Interview right before starting new job

[Anonymous]

I’m a state employee and recently accepted a promotional opportunity off a civil service list and plan to start at a different agency soon. However I got offered an interview for another position at a different agency that is scheduled the day before I start my new job. Because of the way payroll and bureaucracy works I probably can’t push back my starting date at this point.

So when I’m at the interview do I pretend I still work at the job I just left? I’m officially on the payroll until that day.

How do I not burn a bridge if I start a new job and immediately quit?

Anything else to consider? I feel like the second job would be a better fit.

[Anonymous]

Tell them you are starting a new job the next day and you are attending the interview since you are really interested in them. Have an honest and good conversation so they will keep your resume on file for future consideration and hopefully the future is near future.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Tell them you are starting a new job the next day and you are attending the interview since you are really interested in them. Have an honest and good conversation so they will keep your resume on file for future consideration and hopefully the future is near future.

As a hiring manager, I’d be livid that someone wasted my time like this. I’d rather they didn’t tell me this, and I would treat them like any other candidate. The odds of me keeping them in mind for a future opening would be zero.

[Anonymous]

I wouldn’t be too honest. It won’t help and it can only hurt, you”ll end up distracting the conversation as you explain your situation.
The second company is assuming you are employed, they don’t need to know the details and it is actually none of their business.
If you do continue past the interview process, you’ll need to have two brains, so compartmentalize, but you can do it OP.
Give yourself the best shot, by not making it complicated for company number 2.