Job dilemma

[Selina1990]

Hello

I am looking for some advice re my situation. I have been fortunate enough to secure a TC but due to covid this has been delayed until 2022.

I have therefore been searching for paralegal positions to fill the time, gain experience within a legal environment, and of course for financial reasons. A whole year without a job was just not an option I could afford.

After many applications I finally landed an interview with a firm specialising in an area I want to qualify in. I went through the interview process and did not mention I have already secured a TC.

However, it became apparent that they assume my intention is to secure a TC with them. I did not mention my secured TC as I didn’t believe I was obliged to do so because in my mind, I was simply applying for a paralegal post like others who do so when they have already secured TC’s ahead of time. The advert did not mention a future TC either.

I was asked about my future plans and my answer was something along the lines of I want to gain the experience for now within a legal environment and especially the field they specialise in, and hope eventually to qualify as a solicitor.

I have now been offered the paralegal job but cannot help thinking if what I am doing by accepting the position is somehow wrong. They are not a big firm and in making the offer (and justifying the very low starting pay!) mentioned they take on staff with a view to investing in their training to eventually qualify with them.

There is obviously no guarantee of them offering me a TC and no guarantees that I will enjoy working there. There are also others ahead of me already within the firm who will most likely be ‘next’ to be considered for a TC anyway.

I need the job but I have felt uneasy about the situation. Friends have advised this happens and I need not worry so much especially as I did not mention that I wanted to secure a TC with them. That if they have falsely assumed it because I guess for most LPC grads that’s the next logical step, it’s not down to me.

Should I tell them or does it really not matter and am I overthinking this?

Please help.

 

[Jessica Booker]

Hello

I am looking for some advice re my situation. I have been fortunate enough to secure a TC but due to covid this has been delayed until 2022.

I have therefore been searching for paralegal positions to fill the time, gain experience within a legal environment, and of course for financial reasons. A whole year without a job was just not an option I could afford.

After many applications I finally landed an interview with a firm specialising in an area I want to qualify in. I went through the interview process and did not mention I have already secured a TC.

However, it became apparent that they assume my intention is to secure a TC with them. I did not mention my secured TC as I didn’t believe I was obliged to do so because in my mind, I was simply applying for a paralegal post like others who do so when they have already secured TC’s ahead of time. The advert did not mention a future TC either.

I was asked about my future plans and my answer was something along the lines of I want to gain the experience for now within a legal environment and especially the field they specialise in, and hope eventually to qualify as a solicitor.

I have now been offered the paralegal job but cannot help thinking if what I am doing by accepting the position is somehow wrong. They are not a big firm and in making the offer (and justifying the very low starting pay!) mentioned they take on staff with a view to investing in their training to eventually qualify with them.

There is obviously no guarantee of them offering me a TC and no guarantees that I will enjoy working there. There are also others ahead of me already within the firm who will most likely be ‘next’ to be considered for a TC anyway.

I need the job but I have felt uneasy about the situation. Friends have advised this happens and I need not worry so much especially as I did not mention that I wanted to secure a TC with them. That if they have falsely assumed it because I guess for most LPC grads that’s the next logical step, it’s not down to me.

Should I tell them or does it really not matter and am I overthinking this?

Please help.

I am assuming you have done the LPC, and that you won’t be starting that in September?

If so, at this point in time there is no point raising it. People start jobs all the time with no intention of them staying long term, whether they have commitments in the years ahead, know they are aiming for a different type of job or are aiming for a higher level of pay.

You’ll just have to bluff your way through the next 14 months or so by being non committal to them. When asked, you may want to explain you are applying for TCs this upcoming cycle, so that when you tell them you do have a TC it doesn’t come as something you lied about pre-job.

 

[Selina1990]

Thank you Jessica

I have completed my LPC and start my TC early next year. My intention was never to mislead. I wanted to build some experience for the next 6-8 months because it’s been a very long time since I’ve been at work as I am returning following a period of raising a family and can no longer afford to be at home.

They will review my position after a few months of starting the job and I wonder if at that stage I mention it to them and if so, any advice on how to do so?

My issue is even if I say I applied for TC’s in the current cycle my fear is that it will be obvious I didn’t with this particular one because of the locality of the two firms. I do know it’s possible to go for an interview in the summer and start in the September but my TC firm in particular had a hold on applications last year due to covid and clearly state any applications this year will be considered for 2023.

These are just my thoughts and I know I have no obligation to this new firm but don’t want to come across as though I lied because I was never asked about a TC (if they had done I would have been honest!) I don’t knew why I feel like this.’y friends say like you do, it happens all the time.

S

 

[Jessica Booker]

Thank you Jessica

I have completed my LPC and start my TC early next year. My intention was never to mislead. I wanted to build some experience for the next 6-8 months because it’s been a very long time since I’ve been at work as I am returning following a period of raising a family and can no longer afford to be at home.

They will review my position after a few months of starting the job and I wonder if at that stage I mention it to them and if so, any advice on how to do so?

My issue is even if I say I applied for TC’s in the current cycle my fear is that it will be obvious I didn’t with this particular one because of the locality of the two firms. I do know it’s possible to go for an interview in the summer and start in the September but my TC firm in particular had a hold on applications last year due to covid and clearly state any applications this year will be considered for 2023.

These are just my thoughts and I know I have no obligation to this new firm but don’t want to come across as though I lied because I was never asked about a TC (if they had done I would have been honest!) I don’t knew why I feel like this.’y friends say like you do, it happens all the time.

They may not have asked you about your TC, but they did ask you about your future plans - there was some being economical with the truth with that answer to be fair.

If you are only expecting to be there for 6 months or so, there is little point even thinking about mentioning it until you need to hand in your resignation.

 

[Selina1990]

Thanks Jessica

In this situation (as a graduate recruiter) would you have therefore expected candidates to disclose their future TC during the application process for a paralegal role?

I assumed if I had disclosed it, I would not have been given the position. So how do graduates who are looking to fill that time between offer and commencement of a TC approach this?

 

[Jessica Booker]

Thanks Jessica

In this situation (as a graduate recruiter) would you have therefore expected candidates to disclose their future TC during the application process for a paralegal role?

I assumed if I had disclosed it, I would not have been given the position. So how do graduates who are looking to fill that time between offer and commencement of a TC approach this?

I wouldn’t have expected someone to disclose it unless they were asked.

It is true, you probably wouldn’t have been offered the position if they knew you could only commit to it for 6-8 months. The cost of recruiting and training you, means they won’t really get a return on investment and will have to start the process again in 5-7 months time, which isn’t ideal for them.

My general advice to people looking to fill gaps between starting a TC, is to only apply for interim (temp or contract) roles as then this doesn’t become an issue.