I’m having a bit of a nervous fit over here, so I could really use the advice. The job offer was nothing special, not a dream job but also not a bullshit job, and I applied out of sheer force of habit. The job does not interest me I’m semi-qualified, as in I have a degree that by default over-qualifies me yet it is in a completely different field. The last mail they sent me a couple of minutes ago said something like “We’d deeply regret if you turned us down”, which is something I have never gotten after applying for a job.
The reason why I haven’t replied with a firm “No” is that I’m still looking for a job. However, my current situation is that I may get something that pays less than this “boring job”, but is morally much more acceptable for me, in a couple of months. It’s not a long shot, the training for this other job is just gonna happen in a month, so I don’t know until I passed the training.
So, question is, should I just show up to the interview for the job that I don’t care about or should I just say no again? I’m leaning towards the latter, but I wonder if I would get in trouble with my unemployment counselor for not accepting a job interview invite.
Edit: I should point out that the job offer is in the public sector. (Sorry for the vagueness, I’m trying not to doxx myself)
3rd option i haven’t seen you consider: instead of saying no, go into the interview with a salary in mind that would make you say “yes”. this solves the problem of your unemployment counselor as the company will probably balk at the value you have in mind… cuz you’re shooting for the moon here. but maybe they agree! now you just got a fat payday.
it’s actually a great opportunity your have here, getting to go into an interview from a position of power… you don’t need their job, but maybe they convince you!embrace that power! enjoy it, you’ve got absolutely nothing to lose!
I like the way you think, comrade.
Unfortunately, the job has a set, non-negotiable pay thanks to union efforts and state regulation. For any other job, I’d glady follow your advice in a heartbeat.
Are they hiring for any other roles? If they are really this interested in bringing you on board, maybe there is also another position that they would be willing to hire you for?
No, they’re not hiring for anything else, not publicly.
Now you have a new interview question :P
I don’t think this’ll work with this particular employer, but it will in the private sector, so I’ll keep it in mind. Thank you
You don’t have to take the job, even if you go to the interview. If you think you have to go to the interview to avoid problems that could cost you money you can’t afford to lose, then you should go to the interview, but make any further decisions after that.
You can also take the job and just quit for the other one.
Indeed. Almost all employers certainly aren’t owed loyalty, and are lucky if you give notice.
Thank you for your advice, comrade, I appreciate it
Go as far as you can in the process. The only time you are ever making an actual decision is if you sign your offer letter or not. Everything else is just shucking and jiving to be made eligible to make a decision.
You should still be looking for a job up until the moment you sign an offer letter, but you should also take every opportunity as far as it will go. Even getting a final interview probably gives you less than a 50% chance of an offer as there are likely multiple final candidates.
If you hate this job so much, keep looking and quit after you sign an offer letter with a different job. Or, leverage the offer against your current employer for a big raise or something.
You are not fucking anyone over, they would do the same to you in a heartbeat. You mentioned an unemployment office, do what you need to keep food on the table and a roof over your head. Shit can go sideways faster than you think.
Thank you so much, comrade, and you’re right, shit can go sideways fast. I’ll take your input under consideration.
sounds like you hold the advantage comrade.
I’d at least entertain it. You’ve gotten further along in their hiring process despite your best efforts which is more than a lot of folks can say who are currently looking.
Thank you, comrade, I will take that into consideration. Though to be perfectly honest, it doesn’t feel like I’m holding the advantage lol. In any event, I appreciate your reply
Can I impersonate you and take the job?
I’ll refer them to you immediately.
It’s possible that no one saw your edit.
A public sector job will either be a contractor or working directly for some agency.
If it’s a contractor then it’s whatever.
If it’s working directly then you need to think critically about taking it. Treat it with the seriousness and scrutiny you would a dream interview.
Especially if you’re young, public pension and retirement programs are very nice. They will have vestment periods that you have to stick around for but often those can be broken up in sections. Once you’re vested in a program, you’re in for the term of the program, usually life. The other benefit programs are also generally very good.
The health, dental and vision insurance is usually very good. The pto is generally also good.
If they introduce you to the other people in the department then pay attention to the ages, public sector work tends to favor promotion from inside if possible so you’re looking at how many guaranteed promotions you’ll be up for as people age out at the top and everyone moves up to fill and a new you gets hired.
Once you’re in the public sector, especially inside your municipality, state or even department if it’s one of the big ones positions are often advertised internally first and internal applicants are usually given more serious consideration. So you can easily jump around once you’re in.
Yes, it’s not in your preferred field. Yes, the money isn’t great. Everything else tends to be great. Consider locking in and riding the flaming gravy train.
Yeah, I should’ve mentioned it sooner and not in an edit, but thank you for taking the time to read it regardless!
The pension system for the public sector in my country has been reduced immensely, among other things, so idk if the benefits are still the same as a decade back. That’s something I could ask during the interview tho. As for navigating the field once you’re in, I’ll keep it in mind.
I still don’t believe it’s worth the hassle, but we’ll see. They need a reply by Monday, so I’ll sleep on it some more and let them know then. Thank you again for your input, I appreciate it!
Oh shit, I assumed you were American. Idk about other nations public sector. The anglosphere is generally pretty good, and France and Germany are known good useless functionary havers but idk about anywhere else.
Germany, actually, and they barely have these lifetime positions anymore. I think the official reasoning was actually “cost cutting” but in so many fancy words lol
If you find the job morally unacceptable, is it a position you could use to gather information to help people?
It’s not morally unacceptable, just a boring paper pusher job. The other one would be helping people, albeit indirectly, which to me is morally better than just doing paper work.
Gotcha. Good luck either way!
Thank you so much
