Job - What would you do?

No1newts · 13 Jul 2011 at 21:39

I recently left my last job after 5 years for relocation, family issues blah blah.

Anyhoo since then I have been applying for various senior management positions that suit my experience since then. I also applied for a "less impressive" job, for want of a better term, as I used to work for that company and I do still need some money coming through the door for out mortgage etc.

I have got some interviews for the jobs that suit and also an interview for the other job. I'm massively overqualified for it, done it in the past and will probably get offered the position (not trying to sound big headed there) I have that interview tommorow and been told to expect a decision friday. The interviews for the better jobs are spread across next week.

So the point of all this, would you take a job you have no intention of staying in for any amount of time and might possibly leave within a week of getting the job? I like to think I'm a moral person who does the right thing, I would feel guilty doing this but ultimately I have a mortgage to pay so need a job, but long term I cant afford and don't want to stay in a job paying only slightly more than a fifth of my previous salary.

Ta

Bunka · 13 Jul 2011 at 21:43

To be honest, if money is tight, sod morals, look after number one and keep this job as a backup. You never know, the interviews lined up next week might not work out and you'll be kicking yourself if you are still left with nothing.

Unfortunately, needs must.

J-FRO · 13 Jul 2011 at 21:46

You'll be on a sort of probation period anyway wont you? Wont that mean you can take this job for a month to tide you over and hopefully have one of the more senior jobs open up for you.

Philtor · 13 Jul 2011 at 21:57

No.. I was recently made redundant and im not about to take 'just anything'. I worked too hard for that ****. Mates went to a call centre for Sky BB the other week. They are not happy.

clv101 · 13 Jul 2011 at 22:04

No1newts said:
I have that interview tommorow and been told to expect a decision friday. The interviews for the better jobs are spread across next week.

Don't really see a problem there, you don't need to make a decision on the first job straight away. You can always allow a week or two of negotiation (unless it's just something like a call centre job!) before signing anything.

Philtor · 13 Jul 2011 at 22:05

clv101 said:
Don't really see a problem there, you don't need to make a decision on the first job straight away. You can always allow a week or two of negotiation (unless it's just something like a call centre job!) before signing anything.

I'll drink to that !

edit: what about Stamp?

Nitefly · 13 Jul 2011 at 22:05

Just take the job then turn it down saying 'sorry, something better has come up' - nothing remotely immoral in that.

Philtor · 13 Jul 2011 at 22:08

Funny you should say that Nitefly - mate said the same thing. I've worked 10 years and never been on the Dole. He said the same thing to me !

mattx2 · 13 Jul 2011 at 22:20

Don't expect to get the role your over qualified for if I had a choice between two people that could do the job but thought one was taking it as a stop gap I'd pick the other

So either have a good story for why you want the job or be honest with them

No1newts · 13 Jul 2011 at 22:23

Nitefly said:
Just take the job then turn it down saying 'sorry, something better has come up' - nothing remotely immoral in that.

That's what I will probably end up doing, would feel a wee bit harsh but ultimately I need to look after my family. Would feel pretty damn guilty when I had to tell them though

This is of course if I get offered any jobs

Philtor · 13 Jul 2011 at 22:27

I have a reference from a product specialist in Hewlett Packard but I can't be an engineer in England due to the cost of living !! There's little or nothing here for me but at the same time I can't afford England (more so London which is where I would get work). The whole country is messed up at the minute but I think England is a wise decision. Or is it?

Liampope · 13 Jul 2011 at 22:28

mattx2 said:
Don't expect to get the role your over qualified for if I had a choice between two people that could do the job but thought one was taking it as a stop gap I'd pick the other

So either have a good story for why you want the job or be honest with them

+1. Dont bank on getting the crap job offer in the first place. They will be well aware of your over qualification and the backward step and paycut you're taking and fully expect you're using them as a stepping stone. But if you do get offered it, and one of the decent jobs, well you'll hardly be the first person in the world to accept one job then change your mind to take a better offer. Good luck

Ev0 · 13 Jul 2011 at 22:29

I've recently been, and kind of still am in this situation.

Redundancy, took a job which as a job is miles better than my old one, but the money doesn't reflect this and it's a drop.

So I'm still half looking and due to the location I will more than likely want to move on to somewhere closer to home in the near future anyway.

Will I feel bad about it? Yes, the company waited for me until I could join for a good while and they've already said numerous times how glad they am I'm finally here and pleased I joined, how long it's taken them to find someone etc etc, and they are really nice people.

But that shouldn't get in the way of what's best for me and my family, and working and living 150 miles away from home during the week isn't the best place for me to be at the moment.

But it's still ok money, and as said the job role itself is awesome and will give me some good new skills and look very good on the CV, but just can't see how it'll be a long term thing as it stands at this point in time.

So I'd say if you get offered the not so good job, either delay the decision as long as possible to give you time to get the other ones done, or just take it but then if offered another better position pull out.

Yeah they'll probably be a bit miffed for a day, but then they will hire someone else and not think twice about you again.

Liampope · 13 Jul 2011 at 22:32

philtorrens said:
I have a reference from a product specialist in Hewlett Packard but I can't be an engineer in England due to the cost of living !! There's little or nothing here for me but at the same time I can't afford England (more so London which is where I would get work). The whole country is messed up at the minute but I think England is a wise decision. Or is it?

You got some kind of parallel thread going?? :confused:

Dave M · 13 Jul 2011 at 22:32

No1newts said:
would you take a job you have no intention of staying in for any amount of time and might possibly leave within a week of getting the job?

Yes, every time, without hesitation.

Loyalty is for mugs.

Philtor · 13 Jul 2011 at 22:41

Liampope said:
You got some kind of parallel thread going??

I hope not

Did I post in more than one thread :eek:

dowie · 13 Jul 2011 at 22:43

No1newts said:
I have that interview tommorow and been told to expect a decision friday. The interviews for the better jobs are spread across next week.

erm - why not just wait a short while for the result of the interviews for the 'better jobs' before making a desicion - tis not like they'll have never encountered someone who's got more than one interview lined up - if you get a positive decision on Friday you don't have to say yes then and there. No point burning your bridges at the firm by joining them then sacking them off after a week as they might be of further use to you in the future given you're quite sure they'll be happy to take you at the moment.

Also if the naff job only pays a 5th and you don't get the 'better jobs' then surely there must a few roles that fit somewhere in between. Not quite so senior management type ones....

No1newts · 13 Jul 2011 at 22:51

dowie said:
Also if the naff job only pays a 5th and you don't get the 'better jobs' then surely there must a few roles that fit somewhere in between. Not quite so senior management type ones....

I have been applying for these too. One of the interviews next week is for a decent job but not what I would want in ideal circumstances.

dowie · 13 Jul 2011 at 22:58

No1newts said:
I have been applying for these too. One of the interviews next week is for a decent job but not what I would want in ideal circumstances.

You might well have to aim for that sort of thing though, from what I can tell, senior people recruited externally will generally already be in a similar senior position and come in via an executive search/head hunting firm...

Otherwise senior management positions will be filled by people promoted internally. I'd have assumed that for real senior positions (at least in most private sector industries) you'd not have much chance applying directly even if you do believe you have the correct level of experience on paper. Probably best to go via a recruiter who knows the firm or get a role a level below and work your way into the type of position you want.

Just IMO obviously...