Applying for jobs you have no intention of taking...

[Deleted]

Is this just rude?  What are the potential consequences? 

There are 2 open special ed slots and my local district and 4 at one about 40 minutes away. Also two positions with service organizations for teachers (adult/parent/literacy)... 

I haven't updated my resume or interviewed for a long time. I feel a bit like testing to see if YM is accurate in that I'd have a tough time jumping back into the workforce at my current level (not that I need to, I could easily accept an aide/etc. position if I needed to get something quickly)... 

Anyway, if majority opinion is right, i don't have to worry, i won't get an interview, let alone a job offer... I could just get some more current interview experience and perhaps assess where I might be lacking so that i could mitigate before I actually did want a job... 

BUT, what if I actually did get offered something? I'm guessing that, if i turn it down, it would hinder any real intentions i might have in a few years?  

If i found out someone was wasting my time, it might upset me a bit... So, is it rude? Or a good idea for an experiment?

Have you ever interviewed for a job you knew you wouldn't take?

[bookkeeper]

Yes I have, no it didn't bother me that I wasn't interested in the job. Until you go for the interview, how will you even know if it is something you would consider.  I work in accounting and have been to several interviews where people interviewing did not know much at all about what the accounting department did on a regular basis.

When you get past the interview stage, don't play games.  Just explain how you are not available at this time or how it is not what you are looking for. Make a good impression, be polite and keep moving. As long as you don't make a habit of fishing, I don't see how filling out a few applications could hurt.

[NomoreDramaQ1015]

I'm having another kid, so I'm not leaving here b/c then I wouldn't have FMLA protection, but that doesn't stop me from applying for things I am interested in.

I do seriously want to get out of academia at some point. It can take MONTHS before people get back to you so I may be done with needing FMLA by the time I am contacted. And who knows they might be willing to work with me if they want me bad enough.

By interviewing I get insight into the company and get the chance to make an impression on the people doing the hiring. Which should, hopefully, make things easier when I DO want to seek out another position.

If they were to offer the job to me tomorrow, I'd need to weigh all the facts and see if I could negociate my start date. If they can't meet my terms then I may have to turn them down. I'd tell them I appreciated the offer but at this time I feel it isn't wise to leave my current position.

As long as I am not doing it constantly I don't see that it's an issue. I don't NEED a job so I am not going to leave here unless I get a golden opportunity, but I can't know if I've found one unless I apply.

[The Captain]

As a direct response to your question, yes I think it's rude. 

If you have no intention of taking the job you are just wasting the other people's time in the interview process.  You've already decided their time doesn't really mean a damn to you and that message will be received loud and clear.  In addition, SHOULD the job be offered to you, chances are fairly good that you've messed up the chances of someone else getting it whom maybe actually wanted the job.

As far as consequences - it sounds like you may be in a specialized field.  Word gets around and if you're not serious the first time, why would you expect someone to take you seriously the next time.

I've seen this happen in my field, but it may be different in other areas.  YMMV.

[Tennesseer]

Apr 10, 2014 19:13:54 GMT -5 oped said:

Is this just rude?  What are the potential consequences? 

There are 2 open special ed slots and my local district and 4 about 40 minutes away. Also two positions with service organizations for teachers (adult/parent/literacy)... 

I haven't updated my resume or interviewed for a long time. I feel a bit like testing to see if YM is accurate in that I'd have a tough time jumping back into the workforce at my current level (not that I need to, I could easily accept an aide/etc. position if I needed to get something quickly)... 

Anyway, if majority opinion is right, i don't have to worry, i won't get an interview, let alone a job offer... I could just get some more current interview experience and perhaps assess where I might be lacking so that i could mitigate before I actually did want a job... 

BUT, what if I actually did get offered something? I'm guessing that, if i turn it down, it would hinder any real intentions i might have in a few years?  

If i found out someone was wasting my time, it might upset me a bit... So, is it rude? Or a good idea for an experiment?

Have you ever interviewed for a job you knew you wouldn't take?

If those special ed positions are within the same school districts and you apply, interview, and then turn down one or more offers, word would get out you really are not ìnterested at all and wasting everyone's time.  I would not apply/interview simply for apply/interview's sake.

[midjd]

Have you ever interviewed for a job you knew you wouldn't take?

I interviewed for a job that - by the end of the interview - I knew I'd never take. Even though my fellowship was almost up and it was a stable state job with benefits and would have qualified for PSLF - it was the most miserable environment I'd ever experienced. I felt like I needed a shower after the interview.

I agonized over it all weekend and that Monday sent the director an email thanking them for the interview but regretfully informing them I had to withdraw my name from consideration. I think I probably would have had the job otherwise.

If you interview and feel like you do well and may get an offer - a preemptive withdrawal might help you save face and should be less disruptive to everyone than turning down an actual offer.

[The Captain]

There is (IMHO) a difference between going into an interview knowing you will not take the job, and going into an interview to learn about the environment (which everyone should do).  As far as the environment goes, it needs to be a good fit for both sides.

[midwestlily]

I've thought about applying for jobs that are in my field but that I know I wouldn't move for.  It would motivate me to update my resume and see what sort of response I get.  If I get asked to interview, great, I can always say no at that point; if I don't get asked to interview, that tells me something too.  I don't think I'd actually do an interview.  Any job I'd apply for would probably be out of state, so even a phone interview would feel like a waste of everyone's time.  

However, my boss recently told me that my visiting position is definitely ending, they can't just roll me over for another year or two, which means that I'll have to go through the hiring process in order to keep my job.   Trying to look on the bright side -- this will force me to update my resume, which will make it easier to apply for other jobs elsewhere, if anything interesting pops up.

[midjd]

Apr 11, 2014 9:10:17 GMT -5 @tbird said:

Apr 11, 2014 8:37:12 GMT -5 midjd said:

I interviewed for a job that - by the end of the interview - I knew I'd never take. Even though my fellowship was almost up and it was a stable state job with benefits and would have qualified for PSLF - it was the most miserable environment I'd ever experienced. I felt like I needed a shower after the interview.

I agonized over it all weekend and that Monday sent the director an email thanking them for the interview but regretfully informing them I had to withdraw my name from consideration. I think I probably would have had the job otherwise.

If you interview and feel like you do well and may get an offer - a preemptive withdrawal might help you save face and should be less disruptive to everyone than turning down an actual offer.

Good lord! Can you explain? I can't imagine being miserable at the interview stage.

The building itself was pretty grim - no offices, just some grimy cubes (even for the senior-level attorneys). The lights were dim and flickery, the carpet was gross, and most of the chairs had broken parts. All the computer equipment was very outdated. 

The person interviewing me was nice and friendly, but during the interview she mentioned how their front desk person had a tendency to time everyone's restroom breaks, and that some of them would sneak out the back stairwell and go to the restroom on another floor to avoid her. I met with the two senior attorneys I'd be assisting, and was told that one of them was about to go out onto medical leave (right before tax season - for a tax-related position) so things were going to get pretty hectic and it would be a real "trial by fire" for the person they hired. 

I left and thought... man... I need a job, but I will kill myself there!

In a true twist of fate - 1) the day I sent my email withdrawing my name from submission, my boss came in and offered me a contract position. I'd done the interview on my lunch hour so they weren't aware I was seriously looking for another job. I was eventually hired at $15K more than the interview position would have paid (and I got an actual office with a window vs a cube); 2) The estate tax has since been repealed, so that entire department was eliminated in 2012. Something tells me all those employees breathed a sigh of relief 

[Deleted]

I'm not sure if I'm out to 'prove YM wrong'... but i do often wonder if they are right, or wrong. 

If they are right, then it would take me a few years to break back in anyway... wouldn't it just make sense to start looking now... even though i'm not looking to get back to work for a few years? 

But then, if they are wrong, i guess i'm screwing myself. 

I do think that there will be changes in the interview process, as the way in which PA designates highly qualified teachers has changed, we have a new testing system, there has been at least one IDEA update since i've been out. I try to keep up on all the changes, but there may be areas i'm lacking in that I need to update. Interviewing now would give me an opportunity to observe. 

[Deleted]

I once had a horrible interview... I did horribly. Just not on my A game at all. It was to teach evening classes at a local private institute for adults place... and when they offered me the job i turned it down because, frankly, any place that would hire me after that interview was not a place i wanted to work...

[zibazinski]

I think it's RUDE to ask for applicants for a job that you already have the person you want hired waiting in the wings but are forced to interview. It's so obvious that you are being forced to interview people and you don't like it. I've snarled at a few interviewers in my time for wasting MY time.

[NomoreDramaQ1015]

I've snarled at a few interviewers in my time for wasting MY time.

In their defense they may not have a choice. My former boss already knew who he wanted to replace me but Creighton said tough titties we require you to interview X amount of candidates anyhow.

He was not a happy camper and said the same thing you did, it's a giant waste of everyone's time. But he didn't get to make the rules.

[8 Bit WWBG]

...:::" It can take MONTHS before people get back to you so I may be done with needing FMLA by the time I am contacted. And who knows they might be willing to work with me if they want me bad enough.":::...

Very smart and very true.  I received a call back once 3 months after my initial interview, and I'd already taken another offer.  Its also valuable to interview to keep your skills up.  And it demonstrates interest in rising, which is usually a good thing.  When the dream job comes along, you don't want your interview skills to be rusty!

[Phoenix84]

I would encourage you not to apply for job(s) you don't plan on taking.  You are correct in that it is rude and it will impact your ability to find future jobs with those employers, and maybe other employers if the community is small enough and the employers talk.

I can understand the desire to "see if you can do it."  But I wouldn't give in to the temptation.

[Shooby]

If you are testing the waters and possibly open then yes. Nothing wrong with exploring. If u have NO intenti whatsoever then I would not.

[zibazinski]

Why not? If employers have no issue F ing with you, I have no issue with F ing with them.

[HoneyBBQ]

It's common in my field to get offered another job then to use that job offer letter (salary stated in the letter) to go to administrators and get one's self a raise.

[Deleted]

Yes, I did this (applied but with no real interest)  After the interview, I was offered the job.  I took it; it was the most successful move I EVER made.  Moved up the ladder quickly to a well-respected and lucrative position.

I thank God every day for the pension I receive.