# Soliciting Advice re: a Job Opportunity **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 20, 2023, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soliciting-advice-re-a-job-opportunity/987322 "2023-07-20T19:16:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![NinthAcolyte](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ninthacolyte/32/13676_2.png) [@NinthAcolyte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinthAcolyte)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2023, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soliciting-advice-re-a-job-opportunity/987322/1 "2023-07-20T19:16:25Z")
Hey, all. So. I have had two potential library job opportunities in the works. One, the one I would have much, much preferred, was a big long shot that I was chasing: Senior Librarian at a big central library in a major city. The other, I am being actively recruited for but I would enjoy substantially less. The Dean of Libraries at a university has been after me for a Librarian or potentially Assistant Director role. She asked me to keep her posted re: the first job (which she knew I was after.) Today I heard that I am not getting a second interview for the first job. My question is: Do I reach out and tell the Dean of Libraries? I want to be away from where I am now ASAP, so I feel like communicating that I am 100% interested now and not a potential waste of recruitment effort might speed things along. But I also feel like telling her I no longer have another possible option would weaken my bargaining position. Thoughts? Advice? ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2023, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soliciting-advice-re-a-job-opportunity/987322/2 "2023-07-20T19:26:21Z")
Given that she knew you were after the Senior Librarian job, your renewed interest in this job is a giant flashing red light that you no longer are in the running for the job you want, and there’s nothing you can do about it. Your bargaining position is still quite strong as you’re being actively recruited for a job you’re not in love with by someone who is literally waiting for you to express interest in it. She knows there are other jobs out there you would rather have, so it’s in her interest to make this job attractive to you. Your position is NOT “please hire me”, your position is “OK, Job A fell through, convince me that Job B is one I want to have.” ---
**Author:** ![NinthAcolyte](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ninthacolyte/32/13676_2.png) [@NinthAcolyte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinthAcolyte)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2023, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soliciting-advice-re-a-job-opportunity/987322/3 "2023-07-20T19:42:39Z")
So to be clear: your advice is to reach out and say something like “I’m no longer looking at (job 1) as a possibility, please tell me more about (job 2)”? ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2023, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soliciting-advice-re-a-job-opportunity/987322/4 "2023-07-20T19:56:05Z")
Pretty much. Regardless of how you approach this, she will know that Job 1 is no longer a possibility. Maybe others have more useful ideas than I do, though. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2023, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soliciting-advice-re-a-job-opportunity/987322/5 "2023-07-20T19:59:07Z")
Other than waiting for them to contact you, that’s your only realistic choice. ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2023, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soliciting-advice-re-a-job-opportunity/987322/6 "2023-07-21T00:08:13Z")
I would give her a call and ask how the position development is going for the assistant director position. ( i presume that’s your preferred title?) Is the job fully defined and funded now? If so, you’d be interested in hearing more. Your position isn’t strong because you had another possibility, it’s strong because you are currently employed. She has no way of knowing that you are in a rush to leave. ---
**Author:** ![NinthAcolyte](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ninthacolyte/32/13676_2.png) [@NinthAcolyte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinthAcolyte)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2023, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soliciting-advice-re-a-job-opportunity/987322/7 "2023-07-21T01:46:05Z")
That’s true, and that’s the tack I took. “I’d like to hear more about what you imagine the responsibilities for the position will be” - like, “does this sound like a job I want to do?” ---
**Author:** ![P-man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/p-man/32/3606_2.png) [@P-man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/P-man)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2023, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soliciting-advice-re-a-job-opportunity/987322/8 "2023-07-21T02:42:57Z")
Have you worked in a supervisory role before? I tried it fairly early in my career and swore I’d never do it again (I’ve had a thirty something year career as a librarian). If it’s what you want, I say go for it. If you were approached by the Dean of Libraries that’s a pretty good sign. ---
**Author:** ![NinthAcolyte](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ninthacolyte/32/13676_2.png) [@NinthAcolyte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinthAcolyte)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2023, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soliciting-advice-re-a-job-opportunity/987322/9 "2023-07-21T13:21:05Z")
Yes - many years ago I supervised a reasonably large team in private security. Then more recently I led a much smaller team of program development specialists at my old library. I would not say that supervision/management is what I _want_ to do, but I am intensely unhappy (and mentally unwell) where I am living/working now. Even if the job duties are not my favorite thing, the significant boost to financial security and the much nicer (to me) living environment should hopefully more than make up for it. I may be clowning, we’ll find out I guess.