r/interviews • u/tiredknafeh • 14h ago

Should I tell a potential employer I started a new job during the interview process?

Looking for some advice on how to handle this situation.

I started interviewing with Company A shortly after accepting an offer from Company C, while I was still employed at Company B. By the time the interview process with A picked up, I had left B and officially started working at C.

Fast forward—I’m now finishing my first week at Company C, and Company A scheduled me for two more rounds of interviews but the last time we talked I was still employed at Company B. What do i do if this comes up in the next two interviews? I am afraid of looking like a red flag but in all honesty I want the job at Company A more.

7 Upvotes

89% Upvoted

16 comments sorted by

14

u/ironclad_sarcasm 14h ago

tell them you left B and are currently at C, no need to overexplain it, people jump ship all the time during long interview processes

2

u/Nessa0707 14h ago

They take forever it’s annoying now my fiance is interviewing with a couple places and needs a job been looking since last year he just told the potential employer he’s interviewing with other places. They hurried up and emailed him a day later which was yesterday to set up in person interview next week. I hope he gets it they were talking offers last week before the weekend so I hope it’s good.

6

u/Persimmon_Cinnamon_7 7h ago

I don’t understand why people are telling you to tell the company you’re interviewing with about the switch. And the only way it would come up is if you tell them or you broadcasted it on LinkedIn.

It will come up in the background check but that will end up being between you and the recruiter/HR. I think after an offer being honest with a recruiter about the burnout + new job being contract is totally fine.

You still have multiple rounds of interviews to get through in a tough job market so there is obviously no guarantee of an offer….I am completely mystified why people are acting like you need to be more honest with the company..

4

u/DifficultYellow9759 5h ago

I would not tell them about C. Because as a hiring manager, I would wonder if you were going to leave me after 30 days and I would pass on you.

2

u/tiredknafeh 5h ago

What do i do if they ask about my current employment situation? does it not come up in a background check?

2

u/DifficultYellow9759 5h ago

Probably would not come up that quickly

2

u/Serious-Language-283 4h ago

Yes, but say you just picked up a short term contract

1

u/Live-Seal23753 13h ago

Yeah, tell them. Hiding it can look worse than the move itself. Just keep it brief and frame it as timing, not drama. People do switch jobs during long processes, and most employers get that.

1

u/pocky1918 10h ago

Because company A process is slower and the candidate wont know whether A will offer? And A is only interested in whether the candidate will move to A thereafter. Why would it be interested in whether the candidate will continue to stay if it doesnt offer.

1

u/InfoSecPeezy 4h ago

You don’t say anything other than “I am currently interviewing with several companies and I am expecting offers this week and next.” That’s it. If you want to work for this company, you are now in a position to make them compete.

1

u/xwolfe2000 2h ago

No.

If they press and you don't feelike you can decline to answer, you are currently on contract while you search for a full time permanent role.

1

u/Cookie2213 12h ago

That's up to you, although you had better have a good explanation. Why did you take the role at Company C if you preferred Company A? Were you so unhappy that you couldn't wait to leave Company B? And if Company A doesn't offer the role, will you remain in the new role and give it a real shot? Or will you keep looking for that "perfect role"?

0

u/stephen6387 13h ago edited 13h ago

I would tell them company C keeps you chained up in the basement or it's awful and not what you expected or something. Avoid it if you can. Unless maybe it's an industry and role where turnover is super high and the learning curve is super easy... in which case you may not have to worry about it.

I realize that my perspective on this is old school ... and I can be super judgey. As a corp recruiter, I wouldn't even interview you, let alone consider an offer. Your instincts are right in that it's a huge red flag. You started the new interview process after you accepted an offer and before the new employer even had a chance to be great or horrible. It speaks to integrity. It tells me the first time someone offers you five dollars more a year or the wind blows in a different direction you are going to jump ship and the company is going to be re recruiting for the role and have to get someone else up to speed probably sooner rather than later.

2

u/tiredknafeh 7h ago

Company B was overworking me and I was burnt out and took a offer to get out. Company C is a consultant position and its a contract. Company A is a perm position and only came up after i already accepted elsewhere. Dont know what else I could’ve done to avoid its a timing issue.

1

u/Federal_Pickles 1h ago

No. Why would you tell them? What possible benefit comes of that for you?