In my job search I came across a job that I’d normally be very interested in, but the only drawback is that its over an hour away from where I live. I have no desire to relocate at all, and it would take a seriously amazing job offer for me to even consider it. This job isn’t really something that I’d relocate for or be willing to commute an hour each way to.
But, there are several reasons I still would like to apply for this position. The main reason would be to gain interviewing experience (assuming I even got an interview).
I’d say that from what I know now about the job there’s about a 5% or less chance that I’d accept it if offered.
So, would I be being unfair to the employer if I applied for this position? Would I be wasting their time? I wouldn’t appreciate it if a potential employer “strung me along” interviewing me for a postion they had no intention of offering me, does that work both ways? Any advice?
Blunt I don’t think its wrong although it can seriously annoy an employer to the point where you might not want to interview with them for positions in the future.
I applied for my current job with no intention of actually accepting if they offered but after two interviews they made me an offer I couldn’t refuse. Sometimes it helps to not really want the job as it gives the employer an incentive to offer you a better package.
There’s absolutely nothing wrong with it. Honing your interview skills is a valid reason to do it, as well as being exposed to new companies with varying HR processes. Doing so also doesn’t require you to be dishonest; simply state in your initial interview (if it gets that far), that you have some legitimate concerns about the position but was interested enough in the job that you wanted to learn more. 100% the truth. Maybe that won’t get you past the first round, but it doesn’t give the false impression that you’re an eager beaver chomping at the bit, getting them invested in a candidate that’ll refuse them out-of-the-blue later.
Thanks for the replies. I did have the slight glimmer of a hope that I could make this position work so I applied for it. They called me this morning and said that the position I originally applied for was filled, but they set up an interview for a different position already. I though this was pretty amazing because I graduated about a month ago, have been sending in resumes since then, and before this I hadn’t even recieved a rejection letter, much less a positive response for any of them. Thanks again for the advice, I don’t know if I’d have applied for this position without it.
Not wanting the job gives you a distinct advantage in the interview - you will not be nervous and desperate. You will also find yourself interviewing them. Rather than “why should they give you the job?”, it will be “why should I want to work for you?” If you can tune into that feeling at a subsequent interview for a job you really do want, you will come over much better.
Is this unethical? A little, but only a tiny amount: many employers interview people they have no intention of employing, so there’s a bit of reciprocation.
I went to a job interview last year for a job I knew I wouldn’t take. The company called me repeatedly, even after I told them I wasn’t really interested. Finally I went and talked to them. They asked how much $ it would take to change my mind, and I pulled a LARGE number out of the air (twice the going rate). They said “Fine!”
Then I backed out the door…they went under 2 months later.
just a thought here - what if you reverse the question and ask “is it wrong for an employer to interview someone they have no intention of hiring?”
I’ve gone for interviews where I didn’t really want the job, simply because you can never be 100% sure of how things will turn out. Something better might fall through, they might offer you a ridiculous sum of money, who knows. And it is always good to practice your interview skills. It helps you figure out if you are marketable.
Besides, it is better to practice your interview skills on a job that you don’t really want - that way if you screw up, you can learn from it without worrying about losing out on a good job.
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Well one reason you possibly shouldn’t is they might offer you the job and it will be so tempting you might take it.
It has happened to me three of four times. I absolutely did not want the job - I knew that going in. I was just doing it for a chance to get out of my office and get a paid break (it used to be that you could write off travel expenses when going to job interviews - may still be for all I know). I would go in telling them they couldn’t afford me, or that I was very happy in my current job and they would wow me with perks, great pay or a truly challenging position that wasn’t on the table before.
All except once I ended up taking the job. So, is it bad? Well, if you are happy where you are and you are not especially fond of moving, maybe.
If they’re advertising a job on the internet, it probably doesn’t exist. They’re just collecting resumes for market research, or to look busy. Certain organizations (I won’t mention a famous large polling group) keep advertising the same jobs for months and never fill them – so go ahead and apply.
It’s not something I would do if I ever intended to work for that outfit… if they DO offer you a job, and you turn it DOWN, that can complicate matters. This can be avoided by simply bringing up salary requirements towards the end of the interview, and then begging off, because “the max salary you’re offering isn’t enough to make the job profitable for me – I’d lose money by taking your job.”
It can give valuable experience, though, and considering the way some employers seem to treat employees and applicants, I personally wouldn’t have a problem with it.
That’s just not true. I found my current job on the internet. Virtually every job listing that I inquired about was a real existing position.
It’s true a lot of employment agencies list jobs that don’t exist. But employers are usually looking to fill a particular position, or they’re looking for people with particular skill sets, and if they find them they will hire them.
If you are 100% sure you would not take the job then, yes, it is immoral to interview. You are wasting the company’s time. It would be equally as immoral for the company to interview you if they had no intention of hiring you.
Ethilrist, just because some companies may do this does not make it right for you to do so. Two wrongs don’t make a right, as they say. As an employer, I will take a dim view of having my time wasted just because some other company may be less than ethical in its interviewing practices.
amarone, how is the OP, who is fresh out of school, supposed to get interview experience unless he interviews? IME, mock interviews only go so far, and one real interview can teach a lot more than a dozen mock interviews. Yes, he’s “wasting” your time, but he’s learning a lot about the world of work and what it takes to get a job.
Also, IME, some companies do list non-existent (or constantly “open”) positions for the sole purpose of gathering resumes. I’ve just terminated a relationship with an employment agency for this very thing. Seems they were too happy to use my resume to meet EEO requirements and never sent me as a serious candidate. I’m still unemployed.
The OP gets experience the same way I did - by interviewing for jobs I was genuinely interested in. OK, so I didn’t get the first few, but it worked out OK.
So you don’t like being used - good for you. As an employer, I do not like being used either.
I’m sorry - best of luck with the (genuine) interviewing.
