Immature dilemma (job related)

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
1

It’s not really a situation of life or death, but a young one like me could really use some advice/life experience insights.

After much searching/bitching/whining, I finally got two job interviews. One is from a fruit/vegetable store as a cashier and the other is at a food court restaurant (serving soup/salad/sandwiches). The fruit/vegetable place called first and so I went to their interview. I originally applied as a stocker, but the manager/owner seeing that I was female, overlooked my application and the fact that I’m really strong and assumed I wanted to be a cashier. I don’t have a problem with that because I’m desperate and will take anything that comes my way. The manager told me to memorize the type of fruits and vegetables they sell and go back tomorrow so they can test me. This gets me a little nerved up because… well, it’s a bit of pressure. I’m sure I can handle that though.

The other place, the soup/sandwich restaurant, there’s a franchise in the mall by my house and their stuff is absolutely delicious. The one I get an interview with isn’t the one at my mall, but a little out of the way. After the interview at the fruit/vegetable store, I’m beginning to think working at the restaurant will be the better choice for me. That is, if they will hire me. It’s all still interviews only, although I’m pretty sure the fruit/vegetable place is going to hire me (after all, they did ask me to memorize their stuff) while I haven’t even gone to the restaurant yet.

So, right now, I’m thinking if the restaurant hires me, I will go for it even though it’s a little out of the way. It’s not that much out of the way though, but I would have to take extra transportation (no car for me :frowning: ).

Now that I’ve gone into more detail than I should have, the small dilemma I’m having is the fact that the I’m seeing the fruit/vegetable place for the second time tomorrow and I’m pretty sure if I pass their test, they’ll want to train me right away. However, the restaurant interview is at 2, and if I had a choice between the both, I want the restaurant. How do I push off the fruit/vegetable place? I know I can’t start training right away, but how do I tell them I have another interview and will most likely work there if they hire me? I don’t want to break off any leads. I know I’ll probably say something along the lines of “I’m sorry I can’t start training today, I have another appointment I have to uphold.” But if they ask me “What about Tuesday? Can you start Tuesday?” What do I say? “We’ll see how it works out!”?!?! I’m pretty bad a pushing people off, so please give me some insights on this.

If they don’t ask me if I can start on Tuesday, I know I’ll have to ask for the phone number and call them and say “I’m sorry, but I’ll have to decline from your job opportunity.” Which will make me feel pretty rotten especially since they put me through two interviews. But main dilemma, how do I tell them I don’t know if I want to work for them in a tactful way?

2

Come on, someone help me please! All these great people out there, you know you want to help a poor young one out! pouts

3

The great people seem to be busy, so you’re stuck with me.

I think you have the right idea. Do the interview, plead a prior engagement, do the other interview, and if you need to, just tell them that you’ve found something else and you’re sorry.

I would be willing to bet that they have more interviewees than you have interviews.

4

Two key pieces of advice: a) lie. b) lead them both on.

Postpone the first interview. Tell them you’re sick and you have to put it off. Also tell them you’re very interested in the job. Try to postpone it a day.

Go to the second interview first. Tell them your dilemna, that you are close to an offer from the other company, but really prefer to work there. Ask them how soon they can make a decision,l and make it perfectly clear that you love the place and really want to work there.

If the second place makes you an offer that day, call the first place and tell them that though you liked everyone and the place and all, you’ve got another offer you’re going to accept. They’ll understand.

5

By the way, contrary to the post title, this isn’t an immature situation, and you’re not immature for being in this spot.

Just remember to keep them both wanting you to the best of your ability until you a) have an offer from the one you want, or b) are confident you won’t get an offer from the one you want. You’ll do great.

6

We had a guy start work with us at 9:00 a.m one Monday and by 10:30 he’d been offered another job he had interviewed for. He took the other job and left. He didn’t ask for an hour and half’s pay at least.

Good luck.

7

Oh boy. Thanks everyone for giving me advice this late (where I am anyway). So basically, I’ve worked out how it’s going to go in my head.

F/V guy: I would like to start you on your training today.

Me: I’m sorry, I don’t think I can start today. I have another appointment I have to uphold.

F/V guy: Can you start tomorrow then?

Me (still don’t know exactly, but I’m thinking): Yes. Can I have the store’s phone number incase I have to call for further details and questions?

And so if I get the restaurant job, I’ll call them Tuesday morning and tell them I’ve been offered a better deal. Ick. Seems short notice to me, now that I think about it. Maybe I should say “No” and tell them I’d rather start on Wednesday.

Or, situation #2,

F/V guy: When can you start?

Me: Wednesday. Can I have this store’s number incase I have to call for further details?

Sounds about right to everyone? How can something this easy be so complicated? :eek:

Thanks again, everyone for helping me out. It’s so… uuuuggghhh… nerve racking… :eek:

8

I must respectfully disagree with part of what some people are saying. The very advice I told my son this evening in preparing him for a job interview tomorrow: You don’t have to accept or decline a job the moment it is offered. It is okay, and even expected, that you say you will give them an answer in, say, 24 hours. It is even okay to say that the reason you want to take a few hours before deciding is because you still have some previously scheduled interviews to go through. But DON’T tell them you know for sure you’ll take the other job if it’s offered!

And I must especially respectfully disagree with the advice to try to postpone the interview. NEVER do that, IMHO, and as someone who has been on the other side of that interviewing desk a number of years, unless you HAVE to. Like has been said, it is extremely unlikely that you are the only finalist for the job, and the slightest thing that can even be remotely considered to be disinterest or unreliability on your part will knock you out of the running completely. Especially things that are already thorns in the side of most employers, such as absenteeism, car trouble, babysitter problems and the like.

Good luck with the interviews!

9

lorinada wrote

Yeah, you’re right. Take back that part I said.

Especially as the two jobs you’re applying for will especially value punctuality and reliability.

10

I have been in this situation many times before, and when I am offered a job I am not sure about yet, I just say “Thank you, can I get back to you tomorrow with my decision?” Employers know that people almost never search for only one job at a time. They are also aware that not everyone can start work the next day, or that you may have to clear other obligations before you can start.

I have never seen anyone get upset or even be suprised when I delayed accepting a position, just give them a short time frame so they are not left wondering about you. It is better than to lie and take the job, and then back out after being hired.

11

7 up yours, your dilemma is not at all unusual. #1, you should not count on being offered any job, #2, don’t worry about being rude for backing out of a committment for a job, it happens.

IMO, I agree that you should not delay your fruits/vegetables 2nd interview. You go there, do a great job, and see if they offer you anything. If they do, you say “I will call you tomorrow”. They will probably leave it at just that. If they’ve found the right person (you), they’re probably not going to quibble over a day or two.

Once you get the offer from the other place, you say the same thing. Take a moment at home to think about it, then decide, and call them.

The best thing to realize is that you really have no idea what’s going to happen, so you should stop projecting that you’re going to get an offer for one or the other–live in the moment. Go to the interview, do your best, and hopefully, you will have a choice.

Good luck!!

12

Heart On My Sleeve wrote

Ugh. I am so completely against a “Que Sera Sera” attitude.

In fact, the best thing in the world you can do is project success in your interviews. And everything else you do in life as well. You make a difference. You take actions that cause other things to happen. Don’t ever get to thinking you have no influence in this world, because you’ll bring it to fruition.

13

By all means, be honest with them that you have other interviews and will give them an answer in 24 hours. And then if you go to the second one and you do think it’ll be better, let them know that you have an outstanding offer so need to know right away if they’re seriously interested in hiring you.

This may sound manipulative, but I’ve found it’s often the only way you can get a prospective employer off his/her behind to actually make a decision. But you’re being completely honest with both of them, which is always the best way to start off a relationship, especially with a prospective employer.

Good luck, and do keep us posted on his it goes!!

14

Heh, thanks again everyone.

Here’s an update on what happened. I went to the fruits/vegetable place as scheduled, nervous as hell about the test they were going to give me and also about pushing them off. I passed their test, apparently, and the head cashier gave me a sheet that was a copy of the register and told me to be familiar with all the buttons. She told me if everything goes well tomorrow during my training, I’ll get to stay. If I’m an idiot that can’t do anything right, she maintains the right to tell me to buzz off. So basically, she told me to come to work without asking me whether I was available or not. Just “Come to work tomorrow wearing yada yada yada.” I didn’t push it off because for all I know, the interview I was doing later might not be a sure job offer.

So, later in the day, I go to my restaurant interview and in my opinion, it went VERY well. I can now say that the restaurant is where I would prefer to work. The system and the demands are less… extreme. The guy who interviewed me at this place seems friendlier and more compatible with myself than the fruit/vegetable interviewer. In the middle of the interview, the guy out and out said “I’m probably going to hire you.” It got me elated, but I do recognize the “probably” he threw in there. At the end of the interview, he asked me if I had time, I said “Of course” and he showed me their order sheet and explained to me all the stuff on there, gave it to me, and told me to be familiar with it. He also talked about how he was going to train me on Wednesday because that’s the less busy day of the week. While he said this, not once did he mention “If I decide to hire you.” Oh no, he said it in a matter of fact way “You’ll start training on Wednesday.”

So, am I reading into the restaurant job too much? I would seriously like to work at the restaurant over fruits/vegetable. The guy said he’d call me tonight for his decision. I’m waiting shakily/impatiently for a phone call. Even if he doesn’t hire me, I gather he’ll call me to tell me he’s chosen someone else. But until I get that call that determines my working fate, I’m all nerved up and jumps everytime the phone rings for my stupid brother.

15

Ring, ring…
Well?

16

I got the restaurant job!!!

And they said they’d give me free food!

throws confetti in the air

17

Well done.

18

Sorry I didn’t see this earlier. To repeat what others have said, there is nothing wrong with asking for 24 hours to make your decision. I did that with my current job, and I’d been unemployed for 7 months. If a potential employer won’t give you that 24 hours, that’s an indication that you’re probably better off not working there. I understand the situation – several years ago I was looking for work, and one employer was fitting me for a uniform before the end of the interview. I had another interview the following day, for a different job, but I’ll spare you the story.

Second, something about the fruit store raised a red flag. You said

I’d take this as an indication that this isn’t that great a fit for you. Face it, the owner overlooked what you are and tried to fit you into what he thought you should be. This doesn’t sound like one who’s going to be even reasonably accomodating.

I’ll second those who said your dilemma is not immature. It’s something you’ll probably run into throughout your life, and you did just fine. Also, I’ve been working for over 20 years, and I still go on tenterhooks when I’m waiting to hear about a job.

Good luck and congratulations!
CJ