Keep Interviewing After Accepting Offer?

Irene writes:

I’ve been unemployed for a month and just accepted a “temp to perm” position this past Friday.

Here’s the catch: I’ve already received two more calls for much better positions (after accepting the temp job). One is through a family member, and I am sure to get that position. The other is also a good possibility. With a potential few interviews during my first week of the “temp to perm” job … how do I pull all of this off? The temp position is 99 percent likely to go perm with good attendance, etc, etc…and it’s an 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. position. Is there a way to schedule interviews around this? (especially when I have to dress up?)

The Career Doctor responds:

I have always advised my clients that job-hunting is often very streaky … one often goes long periods of nothing happening — and then it all seems to happen at once. And now you are faced with a number of decisions.

First, what is the ethical thing to do? Since you have accepted this new position and have already started working there, do you abandon it so quickly because other opportunities have arisen? My opinion is that there is certainly no harm in interviewing, but if you get offers from both new opportunities, that’s a different decision.

Second, what’s the best career opportunity for you? My advice is always to follow the opportunity that willgive you the greatest satisfaction or do the greatest good for your career — in the long-term. Which of the three jobs is best for you?

Third, how can you go on job interviews when you are working all day? You have a couple of options. You can ask for earlier — or later — than normal interview times (such as 7:30 or 5:30). Or, you can try and interview over your lunch break. Or, if those options fail, you can show up late or leave early (and change to interviewing clothes away from your current job).

And, finally, if you do interview and get a job offer from one or both places and you decide to take one of them, you would certainly not put the current job on your resume; it would just disappear as though it never existed (as you would do with any short-term stint).