Why is it that a lot of employees need a decision right now?

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I've been looking for jobs since I've been out of work since covid, because my last job went out of business as a result, back when it started. I've been looking for jobs, but almost every time, an employer calls me, for an interview, at the interview, they need to know right then otherwise, they move onto the next person.

Some jobs right now, have a lot of disadvantages, such as working 60 hours a week, and so I am kind of hesitant, especially since a lot them available are minimum wage right now, and feel like I need to think about that. But they always want to know if I am in our out right on the day of the of the interview. And a lot of times they don't even want to interview, and need to know right when they call me, if I will take it without an interview.

Is this normal perhaps, and I just need to make decisions faster?

An immediate answer may imply that you are a decisive person who is eager to get to work and who may get things done in a timely manner.

As deferred answer may imply that you are an indecisive person who is reluctant to get to work and who may not get things done in a timely manner.

At least, those are the standards (along with many others) that I apply when interviewing potential employees.

Oh okay. It's just that in past experience, if I say yes to a job I don't know anything about much, without thinking, the jobs turned out to be really bad working experiences, and they were very different from what the employer had described. So I am weary because of past experiences saying yes right away. But maybe there is a way to be more sure of what the job entails if asked to start right away?

Do they ask if you have any questions before they ask when you can start?

An immediate answer may imply that one is rash and impulsive and doesn't think things through properly before acting.

A deferred answer may imply that one is someone who likes to think things through rather than rushing into action.

I'd like to think that prospective employers would consider that but I suspect the person who replies immediately may be considered to be more confident and therefore a better bet. A shame really, as employers may miss out on potential employees who are quietly conscientious and thorough but may just like a little time to think first.

Yeah they do.

And do you ask them what the job entails?

Yeah I do.

Then if you take a job knowing that you are not suited for it (or it is not suited for you), then the issue is not the request for an immediate decision, but the mis-match between you and the job.

Oh okay. It's just sometimes I feel I could use a day to think about it, but perhaps need to make decisions faster.

What you can do is consider what you know about the job ahead of time so that getting your questions answered during the interview is all you need to help you decide whether to take the job.

Have your questions prepared ahead of time so that you can ask them over the phone if they offer you the job over the phone without an interview.

You could ask for a day to think over the job offer, but there's a chance they won't wait and you'll lose the offer. To decide whether to ask for that, you'd have to gauge how badly the employer needs you, which is difficult to do if you know nothing about the other job applicants.

Is your skillset so specialized that the employer would gladly wait a day or two for you to make a decision, or is your skillset so generic that any employer would be just as happy to hire someone else instead?

If the former, then ask for the delay; if the latter, then either take the offer or turn it down.

It's your choice.

My own take is that the businesses are eager to begin to open up. They need employees and they need them now. There is a saying that "the early bird gets the worm". In this case it is a paradigm for covid.

If you have fears, I might suggest getting to know a little bit about the business before you apply. If possible you might have a talk with actual employees first. Ask them what they think about the job.

It’s because of CERB.

You stated they’re mostly low paying jobs, probably relatively unskilled and don’t require extensive formal educations or training.

Employers across Canada that are still operating Or ramping back up are having difficulty hiring people in many low paying industries from manufacturing to restaurants Because many people are like “Why tF would I wanna go work 40h/wk for similar pay that I get for staying home and collecting CERB until it runs out?”

So they’re not wasting their time or yours. They need to know if they can fill an entry level position or not - either you need a job and income and will come work for them, or you won’t and they’ll move on to the next name they have to contact.

In low paying jobs they’re used to high turnover and replacing people often, but right now they’re having an exceptionally difficult time hiring until CERB runs out and people need an income to be able to pay their bills. So in order to get enough pairs of hands to put to work they’ll just rapid fire call the names on their list and point blank ask “Do you want a job, yes or no?” until they fill their roster.

Because of CERB and the low wages they’re offering they’re likely getting WAY more “No’s,” than usual and probably have hiring managers spending their entire days phoning people asking if they want to work.

It’s an entirely different ball game for higher paying jobs that require education or specialized skills - since they’re not really competing with CERB in the same way. The higher level job and pay you’re aiming for the more traditional the interview process is going to be.

Also, once CERB ends there will be so many people seeking jobs that people may be under a lot of pressure to say Yes to any job they’re offered just to make sure they get one. The employment market is going to be very weird for a while.

Oh okay. Well usually why I need a couple of days to decide I feel is that there is often a huge con to the job, usually low pay, so then you are only working the job till you find something better, if you take it.

But maybe that's okay?

I understand fully what you mean.

Most of us on the spectrum are extremely loyal employees that don’t like to make commitments and then break them. We feel obligated to follow through and stick with an employer long term vs quit and leave them high and dry so we tend to feel very awkward/guilty about accepting a job offer we’re not sure if we want to keep.

That tends to be very good for employers and usually not so good for us. It leads to us passing up jobs we should have taken, worked, made a bit of money instead of being unemployed, and then moved on later when we found sounding better paying. As much as employers don’t like constantly hiring and training new employees because ya expensive, well, too bad. f**k them. We don’t owe hem anything. We earn every dollar they pay us via our labour and have no long term contractual obligation to stick around. Why should we stay and make their lives easy while they pay us so little we’re constantly on the lookout for a better paying job? If they wanted to retain us or any of their other employees they would pay us more money. But they don’t, so, take the job and then respectfully rescind the availability of your time from their schedule when you have a better gig to bounce to.

It’s business, not pleasure. You don’t have to worry about hurting their feelings. They’re not paying your bills, you are - and if their job no longer serves you and your lifestyle or goals and you have a better option, take it! This is your career, not a marriage. You’re expected to make moves to better yourself and your lot in life.

TLDR? It’s okay. Just do it like everyone else does.