So I had an interview on Tuesday for a job, and it went very well, and he said he’d call back today with their decison. I’d imagine he’s going to want to get started right quick on getting the hiring process started. It’s a good job and will pay more than I’ve ever made in my life.
But I may have made two errors that I now have to get around.
First is that I didn’t tell him that I’m a convicted felon. This is something that always comes up in the filling-out-paperwork-process, and from experience I’ve kind of made the decision that the way to handle it is to wait until they’ve made an offer and I am filling out the paperwork. It was a one-time event, non-violent, several years ago, and the only thing I’ve ever done; nonetheless, my gut and experience tells me that if I mention it in a first interview, I have no chance. If I wait until the offer has been made, they are unlikely to rescind.
But that is somewhat complicated by the real problem. I have another interview set up for another job that is better in pretty much every way (including paying 25% more than job A). That interview isn’t until Monday, and I don’t know what their make-a-decision timeframe is. (FWIW I would say my chances of getting there are under 50%) I should have been upfront with job A that I had an interview with job B coming up, but I wussed out.
Assuming A offers today, how should I handle this?
Well, I say, a bird in the hand and all that. If I were in your position, I’d accept job A (after, of course, telling them about the conviction). If the conviction makes them rescind the offer, then you have Interview B to fall back on. If you turn down A, in order to pursue B, then B falls through for whatever reason, you’re back to square one.
The only way I would feel differently is if the difference in pay was the difference between enough to live on and not enough to live on.
I don’t see that you’re under any obligation whatsoever to tell an interviewer about other interviews you have upcoming.
I guess this is the crux of the matter. Thanks for the input. I guess I’ve always felt I do have that obligation; but then I am prone to feel guilt for just about everything I do, so that’s why I’m looking for input.
FWIW, it might make a difference to explain that Job A is a new, sort-of-experimental magnet school that’s opening up in January. That’s part of why I’d feel especially bad about taking the job and then quitting a week later. (Job B is a trade school)
Well, I don’t think you should jerk them around. If you take the job, take it with the intention of keeping it, and not even going on the interview for job B. Just call job B and tell them you’ve accepted another position. If the experimental school fails (and I don’t think it will; magnet schools are becoming increasingly popular), then you can, head held high, seek other employment; and your experience at the magnet school will look great on your resume.
No one I’ve interviewed has ever told me about other interviews they have, and I think I would take it as pressure if they did. So you did the right thing. Afterwards it is acceptable to say you have other offers.
Job A should give you a few days to think it over, at least - and maybe more when you tell them your first issue. If they have made an offer when you interview for job B, it is okay to ask them to expedite their decision because you already have another offer. You might be more attractive to them that way, since someone else has already approved you.
I also think you did right in not telling them of your conviction up front. It might have biased their opinion of you.
If job A offers you the job, tell them you will consider and get back to them. At my company, people we offer jobs to usually take a few days to get back to us. This is standard.
If you do get offered job A, and things go well at the interview for job B, tell job B you have another offer on the table, so you would need to know what their decision is soon. If they really want you, that will encourage them to act fast.
Question: what would happen if you didn’t tell them about your convicition? How would they ever know about it? Do they do criminal background checks (perhaps they do since it’s a school)?
Lastly, I can’t help myself… I’m curious… sorry to be nosy, but what did you get convicted for? What the crime was may play a part in their decision too. Like, if it were drugs, they might not want you working at a school.
Really? This is surprising to me. I’d always thought that if I wanted to back out, that’s what the pre-offer time was for.
So it’s ok to wait for the offer, and then to ask for a couple of days?
Most employers nowadays ask for authorization to do a check, but my experience is that private companies that say they’re going to check really don’t, or if they do it’s only a state check, not national (I’ve lied several times and only been found out once).
I’m assuming however that a public school will do the full thing.
Sigh. Shoplifting; a dozen CDs, a felony because value over $150. It’s stupid and embarrasing, mostly because I put off my 17-year-old rebellious stage until I was 26, and that’s when this dates from. (I’m 34 now) When I explain it, most people understand; but it’s not good first-interview material.
I’d feel no guilt whatsoever about pursuing Job B providing you’ve not accepted an offer from Job A. Think about it this way – Job A is certainly interviewing other candidates for the same position, though they’re not likely to tell you about that.
The collective advice about competing offers is sound. Hopefully, you can massage the timeframes so that you find out from job B before you have to reply to job A.
As for the conviction, I wouldn’t feel bad about not broadcasting it. If you were asked directly or filled out some form or other and were less than truthful, that’s another thing altogether. I would only provide that information if it is specifically asked or required on a form. If it is asked by HR or on a formal work application, I would be honest and then immediately contact the hiring manager to explain the situation.
If you weren’t asked about previous felony convictions during the interview or application process for job A, then you’re not under any obligation to offer that information. However, if you had intentionally lied on the application for job A, then that’s another story. Even if you can away with it for a while, that’s a pretty dark cloud hanging over you. I once knew someone who worked for me who was always coming up with excuses why he couldn’t provide college transcripts or a diploma as proof that he finished college. After working for the company for 10 years, he confessed to me that he never finished college and that this lie on the job application haunted him for the last 10 years! I told him he should’ve told me long ago because it was NO BIG DEAL even though it was a company requirement.
As for job B, go to the interview if you haven’t already accepted job A. IMHO, it’s ok to go to the job B interview even if you had already accepted job A. However, if you then quit job A for B right away, just don’t expect to ever work at job A again. That may or may not be a big deal for you.
Absolutely. It’s always best to follow through with the entire process, including any offers. You want to get all the information you possibly can, and get as far as you can in the process. You have every right to ask for time to decide; in fact it’s always prudent to sleep on your decision in case there is a detail you haven’t thought about in the happy rush of getting an offer. It’s also helpful to have the offer in hand before asking questions that might seem picky or specific when you are still in the interview process.
I echo the idea above that having the offer in hand when going to see job B is helpful too. If you are fine with Job A, and they need an answer before your interview with B, contact B and say you have an offer but would really like to review the opportunity with them (rather than just cancelling–you will meet people and learn things you won’t otherwise learn and that may be helpful in the future). They may be able to move your interview up or have a conversation with you that will make things clearer as far as how things look there. They are under no obligation to hire you even if they lure you with a possibility at their place, so it is a gamble. But there’s no harm in feeling them out with offer A in hand, since you have nothing to lose.
You didn’t really explain that at all, and I do believe most people are trying to be helpful. You just said that wasn’t the real problem, when in fact, it could very well be your biggest problem, if you lied about it. If you didn’t, well great then, why bother mentioning it to us if it’s a sore subject?
I mentioned it because it can be a complicating factor with A; they may offer it and then rescind when they hear my horrific secret past. But on second thought, you’re right, I should have not mentioned it.
Sorry, I probably jumped the gun. I work in pre-employment background screenings and falsification is one of the major reasons for job offers to be rescinded. But if they didn’t ask you directly, I guess you have no problems.
Most interviewers will implicitly understand that their job isn’t your only interview. If you get an offer before your other interview, thank the firm, tell them you are considering the offer and the wonderful opportunity, and you will get back to them with a decision within 2-3 business days. If they are making an offer, they like you, and are very likely not to rescind for taking the time to make a decision.
Absolutely. In fact, it’s best to say “I’ll think about it” rather than “yes, thank you” to ANY offer that’s extended to you in life. If nothing else, you’re far more likely to get the offer raised that way.
Bear in mind that the company knows that game and does not want you playing their offer against some other company’s. So, when you say “I’ll have to wait a few days”, they’ll immediately say “this offer is good for X days”. Possibly even “this offer is good for 24 hours”.
