I got a job offer today for a desktop support placement next year!

The problem is, I've got two other interviews - on the 7th and 9th of April. I told them this at the interview, and they have asked me to accept or decline the offer by 6th April.

Both the interviews are for jobs I would rather do, so whats the normal thing to do?

Everyone is telling me to accept it and then stitch them up if I get a better offer, but it just seems harsh and I would feel really guilty doing it. Is this really the done thing?

The worst case scenario would be declining this and then not getting an offer from the other interviews.

Accept it in principle and then stitch them up later.

Snap! (see random sh1t thread)

Congratulations to you and me both.

Nick, this is what I have always been told do...
Don't worry, they will have a second and probably a third person in mind to do the same job.

Harsh? Is it any harsher than them giving you the date before your first interview as a deadline to accept/decline their offer?
They think they have you over a barrel, if you want to bend over for them and pull your trousers down then fair enough, but I'd certainly not do that.
Just play them at their own game. They're likely to have a second and third candidate lined up anyway.
Do what's right for you.

Mark

Congratulations, and accept and decline at a later date, if you have a better offer.

Oh, just make sure you don't sign anything until your sure you want the job

Did they happen to mention the 6th only when you told them about the other interviews?

Say you will take it and the just take whats best for you. If you need to sign anything, read it through first so you know if you can get out.

Oh, and give me the ones you don't want .

Thanks for the replies everyone.

They asked at my interview if I had any other offers, and that's when I told them that I had two more interviews - on the 7th and 9th of April. They probably wrote it down and chose the 6th deliberately.

I'll do as everyone is telling me, but I will feel bad if I do pull out - even though it means I got a better job.

I assure you that the bad feeling will go away quite quickly once you start working in a job you prefer and get paid more money.

crazy peoples who apply to several jobs .... lol

Do you think you have a chance getting the other jobs?

Well it's hard to say.

The one that I really want is on the 7th, and I know that I am one of the finl twelve of just over 300 applicants. I hope I have a good chance.

The other, a lot of people from my course have also applied but have all been turned down after interview so who knows.

*shrug*

I must be batsh*t insane then, applied to ~ 100 jobs since new years

It is awkward, but I'd say you're in a strong position. I've had exactly the same situation, and I turned down the offer I'd accepted. They were rather pissed off, but that's their problem. "I've been made a better offer" is just a fact they have to live with.

Remember, even if you took the position you could still take up a better offer just a few days after you started the job. That would be even worse for them!

Congratulations on the offer, and good luck with the upcoming interviews.