Is it wrong to interview for a job you know you aren’t going to take?
So recently at work I’ve taken on some "higher duties", which has essentially meant taking on a second workload, with the downside being I don’t do either job to full capacity! I have been waiting for 2 new people to be hired so I can pass the work on and get back to my own work. However, after they advertised one of the positions for the THIRD time, I decided to apply. By this time I’d figured out what in the heck was going on after being thrown in the deep end and decided it would be a good career move (not to mention extra $$). Anyway, I’ve interviewed for it, and they have rung a referee, tested my occupational preference (one of those fancy/annoying HR 101 question quizes!) and told me I interviewed really well. They have told me essentially that I have got it, I’m just waiting for the official offer (and official $ figure!)
In the mean time however I also got called up to interview for a graduate program at another organisation, and I have to let them know by this Friday if I will come in for 3 hours next Friday for testing/interview etc. The problem is, do I go along with the second one knowing the other position is mine, all but officially? What if the job I already interviewed for didn’t work out? It’s highly unlikely, but I don’t want all my eggs in the one basket. There is no contest between the two positions if I were to get them both, I would get WAY more $$ if I stayed where I am than if I went across to the graduate program, which would be a pay cut as it stands already. Part of me wants to go through the process just to see if I could get the job, then I would turn it down! But I don’t want to waste their time, plus I would need half a day off work to go. And it’s on casual friday, so people at work would notice if I showed up in the more formal of my work outfits!
What do you think? Is it wrong to go through all that with practically no intention of taking of the job? Worst case scenario though is that the first new job doesn’t work out and I would want to leave that workplace anyways, so this could be a good back up plan!
