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This hasn't happened yet but there is a very good chance of it happening soon and I'd like to get some advice in the likely event that I'm in this situation. I am an attorney who has worked at a couple of firms, and am currently unemployed/doing doc review. I have a couple of interviews with small/mid litigation firms that I believe I am a strong candidate for. However, my long-term career goal is to work in government, and I also have an interview for a state government position and am applying to a couple of other positions I believe I am competitive for.

So my question is: If I get hired onto one of these firms, and then 1-2 weeks later have an interview with the government, how do I address this? I am worried it will leave a bad impression on the interviewer when they find out that I just started a new job with a law firm and am already looking to bail, especially since I was at my most recent firm for less than a year as well. But I really do want to be in government and I can't turn down those opportunities, even if they do come at an awkward time.

I don't think I could lie, when the inevitable "where are you working now?" question comes up I would have to tell them. What is the best way to say "I just started working at XYZ firm, and although I like it so far, my long-term goal has always been to work at [agency]", without making me look bad for basically using this new firm? Has anybody been in a similar situation?
And just to be clear I would only be leaving the firm for public sector work, I wouldn't leave them for another private sector job.

Also what's the best way to leave the firm in this situation? Is there any way to do it without feeling like an asshole?

Unless you’re in some toxic environment that you need to escape, maybe you should consider staying put until that gov job you’re competitive for comes along. Jumping two times in one year will not look good to any interviewer, no matter how you spin it.

2013 wrote:Unless you’re in some toxic environment that you need to escape, maybe you should consider staying put until that gov job you’re competitive for comes along. Jumping two times in one year will not look good to any interviewer, no matter how you spin it.

Sorry, I should have been clearer. My prior firm let me go after less than a year and I am no longer there. I am currently doing doc review while I look for permanent employment, so I figure that a new firm would be better than nothing. But I would rather be in government long-term. I don't want to turn down an opportunity at a firm if I don't have anything else lined up, but at the same time these government positions do not open up very often so I have to take advantage when I see them.

I agree you'll want to take any full-time job that extends you an offer, and if you later also get an offer for the position you actually want, you should take it.

If your hypothetical situation were to come around, I would describe the first job you accepted as 'temporary,' and that you're looking for a position to develop your career goals. You didn't just start working for a firm that you like so far---you temporarily accepted a position to put food on the table while trying to get the job you are interviewing for.