Change of Job - slight dilemma

[Slinky1989]

Hi Guys,

Due to an impending arrival of our second child, my wife and I will need to move closer to family (Swindon) from our current location (West Midlands). This means I will have to leave my current role as a Reliability Engineer in Wolverhampton and move on to pastures new.

Now, ideally, I'd like to live in or near the Swindon area so that we can be close by to our families for support and baby sitting services when required. This is where my dilemma lies.

I have a firm job offer with a company in the Avonmouth area, doing pretty much what I do now, for more pay and for some quite substantial benefits (good bonus, chartership sponsorship and training). However, in order to make the commute reasonable, I'd have to live 45 minutes away from Swindon, which whilst closer than our current location, isn't ideal. Also, I'm looking to get into the Aerospace and defence industries but this company manufactures plasterboard.

This brings me to the next part of my dilemma, the company in Avonmouth are pushing me for an answer on whether I accept their offer or not and want to move forward very quickly. However I've been offered an interview (scheduled for early next week) with a company that do reliability consulting in the defence industry and are based in Bath, which by train is an easy commute for me from Swindon. Only thing is that I don't have any offers from them and I am still waiting for more information about the role, but from how the recruiter has described it, it sounds right up my street.

So my question is, how do I politely tell the company that I have an offer from that I don't want to accept until I have all my cards on the table and have been for the interview with the other company? I fear there is a risk that I may come across badly if I stall too much and they may just withdraw the offer all together.

[jamesh764]

Accept the first offer, and then change your mind if you get offered the second job. Not the most ethical solution, but it's the easiest way of keeping your options open.

[bearman68]

Slinky1989 said:

Hi Guys,

Due to an impending arrival of our second child, my wife and I will need to move closer to family (Swindon) from our current location (West Midlands). This means I will have to leave my current role as a Reliability Engineer in Wolverhampton and move on to pastures new.

Now, ideally, I'd like to live in or near the Swindon area so that we can be close by to our families for support and baby sitting services when required. This is where my dilemma lies.

I have a firm job offer with a company in the Avonmouth area, doing pretty much what I do now, for more pay and for some quite substantial benefits (good bonus, chartership sponsorship and training). However, in order to make the commute reasonable, I'd have to live 45 minutes away from Swindon, which whilst closer than our current location, isn't ideal. Also, I'm looking to get into the Aerospace and defence industries but this company manufactures plasterboard.

This brings me to the next part of my dilemma, the company in Avonmouth are pushing me for an answer on whether I accept their offer or not and want to move forward very quickly. However I've been offered an interview (scheduled for early next week) with a company that do reliability consulting in the defence industry and are based in Bath, which by train is an easy commute for me from Swindon. Only thing is that I don't have any offers from them and I am still waiting for more information about the role, but from how the recruiter has described it, it sounds right up my street.

So my question is, how do I politely tell the company that I have an offer from that I don't want to accept until I have all my cards on the table and have been for the interview with the other company? I fear there is a risk that I may come across badly if I stall too much and they may just withdraw the offer all together.

I worked in the plasterboard factory in Avonmouth as a engineer. Not the most technical, but some decent people and I enjoyed it for a bit. I didn't want to work there full time, and they had difficulty with me working the hours I needed to get the job done (not many in most cases), so we parted company after a while. Not acrimonious though, they did offer me full time twice.
Anyway, the gas consumption meters are mine. (For good or bad).
Doesn't help your problem at all, but nice to offer some insight (if it's that)

[Ultuous]

jamesh764 said:

Accept the first offer, and then change your mind if you get offered the second job. Not the most ethical solution, but it's the easiest way of keeping your options open.

This... It's a big decision where have to put yourself first - dragging your heals on the first offer will only make the company suspicious as to your commitment.

[Matt_N]

BMT in Bath I presume?

Lots of Defence consultancies in Bristol too, Atkins, Fraser Nash, you also have Babcock Marine, BAE, Airbus, Rolls Royce and the MoD etc.

Have you looked into Honda seeing as they are in Swindon?

Edited by Matt_N on Tuesday 23 June 08:36

[Slinky1989]

bearman68 said:

I worked in the plasterboard factory in Avonmouth as a engineer. Not the most technical, but some decent people and I enjoyed it for a bit. I didn't want to work there full time, and they had difficulty with me working the hours I needed to get the job done (not many in most cases), so we parted company after a while. Not acrimonious though, they did offer me full time twice.
Anyway, the gas consumption meters are mine. (For good or bad).
Doesn't help your problem at all, but nice to offer some insight (if it's that)

That's the one, I've visited the plant and there are a lot of areas that I could make an improvement to so in that respect it's actually quite an exciting opportunity. The managers I spoke to seemed like they were good people and so I've no issue with the job itself, it's just the fact it's not in an ideal location and also they seem to be overly keen about me accepting their offer when normally job offer discussions can take weeks in some cases.

Ultuous said:

jamesh764 said:

Accept the first offer, and then change your mind if you get offered the second job. Not the most ethical solution, but it's the easiest way of keeping your options open.

This... It's a big decision where have to put yourself first - dragging your heals on the first offer will only make the company suspicious as to your commitment.

This would be the easiest way I suppose, I've got to call them back later to discuss the job more and so I either have the option of saying yes I accept, or explaining that I have another interview lined up and I don't want to make a decision until I've got all my cards on the table, especially as it affects my wife and child(ren soon!).

Matt_N said:

BMT in Bath I presume?

Lots of Defence consultancies in Bristol too, Atkins, Fraser Nash, you also have Babcock Marine, BAE, Airbus, Rolls Royce and the MoD etc.

Have you looked into Honda seeing as they are in Swindon?

Edited by Matt_N on Tuesday 23 June 08:36

Yes, BMT is the one - they seem like a good company to work for, and a good way to get my foot in the industry (my experience is just automotive at the moment) and since I know Bath quite well having worked there before, it seems a perfect fit.

I had a look at Honda but historically, they tend to employ heavily through agencies so that they can lay people off quickly when they need to. They don't have any manufacturing roles on their website at all at the moment either.

[neverearly]

jamesh764 said:

Accept the first offer, and then change your mind if you get offered the second job. Not the most ethical solution, but it's the easiest way of keeping your options open.

What happens if the OP signs the contract? Can he just say he's changed his mind?

[jamesh764]

Most contracts have a notice period of a week on both sides during the probation period, so he could give his week's notice as soon as he gets offered the other job. In practice they'd just tell him to go away and not make him work the week's notice.

I must admit that I did the same when I was younger - I accepted a job and then a better one came along so I took that instead. Obviously the first company were annoyed to say the least, but it's all part and parcel of recruiting unfortunately.

[jkh112]

Matt_N said:

BMT in Bath I presume?

Lots of Defence consultancies in Bristol too, Atkins, Fraser Nash, you also have Babcock Marine, BAE, Airbus, Rolls Royce and the MoD etc.

Have you looked into Honda seeing as they are in Swindon?

Edited by Matt_N on Tuesday 23 June 08:36

It is Frazer-Nash (with a Z).
Moving closer to Bristol would be good if you want to get into Aerospace or Defence.
pm sent.

[Slinky1989]

jkh112 said:

It is Frazer-Nash (with a Z).
Moving closer to Bristol would be good if you want to get into Aerospace or Defence.
pm sent.

Thanks for the PM, surprising what can come from a Pistonheads thread!

[TwistingMyMelon]

Loads of good places to live around (and dare I say on the edge of Swindon) if you decide its for you, I have a young family here and we relocated a few years ago

I have loads of family in the Dudley area, so am always there

[Slinky1989]

Slight update to this, advised the Avonmouth job that things were moving far too quickly for my liking, and I was honest and said I needed more time to make a decision so that I can have all my cards on the table.

Thank fully they understood and so I will let them know what happens.

As for BMT, I had a phone interview today which went well and it looks like I'll be processed through for a second interview!

Thanks all for your advice

Edited by Slinky1989 on Wednesday 24th June 18:35

[R2T2]

I also work in Avonmouth, in the dock estate itself.

If you have any queries, please feel free to send me a message.

[jjones]

neverearly said:

What happens if the OP signs the contract? Can he just say he's changed his mind?

I did this recently, when I signed the contract with Company A I had forgotten all about the conversation with the agent who had forwarded my CV to Company B.

Company B offered me an interview and I got offered the job. I let Company A know that I would not be joining them and apologised for any inconvenience.

No repercussions but not my usual way of conducting myself, but business is business.

[Cyberprog]

I wouldn't want to do a Swindon>Avonmouth commute every day. It's a real pain driving from Bristol to Swindon occasionally, and it's a long drag from Swindon to Chippenham. Add the M4/M5 round bristol (which I tackle on a daily basis from M5 N > M4 E) and it'll be way more than 45mins each day. Bath would be better for you.