Say Yes To A Second Interview When You’re Saying NO To The Job Offer?
Have you ever gotten an invitation for a second interview after you’d already decided this was not the right job for you? How’d you handle it?
That’s the situation I’m in right now. After my job interview the other day I had made up my mind that this was not the place for me at this point in my career. Why? Well, I’d be taking about a 10 grand per year cut in pay to go to work for an organization that really needs some TLC. (That’s code for I’d need to put in a lot of blood, sweat and tears.) Don’t get me wrong, the opportunity sounds sexy and I’m just the kind of person they need – I’d totally nail it. It’s just that I’m not willing to invest that much of me for less money.
So, they’ve invited me back to meet with the physician leadership, and a bunch of other people. I agonized over this for a few days but in the end, I accepted the interview. Here’s why.
- I called the HR recruiter prior to accepting to tell her that, after the interviews I’m pretty sure that I’m not willing to accept the position for less money but they still want me to come back.
- I’ve worked in management long enough to know that if a physician leader really wants to hire a particular candidate, money won’t stop them.
- I need the experience. This is only the second organization that I’ve interviewed with for a leadership position and quite frankly, I need the practice.
- Even though this is probably not the right job for me, it may open doors to ones that are.
- This one is pretty darn selfish but after hearing how these physician leaders were described (micro-managers, yelling in meetings, etc…), I’m just dying to meet them to see if they’re really that bad.
So, what do you think? Am I doing the wrong thing by going to this interview even though I’m pretty sure I’m not taking the job, if offered?
Today will be my last post here at Interview Chatter. It’s been an awesome 4 months and I have certainly learned a lot while writing here. After today, you can still find me at my personal blogs la Matriarch and My Skinny Garden or at Prevention.com.
I’m wishing you all long, happy careers in your dream jobs. Farewell, friends.
I think this is fine to do because you told them candidly that you didn’t think you were interested due to the money. If you’re sure you wouldn’t take it even if they offered you more money, then I’d say not to waste their time, but it doesn’t sound like that’s the case.
Very interesting post! I wanted to respond to your questions about whether you should have said yes to the 2nd interview. My first response is “no”. If you know you don’t want the job, why waste their time and yours. Especially if you have communicated to them that you are not interested.
Going to the 2nd interview communicates some level of interest in the position even if you have said you are not, which makes you look unable to make a decision. Which clearly is not the case.
If you haven’t communicated to them that you are not interested in the position, than for practice with interviewing, ok, I can see that, but I will tell you sometimes, the jobs we don’t want can look mighty attractive when you look again. And if they want to pay you more money, the money is usually the draw. My only other thought for you Gina, is to determine what you are looking for in any job you may consider. From culture to pay, to climate, to responsibilities, to autonomy and anything else you can think of that is important to you. When you know what you want before going to an interview, you will not accept anything below your standard or desire and it will be easy to move away from potential opportunities that won’t meet your needs. Money or no money.
Darlene
I think you were right to accept if money is the main reason you aren’t planning to accept the position. You were upfront with them and now after the interview who knows what will happen. They may offer enough money, you may decide the job is a better opportunity than you had thought or you may not take the job. But you’ll be more sure of your decision I bet!