Laura asks :
Hi Lucy,
Just looking for some impartial advice. I went for an interview quite far away from home and I have been offered the job on a trial basis. When I got to the job (4 hours away from home) I realized that I didn't want to be so far away from my family. I don't want the job but my mum and sister think I should do the trial because it is paid. I just feel like I'm being dishonest. The job is great, it's what I want to do but it's just in the wrong place. Should I do the trial period when I have no intention of taking the job? I feel that I should just call and tell them I've changed my mind. I keep getting emails from the job and I'm putting off responding because I'm panicking so much about leading them on when they are going to be wasting money on me. Do you have any advice? Should I do the trial, or just call and let them know I don't want the job after all?? What should I do?
Hi Laura,
Agony Aunts on Female First
Perhaps doing the trial might help you decide- after it’s over you can make a more informed decision if it’s for you or not. If you don’t take the trial then you might always be wondering ‘what if’?
If the job is ‘great and what you want to do’ then perhaps it could lead to bigger things and in this climate to be offered a job even on a trial basis is an exciting prospect.
It might be far away from home, however could you travel back at weekends to see your family? If you are not replying to emails they send you then the offer might not be there for much longer; so it sounds like you might need to make the decision sooner rather than later.
If you call to let them know that you don’t want the job then you could go back to job hunting for the foreseeable future or looking for something voluntary to fill your time. You perhaps know what that side of things is like and maybe it’s time to take a risk on something new.
If you genuinely think that the distance is going to cause more hassle than good then perhaps call to tell them that the length of travel time is a barrier. If nothing else you can use the experience you have gained from this situation to help you in future interviews that are perhaps closer to home. Could it be that the thing holding you back is the fear of the unknown?
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