Good Dilemma

[sal_amanda]

so i had an interview this morning at Baker Victory Services. about 15 minutes after i left, i was sitting in denny's trying to decide on breakfast or lunch when i got a call from jackie. BVS already called her for a reference and they said some nice stuff to her about me. had my cell phone off while in the club, but turned it on while on my way to my seminar this evening. had a voice mail. it was BVS offering me the position. how fricking fast was that?

so here are the elements to my dilemma. i have a similar position that i just interviewed for on friday that is quite a bit closer to my house. now, i know that in many cities, a half hour commute is a dream come true, but in buffalo, that's a bummer. so if that one gives me an offer, where do i stand on that?

also, i have an interview for a school social work position, my ultimate goal, on monday. they are doing interviews on monday and thursday of next week, so i won't have an answer from them any time real, real soon. unless i absolutely hate the place, it's probably my preference.

so what do i tell BVS? i know people take jobs and then bail when something better comes along, but i've never been one of those people. it's probably what i'll really end up doing. i'll probably say yes, and then figure it out if the school actually makes me an offer. as far as the commuting issue between the two agencies, i'm sorta leaning with BVS because the money ain't bad and there's an alternative school there so i can always work my way into a school that way for good experience for the future hopefully.

but if i say yes and then get the school job and then bail, does that make me a total jerk?

i'm seriously looking for opinions on this one.

Comments

[heywoodjabloski.livejournal.com]

bailing isn't good news... not in the real non-retail, non-food service world...
I actually have been offered a different position within my company
and
potentially
a position elsewhere, but I've been hesitant to speak with the elsewhere people, I'll probably have to during lunch tomorrow, just so that I'm not a jerk who doesn't call back...

[sal_amanda]

yeah, i don't like people that don't call back. although i'm sort of phone avoiding the BVS guy currently...

[heywoodjabloski.livejournal.com]

I try to live by the Golden Rule whenever possible...

[wigglett.livejournal.com]

no - with in my current situation im realizing that this industry just wants the best employees to themselves and they hardly ever care about your best interests (my 2 hour commute is a prime example) - so they hired you fast bc you are markatable and they dont want someone else to suck you up - they are banking on the fact that if you do get offered another position you wont leave out of "loyalty" - my suggestion is if you do get offered another job dont tell them why you are leaving, just tell them you dont feel their agency is what you are looking for - give them the probation period - besides after a small amount of time you dont need an in depth reason to leave anyway....

[sal_amanda]

i was hoping someone would say that. it's genuinely what i was thinking and wanted someone else to say it so i would feel like less of an ass.

[heywoodjabloski.livejournal.com]

sorry if I made you feel ass-y

[sal_amanda]

oh no, not at all. i'm already naturally feeling like an ass so i was wanting some validation.

[heywoodjabloski.livejournal.com]

validation can only really come from within...

[sal_amanda]

okay, yoda.

[schraderj.livejournal.com]

Some of my students are in the same positions, and so were some of the people we just hired full-time. Can you tell BVS that you cannot give them an answer until the end of next week because you have committed to other interviews and would like to give them a fair chance as well? And if so...you may want to call the place you interviewed on Friday and tell them that you have been given an offer by another agency, but it is not your first choice, and politely inquire as to when they may be making some offers so you know if you should stall. It's not slimy as long as it's the truth - you are being up front about your situation and also lets them know that if they aren't making decisions anytime soon, they've lost you as a candidate. And then you can tell the place you interview at next week the same thing. Of course, this is only if BVS is willing to wait on your answer a week.

But remember - your "ultimate goal" may not be all that - you may find a great group of people to work with at one of the non-ultimates. And really, it's the people you work with that make any job a dream or a nightmare, not the job itself.

[sal_amanda]

BVS is putting a lot of pressure on to get an answer immediately. i'll try to get some time, but i'm not sure i'll get much.

[schraderj.livejournal.com]

If you are not getting a good feeling from them and you can afford to wait, go for the Thanks But No Thanks.