Employment advice?

I always call companies I’ve given my resume or applied to a few days after submitting my application/resume to be sure they’ve received it and check on the status of the position. If I were you, I’d call them and ask them if the position was still open and make sure they have your application. Sometimes, by calling in and having them check that your application is there, it helps your name stick out in their mind when they start calling for interviews. You can also ask if they have a timeline in mind for filling the position.

Harsh reality:

It’s a cut throat world out there. Accept the “bird in the hand”. If it turns out the mental health clinic decides they are interested and offers you a job there is nothing preventing you from telling the folks at the small office thank you for the opportunity, but you received a better offer elsewhere.

OTOH, if you miss your current opportunity because somebody might be interested and it turns out the mental health clinic position never pans out, you will be left unemployed and wishing you had accepted the job you were offered.

@YoBob Yea, I was just thinking the same.
I called the clinic’s HR department and spoke with the woman who is reviewing the resumes. She says that she has a lot to look through and is hiring for four different positions, so it would be a while. She said that if I had other offers, I should take it because she couldn’t give me a timeline for when she would be calling prospective hires.

Take the office position if it’s available. If the clinic gets to where they make you a firm offer, you can always switch or turn it down. Plus it allows you to negotiate from a better position should the opportunity arise.

First, wait until the less desirable place makes you a firm job offer. Then, ask them for 48 hrs, to consider their offer.

Then, call the mental health clinic and ask if you are still under consideration, because you have had another job offer, but you would rather work for them. Tell them you have 24 hours to make your decision.

They should be able to give you an answer at that point.

Keep in mind the age-old economics advice about the relative values of birds in hand vs. those in the bush.

If I were you, I’d be taking the job that’s offered.

A guaranteed job is better than one that you haven’t gotten. I would take the job and if you happen to get an offer from the mental health clinic at a later date then you can always leave this one to go to the one you want. That way you don’t miss out on the opportunity your being given if the other didn’t work out.

Good luck!

Normally, I’d go with @marinelife‘s advice. However, in this economic environment, you don’t want to give anyone any reason not to hire you. If you’re offered the second choice job, take it. Don’t hesitate, or it may well go to someone else.