What's new
Fantasy Football - Footballguys Forums

Welcome to Our Forums. Once you've registered and logged in, you're primed to talk football, among other topics, with the sharpest and most experienced fantasy players on the internet.

Taking a Job While in the Interview Process for Another Job (1 Viewer)

ClownCausedChaos2

ClownCausedChaos2

Footballguy
I work for IT Company A. We are contracted as the on-site, full-time IT shop for Customer 1.

Several months ago, it was announced that my company was selling itself to IT Company B. Customer 1 did not like this idea and has begun offering us positions at their company. I used this as an opportunity to begin looking for another job.

IT Company B (the new company) has not given us any direction as to our future. Customer 1 has made me a job offer. Meanwhile, I have had another company interested and had a phone interview.

The company that I had the phone imterview with is my #1 choice. Customer 1 would be my second choice, and IT Company B is my third choice. I feel like I need to take the offer with Customer 1, because I need to proceed as though nothing is guaranteed with the interviewing company (becausen obviously, it's not).

My question is: if I take the job with Customer 1, what is my obligation to the interviewing company? Should I reach out to their HR department to let them know that there has been a change to my resume? Or do I wait until the next interview and mention it at that time? Or do I do something else?

 
Last edited by a moderator:
How long will this interview process be? I wouldn't mention anything to intierviewing company unless you HAD to. They have multiple candidates, you can have multiple options.

 
avoiding injuries said:
How long will this interview process be? I wouldn't mention anything to intierviewing company unless you HAD to. They have multiple candidates, you can have multiple options.
Click to expand...
But due to timing, I may be forced to take the job with Company 1. I've heard the interviewing company can take weeks to months.

 
Months? Yikes. Will be tough to get around that, especially during background check.

I would still take job 1 and continue to interview. I don't know the answer as to what I would say to interviewing company, if anything.

I'm leaning towards keeping it to yourself, but could be persuaded otherwise.

 
I wouldn't worry about telling them, especially if your contact information (phone number specifically) isn't changing with your job move. If it comes up at some point just explain to them that your company got sold, you were essentially a contractor for company 1 and they hired you after your previous company got sold and you didn't want to confuse things during the interview process.

 
I think you disclose the situation to the interviewing company next time you talk to them. They should understand you needed to make an immediate choice because of the buyout. Just follow that up by saying that you remain interested in the position you interviewed for. If you don't expect to hear from them for months, I'd probably reach out to the HR contact with a brief explanation.

 
StrikeS2k said:
I wouldn't worry about telling them, especially if your contact information (phone number specifically) isn't changing with your job move. If it comes up at some point just explain to them that your company got sold, you were essentially a contractor for company 1 and they hired you after your previous company got sold and you didn't want to confuse things during the interview process.
Click to expand...
That's sort of where I'm leaning. My job, responsibilities...nothing will change. It will just be a change to who is paying me, essentially. If, during the interview, they ask me something specific to IT Company A, I would then perhaps mention what has transpired since the phone interview.

 
thecatch said:
I think you disclose the situation to the interviewing company next time you talk to them. They should understand you needed to make an immediate choice because of the buyout. Just follow that up by saying that you remain interested in the position you interviewed for. If you don't expect to hear from them for months, I'd probably reach out to the HR contact with a brief explanation.
Click to expand...
That makes a lot of sense, too. You can see where I'm torn.

 
Weird. Just had a similar issue working in the same industry, but no sale took place. I was actively looking and one of the companies moved so fast to make me an offer it messed up my ability to complete the process with others. I think they were my #1 choice anyway and I'm a bird in hand is worth 2 in the bush type of guy. I waited until the other companies contacted me for follow up interviews and I told them that I had accepted an offer somewhere else.

ETA:

I wouldn't accept the job with customer #1 and leave a month later for the job you "really" wanted. Not my style, but others have no problem doing that. You probably have time to make customer #1 wait before you make up your mind.

 
Last edited by a moderator:
ClownCausedChaos2 said:
thecatch said:
I think you disclose the situation to the interviewing company next time you talk to them. They should understand you needed to make an immediate choice because of the buyout. Just follow that up by saying that you remain interested in the position you interviewed for. If you don't expect to hear from them for months, I'd probably reach out to the HR contact with a brief explanation.
Click to expand...
That makes a lot of sense, too. You can see where I'm torn.
Click to expand...
It's definitely a tough call because you don't how they'll react if you tell them up front (do they terminate the process wondering what the heck is going on) or if you don't tell them and only tell them if it comes up at some point (why wasn't this guy straight with us?). I can see both sides. Posting here hopefully at least gives you other opinions and possibly angles you hadn't thought of. But, regardless, It's a tough call. Good Luck.

 
SacramentoBob said:
Weird. Just had a similar issue working in the same industry, but no sale took place. I was actively looking and one of the companies moved so fast to make me an offer it messed up my ability to complete the process with others. I think they were my #1 choice anyway and I'm a bird in hand is worth 2 in the bush type of guy. I waited until the other companies contacted me for follow up interviews and I told them that I had accepted an offer somewhere else.

ETA:

I wouldn't accept the job with customer #1 and leave a month later for the job you "really" wanted. Not my style, but others have no problem doing that. You probably have time to make customer #1 wait before you make up your mind.
Click to expand...
There's no guarantee that I'll get the job that I want, though. And I could miss the window for the customer job if I wait, thus being stuck with my third choice and an uncertain future.

 
StrikeS2k said:
ClownCausedChaos2 said:
thecatch said:
I think you disclose the situation to the interviewing company next time you talk to them. They should understand you needed to make an immediate choice because of the buyout. Just follow that up by saying that you remain interested in the position you interviewed for. If you don't expect to hear from them for months, I'd probably reach out to the HR contact with a brief explanation.
Click to expand...
That makes a lot of sense, too. You can see where I'm torn.
Click to expand...
It's definitely a tough call because you don't how they'll react if you tell them up front (do they terminate the process wondering what the heck is going on) or if you don't tell them and only tell them if it comes up at some point (why wasn't this guy straight with us?). I can see both sides. Posting here hopefully at least gives you other opinions and possibly angles you hadn't thought of. But, regardless, It's a tough call. Good Luck.
Click to expand...
Thank you. And yeah, that's what I'm hoping for: Opinions or maybe someone who works in HR that might give me their take.

 
Do you know if the other job will have better salary, benefits, etc? You really don't owe the new company anything given that you were a contractor before. They don't have a ton invested in you in the form of training, on boarding etc. At the end of the day they could have just as easily told the new company to go pound sand and you would have been out, so don't think that you need to be loyal to them.

 
ClownCausedChaos2 said:
SacramentoBob said:
Weird. Just had a similar issue working in the same industry, but no sale took place. I was actively looking and one of the companies moved so fast to make me an offer it messed up my ability to complete the process with others. I think they were my #1 choice anyway and I'm a bird in hand is worth 2 in the bush type of guy. I waited until the other companies contacted me for follow up interviews and I told them that I had accepted an offer somewhere else.

ETA:

I wouldn't accept the job with customer #1 and leave a month later for the job you "really" wanted. Not my style, but others have no problem doing that. You probably have time to make customer #1 wait before you make up your mind.
Click to expand...
There's no guarantee that I'll get the job that I want, though. And I could miss the window for the customer job if I wait, thus being stuck with my third choice and an uncertain future.
Click to expand...
Yeah, it's been my experience that waiting can leave you with no job offers instead of multiple. A company that takes months to go through the hiring process is probably on the large side and they have lots of hoops to jump through to complete the process. Being stuck with company B isn't so terrible because you don't feel bad about leaving after 1-2 months. But it's a judgment call. If working for company B for 2-3 months while you go through the process isn't so bad, then give it a shot. If company B is a dumpster fire, you have to go with customer 1.

 
Had a client who was in the same position... There is no correct answer here, unfortunately you should do what is best for you, which could mean burning a bridge.

You accept the job if it is your number 2 choice, and if you get hired by your number 1, you then leave.

If you tell your number 1 you have recently accepted a new offer, you'll move way down on their list.

 
Last edited by a moderator:
SacramentoBob said:
ClownCausedChaos2 said:
SacramentoBob said:
Weird. Just had a similar issue working in the same industry, but no sale took place. I was actively looking and one of the companies moved so fast to make me an offer it messed up my ability to complete the process with others. I think they were my #1 choice anyway and I'm a bird in hand is worth 2 in the bush type of guy. I waited until the other companies contacted me for follow up interviews and I told them that I had accepted an offer somewhere else.

ETA:

I wouldn't accept the job with customer #1 and leave a month later for the job you "really" wanted. Not my style, but others have no problem doing that. You probably have time to make customer #1 wait before you make up your mind.
Click to expand...
There's no guarantee that I'll get the job that I want, though. And I could miss the window for the customer job if I wait, thus being stuck with my third choice and an uncertain future.
Click to expand...
Yeah, it's been my experience that waiting can leave you with no job offers instead of multiple. A company that takes months to go through the hiring process is probably on the large side and they have lots of hoops to jump through to complete the process. Being stuck with company B isn't so terrible because you don't feel bad about leaving after 1-2 months. But it's a judgment call. If working for company B for 2-3 months while you go through the process isn't so bad, then give it a shot. If company B is a dumpster fire, you have to go with customer 1.
Click to expand...
This is pretty much my understanding.

 
fantasycurse42 said:
Had a client who was in the same position... There is no correct answer here, unfortunately you should do what is best for you, which could mean burning a bridge.

You accept the job if it is your number 2 choice, and if you get hired by your number 1, you then leave.

If you tell your number 1 you have recently accepted a new offer, you'll move way down on their list.
Click to expand...
I don't have an obligation to them to them to provide them with an updated work history?

 
ClownCausedChaos2 said:
fantasycurse42 said:
Had a client who was in the same position... There is no correct answer here, unfortunately you should do what is best for you, which could mean burning a bridge.

You accept the job if it is your number 2 choice, and if you get hired by your number 1, you then leave.

If you tell your number 1 you have recently accepted a new offer, you'll move way down on their list.
Click to expand...
I don't have an obligation to them to them to provide them with an updated work history?
Click to expand...
Personally I'd leave it blank if it was only a month or so... That is me, others will prob agree and disagree.

 
sbonomo said:
Do you know if the other job will have better salary, benefits, etc? You really don't owe the new company anything given that you were a contractor before. They don't have a ton invested in you in the form of training, on boarding etc. At the end of the day they could have just as easily told the new company to go pound sand and you would have been out, so don't think that you need to be loyal to them.
Click to expand...
I agree with this. It sucks to join a company and then split after a few weeks, but they won't have that much invested in you. Your risk of burning that bridge isn't that much higher than if you rejected their offer.

You can try to sell them that you'd been working on the phone interview company for a long time before you knew about the company getting sold, yada, yada, yada

good luck!

 
fantasycurse42 said:
Had a client who was in the same position... There is no correct answer here, unfortunately you should do what is best for you, which could mean burning a bridge.

You accept the job if it is your number 2 choice, and if you get hired by your number 1, you then leave.

If you tell your number 1 you have recently accepted a new offer, you'll move way down on their list.
Click to expand...
I agree with this - this is the first post I noticed about potential burned bridges.If you leave the new employer after a few weeks/months, it will be awkward and uncomfortable and you have to consider how much of a burned bridge it will carry in your field. That is, how much of a close knit industry it is.

That aspect must be weighed against being up front with the company you prefer more. As fantasycurse said though, you can expect your chances of getting that job to diminish since they will likely pursue others unless you have a rare, valuable skill.

My overall view is that you have to do what is best for you even if it means burning a bridge. It's a highly competitive job market and just about any company would, on the other hand, whack you without feeling.

But that's just me, having been through the corporate wringer more than a few times. Others may disagree.

 
Last edited by a moderator:
My quick thoughts as a "big company"/non-bridge burner guy:

1. Tell your #1 choice that you have an offer from your #2 choice and that you need to give them your decision by X date (and I'd make that a few days/a week before you actually need to tell them). If they really like you, they will move faster. If they don't move faster, you know exactly where you stand with them.

2. Tell your #2 choice that you are deep in the interview process with #1 (but don't tell them who #1 is), and that you either need some time to let that play out more or $$$ to close the deal. Leverage is good, and you have it up until you accept an offer.

3. Once you accept a job with choice #2, you've got to disclose it to your first choice company otherwise when they do a background check, if they find it they may pull an offer AND if #2 finds out you had an offer, they might can you for interviewing so quickly after you got there (disloyalty, integrity, etc.). I've seen/heard a few stories at the companies I worked for where "lying"/failing to disclose on an application not only costs that job, but gets you blackballed from them "forever".

 
Simple answer is do what its best for ClownCausedChaos2 and remember that the company really doesn't give a #### about you even if they say they do, especially if they are a publicly traded company.

 
Here's my take. You aren't changing jobs. Your duties/responsibilities aren't changing. Only the company paying you is changing. Change in some form or another was being forced on you. You didn't control it. It seems immaterial to me. I would not mention it to Choice #1. And if you later take a job with Choice #1 then Customer #1 really shouldn't be that shocked because, again, you really didn't have much in the way of options at the time that the change went down.

 
You have zero responsibility to a company other than what you are paid to do.

I've seen too many people bend over backwards for an organization while that same organization would put them out of a job in a second if it would profit them.

Long story short, companies will not be loyal to you so as long as you aren't lying or not honoring agreements, do what is best for you.

 
lod01 said:
Simple answer is do what its best for ClownCausedChaos2 and remember that the company really doesn't give a #### about you even if they say they do, especially if they are a publicly traded company.
Click to expand...
This is the only answer.

 
ClownCausedChaos2 said:
SacramentoBob said:
Weird. Just had a similar issue working in the same industry, but no sale took place. I was actively looking and one of the companies moved so fast to make me an offer it messed up my ability to complete the process with others. I think they were my #1 choice anyway and I'm a bird in hand is worth 2 in the bush type of guy. I waited until the other companies contacted me for follow up interviews and I told them that I had accepted an offer somewhere else.

ETA:

I wouldn't accept the job with customer #1 and leave a month later for the job you "really" wanted. Not my style, but others have no problem doing that. You probably have time to make customer #1 wait before you make up your mind.
Click to expand...
There's no guarantee that I'll get the job that I want, though. And I could miss the window for the customer job if I wait, thus being stuck with my third choice and an uncertain future.The timing yo can do nothing about. I'd recomment to take job at customer one, and decide on the interview process later. Bring it up when it is relevant, not before. But bring it up if it becomes relevant, immediately.
Click to expand...
Take the job and go through with the interview. Bring up the new employer when it becomes relevant, immediately. Prepare to have probing questions asked about your ethical position.

 
Last edited by a moderator:
msommer said:
ClownCausedChaos2 said:
SacramentoBob said:
Weird. Just had a similar issue working in the same industry, but no sale took place. I was actively looking and one of the companies moved so fast to make me an offer it messed up my ability to complete the process with others. I think they were my #1 choice anyway and I'm a bird in hand is worth 2 in the bush type of guy. I waited until the other companies contacted me for follow up interviews and I told them that I had accepted an offer somewhere else.

ETA:

I wouldn't accept the job with customer #1 and leave a month later for the job you "really" wanted. Not my style, but others have no problem doing that. You probably have time to make customer #1 wait before you make up your mind.
Click to expand...
There's no guarantee that I'll get the job that I want, though. And I could miss the window for the customer job if I wait, thus being stuck with my third choice and an uncertain future.The timing yo can do nothing about. I'd recomment to take job at customer one, and decide on the interview process later. Bring it up when it is relevant, not before. But bring it up if it becomes relevant, immediately.
Click to expand...
Take the job and go through with the interview. Bring up the new employer when it becomes relevant, immediately. Prepare to have probing questions asked about your ethical position.
Click to expand...
I think this is the approach that I'm going to take.

My former boss at my present company left a few months ago, because he saw the writing on the wall. He now works for the company to which I am applying (he would not be my neW boss, nor part of my interviewing process).

I spoke to him last night, because he completely understands the situation. I proposed this course of action and his advice was to do just that.

So, I guess we'll see what happens.

 
I would take the new job and then make sure I never lie to the interviewing company. I would not go out of my way to contact them and tell them of the change. If they ask a question, I would truthfully answer.

 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Keerock
Work/Job/Career Decision
2
Replies
72
Views
2K
Keerock
Keerock
Anarchy99
Dealing with the public as part of your job
Replies
20
Views
755
massraider
massraider
V
Career Advice - New Job Choice and Exit Strategy
Replies
21
Views
1K
Hawks64
Hawks64

Users who are viewing this thread

Total: 2 (members: 0, guests: 2)
Top