jobs and that may not even happen. I totally understand why, I've done it, but I've also been bitten by it - I actually turned one job down in favor of another and then ended up not even getting it.
Given what you've said, I'd take the first job you get offered. If that's 1, so be it. Then if 2 offers you a job later, and it's truly your dream job, then and only then deal with that situation. Until then, you're stressing yourself out over hypothetically getting offered both the jobs, when if you really really need a job right now you're best only worrying about that scenario if/when it actually happens.
posted by AllTheQuestions at 4:40 PM on June 30, 2017 [4 favorites]
I don't know why you are fretting. You need a job now, you can start at Job #1. Work at Job #1 while waiting for Job #2. I know you're not desperate for a job, but on the other hand it seems like 3 months is your upper limit on being jobless.
As far as Job #2, Bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. It's not a done deal that you'll get an offer let alone an interview from Job #2. But every job everywhere favors inside hires and people with connections so Job #2 doesn't see all that unique to me. Also, big deal they didn't respond to your email. That person got 2 score of emails today and is swamped with work.
I would work at Job #1 while trying to find either a connection inside Job #2 or another means to apply to Job #2 such as an internet job site. But whatever you decide, do what's best for you. Good luck.
posted by Rob Rockets at 6:06 PM on June 30, 2017
As far as Job #2, Bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. It's not a done deal that you'll get an offer let alone an interview from Job #2. But every job everywhere favors inside hires and people with connections so Job #2 doesn't see all that unique to me. Also, big deal they didn't respond to your email. That person got 2 score of emails today and is swamped with work.
I would work at Job #1 while trying to find either a connection inside Job #2 or another means to apply to Job #2 such as an internet job site. But whatever you decide, do what's best for you. Good luck.
posted by Rob Rockets at 6:06 PM on June 30, 2017
Response by poster: Thanks for all the answers, folks. One of my major hesitations with job 1 is actually the "potential bankruptcy/we could be screwing over a lot of people this year" aspect of it, and the fact that I could potentially be creating the public voice for this place and talking to the media and public if/when that happens. Would you still take job #1 in that case?
posted by Miss T.Horn at 10:15 PM on June 30, 2017
posted by Miss T.Horn at 10:15 PM on June 30, 2017
Yes. I have no idea who Enron's spokesperson was. I mean, it's your field, not mine, but I don't think corporate spokespeople become a household name the way Sean Spicer and other spokespeople for the U.S. president have.
posted by salvia at 10:30 PM on June 30, 2017
posted by salvia at 10:30 PM on June 30, 2017
Managing PR in good times is easy, managing it in hard times, ethically and well, will be a much more compelling skill set to offer future employers. So regardless of which job you get offered, I wouldn't consider the scenario above a deal-breaker, and possibly actually a good opportunity to learn.
Having said that, if you felt the company culture of job 1 is such that you personally would feel unable to do the job of PR professionally and effectively, I would turn it down.
posted by freya_lamb at 6:42 AM on July 1, 2017 [1 favorite]
Having said that, if you felt the company culture of job 1 is such that you personally would feel unable to do the job of PR professionally and effectively, I would turn it down.
posted by freya_lamb at 6:42 AM on July 1, 2017 [1 favorite]
I don't think I'd want to take Job 1 unless I was unemployed and "being paid at hell job is better than nothing" was the case. You don't specify your employment status so I don't know, but you make it sound pretty desperate so maybe this is the case. If you are employed but your job is awful, you need to figure out which of these two sound like the least bad situation. Job 1 does not sound like stable employment + sounds like a hell job, so I wouldn't leave if I was already in a hell job that was stable for it. If both bird in hand and bird in bush are both unstable hell jobs, flip a coin for all I know.
As for Job 2, don't count on Job 2. They sound fairly unlikely and not super excited about your candidacy. If you hear back from them, a miracle has occurred. But don't make any decisions now based on Job 2. If you ever land Job 2, worry about quitting wherever you're at then.
People don't usually respond to thank-you e-mails, so don't take that as A Sign, though.
posted by jenfullmoon at 8:07 AM on July 1, 2017
As for Job 2, don't count on Job 2. They sound fairly unlikely and not super excited about your candidacy. If you hear back from them, a miracle has occurred. But don't make any decisions now based on Job 2. If you ever land Job 2, worry about quitting wherever you're at then.
People don't usually respond to thank-you e-mails, so don't take that as A Sign, though.
posted by jenfullmoon at 8:07 AM on July 1, 2017
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Assuming you're not signing a specific contract and that #1 feels like a job you would take if #2 was off the table, you can take #1 and then leave and take #2 if it materializes.
It's not ideal but it happens all the time given the nature of job hunting. You will burn some bridges at #1.
posted by vunder at 2:03 PM on June 30, 2017 [2 favorites]