Interviews - acceptance & refusal?

Kinetic^

Ok here's the story, I recently started a contract job which lasts up until christmas. So obviously looking to be prepared I've started looking for a new firm to do my training (accountancy) in the new year.

I emailed out alot of CVs the other night to a wide variety of firms. Whlie I've had replies back from the smaller firms, the larger firms are going to take longer in which to get around to interview stage & then the offer (if it gets to that stage).

Now here's the part at where I'm miffed - given my start date would be the new year, if I accepted a job for a smaller firm and then got offered a job in a larger firm (which I would take over the smaller one - size is everything people ), would it just be a case of hard luck for the smaller firm or what? I don't want to screw anyone over but it is a case of every man for himself.

eth0_

I wouldn't be too worried, especially if you're going through a recruitment agency - they would screw you over as quick.

Pablo

It depends if you sign a contract straight away with the smaller firm, if you do so, you are legally obliged to take it, or they could persue you in the courts if you don't. Once you start you could always give them your mandatory notice though.

You could always accept the offer verbally and not sign the contract while you are waiting. And try and stall them for as long as possible.

Mo-Mo

Pablo wrote:

It depends if you sign a contract straight away with the smaller firm, if you do so, you are legally obliged to take it, or they could persue you in the courts if you don't.

I don’t think this is true. I was under the impression that while employment contracts set out your duties and salary among other details that they can't hold you to a job. That you can essentially break one easily. Something to do with contracts not being able to oblige you to do a job???

If I accepted a job and then subsequent to starting got a better offer, I'd take the better offer. However, bear in mind that this is a small country and you may get a bad name for yourself. It's not inconceivable that you could shaft the first employer and that they might know your next employer. Ok, it might be a bit of a coincidence if it even came up in conversation but stranger things happen.

Either that or you may need them for employment or for business at some point of the future.

Depends on the industry really, but worth bearing in mind.

Motley Crue

Mo-Mo wrote:

However, bear in mind that this is a small country and you may get a bad name for yourself. It's not inconceivable that you could shaft the first employer and that they might know your next employer.

Very true, I was almost positive the same thing would happen to me if I left my current job without giving them proper notice, thankfully I should be ok now

Kinetic^

Thanks for the advice.

Pablo

Mo-Mo wrote:

I don’t think this is true. I was under the impression that while employment contracts set out your duties and salary among other details that they can't hold you to a job. That you can essentially break one easily. Something to do with contracts not being able to oblige you to do a job???

It would be called , breach of contract, the contract states that you will work for a company (under certain terms) and that they will pay you.

Some contracts I've seen (including mine) state that the contract isn't valid until the first day of employment, i.e. you have to turn up on the first day, and work for the contract to be initiated.

spanner_head

I'm finding myself in a situation like this - accepted and signed for 2 jobs.

What is the worst that can happen to me when I resign from one of the positions before starting?

mountainyman

Pablo wrote:

It would be called , breach of contract, the contract states that you will work for a company (under certain terms) and that they will pay you.

Some contracts I've seen (including mine) state that the contract isn't valid until the first day of employment, i.e. you have to turn up on the first day, and work for the contract to be initiated.

WRONG Employment contracts are all one way.


MM

mountainyman

spanner_head wrote:

I'm finding myself in a situation like this - accepted and signed for 2 jobs.

What is the worst that can happen to me when I resign from one of the positions before starting?

Nothing

Kinetic^

Thanks for the advice people. I've only started having 2nd interviews with companies this week so fingers crossed that an offer/offers come in.

Millionaire

You are better off stalling a job offer (if you think you have another one coming in), but he straight about it. Tell them you really like their company but you have another option coming in, and its only fair you consider all options. 90% of firms should be ok with that, although you will get the few narky types who will get akward.

If you have signed contract for 2 different jobs but not started yet, then your going to have to be honest with the looser and be fair.

If you have started a job and leave for a better one within a short space of time, it can be very akward. You probablty will burn a bridge.

Its very bad to agree to start a job, and not show up on start date without informing the company....blacklist for that.

If you are heart and soul on a big firm, why not go for another short contract in Jan, while you make it your own career project to get your details in front of all the bigger firms and try and arrange interview etc... take your time, until you get the right opportunity.

All in all be honest and straight up with everyone all through the process. Dublin is a very small place, and if you stand people up word will get around.

Good luck on your interviews!

the_syco

Millionaire wrote:

If you have signed contract for 2 different jobs but not started yet, then your going to have to be honest with the looser and be fair.

Agreed. Even a few weeks notice. If they give you grief about it, just say that you thought it'd be better to give them notice, rather than just not turn up, in which case they'd be f**ked. At least with a few weeks, they can get back to whomever came 2nd in the interview process.

As for burning a bridge, I've worked with the same people in 2 different jobs, two different secotrs, with both times they were senior to me. Dublin can be small, if the sector your going for is small. If you burn someone, I'd say they'd be within their rights for not hiring you again (in fear of you just leaving again).

Kinetic^

Millionaire wrote:

If you are heart and soul on a big firm

I'm not at all, I've actually found a couple of smaller firms very appealing. I've checked around and one of them is good to work for so I'm hoping that my 2nd interview was good enough to get an offer from them. He said he'll check my references and come back to me which is a good thing. I'm not willing to take the first one that offers me something but on the other hand I'm looking to have it sorted asap as it's eating into possible paid overtime in my current role.

Kinetic^

Got a job

Kinetic^

Ah fudge!!!!!!

Just got an offer in from a slightly bigger firm and am all confust

They're offering me more money, more study leave and a pemanent job straight away (the other offer I got was to work a 4 week trial and see how it goes.)

Now, here's the where I'm kind of lost - I've been told that the original offer I got is a good place to work - no overtime, treated well etc etc. I'm waiting on a call from a friend who works in new offer firm to see what she thinks of the place. I really think that if I get the same report from the new off I'll go with that as it just seems better, but if it's not as good, I'm not sure what to do!! I'm just out of a place were I was treated badly and were everyone was a slave so job satisfaction is pretty high on my list.