How to be nice, but protect my future at the same time?

[believe <3]

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I'm currently looking at a variety of options for my gap year. I recently expressed interest in a medical assistantship job and they also want to talk to me about the position:

However, this job requires a 1-year commitment to the physician and it was explicitly stated to not apply unless we can fulfill that requirement. Now, this job is amazing and I definitely want to pursue it! However, I have yet to apply to Americorps, IRTA and other unique fellowships which I will not hear back from until probably May. While the chance of getting these prestigious opportunities is small, I think I wouldn't be able to pass it up if I got accepted.

Unfortunately, I can't wait to say "Yes or no" to the medical assistant job until I find out about these other programs. In other words, they want to know now. I obviously don't want to say No, because what if I don't get a fellowship? Then, I'll be stuck with nothing to do during my gap year if this job is also gone.

Basically, I want to say "Yes" to the job, which will start sometime in June (during the gap year). In the small chance I actually do get the fellowship or a better, higher-paying opportunity, is it okay to step away from the medical assistant job? Will there be consequences? Do people do this?

I feel guilty just thinking about it 🙁

 

[ifnotnowwren]

Personal opinion, if you really want the MA job, take the MA job, but don't ditch it if you get another offer. If you would really prefer a different program, hold out for that. I am currently a medical scribe and the doctor I work for has had four different MAs over the past 6 months (one was a temp to replace one who quit unexpectedly...long story) and it has been very disruptive to the doctor, the patients, and the workflow of the office. I'm not sure if those are the consequences you were asking about but those are the ones I have seen firsthand.

 

[deleted480308]

Don't apply if you won't keep the terms of the deal, integrity is important

 

[dreamadream]

Try amigosinternational which is 4-8 weeks in a latin american country.

 

[haaaaaaaaaaveyoumetted]

Don't apply if you won't keep the terms of the deal, integrity is important

With your avatar, I pictured Ron saying this and it made it even better

 

[Goro]

It's extremely shortsighted to not take an opportunity because something better might come along. Your attitude is one like "I'm going to turn down Drexel because Harvard might accept me."

So take the job and don't look back.

I'm currently looking at a variety of options for my gap year. I recently expressed interest in a medical assistantship job and they also want to talk to me about the position:

However, this job requires a 1-year commitment to the physician and it was explicitly stated to not apply unless we can fulfill that requirement. Now, this job is amazing and I definitely want to pursue it! However, I have yet to apply to Americorps, IRTA and other unique fellowships which I will not hear back from until probably May. While the chance of getting these prestigious opportunities is small, I think I wouldn't be able to pass it up if I got accepted.

Unfortunately, I can't wait to say "Yes or no" to the medical assistant job until I find out about these other programs. In other words, they want to know now. I obviously don't want to say No, because what if I don't get a fellowship? Then, I'll be stuck with nothing to do during my gap year if this job is also gone.

Basically, I want to say "Yes" to the job, which will start sometime in June (during the gap year). In the small chance I actually do get the fellowship or a better, higher-paying opportunity, is it okay to step away from the medical assistant job? Will there be consequences? Do people do this?

I feel guilty just thinking about it 🙁

 

[CellPowerhouse]

However, I have yet to apply to Americorps, IRTA and other unique fellowships which I will not hear back from until probably May. While the chance of getting these prestigious opportunities is small, I think I wouldn't be able to pass it up if I got accepted.

I don't know about the others but for the IRTA, best start your application soon. Things happen quickly and post-bac positions get filled fast. I applied late December and by the time the end of January rolled in, most of the labs I was interested in had already hired a post-bac. I started helping my PI search for my replacement a month ago, and we already have a shortlist of people who submitted their apps/e-mailed my PI late last year. And you won't necessarily hear back in May - as I said things happen quickly. I interviewed for my current position in February and got hired a week later.

 

[ortnakas]

= a better, higher-paying opportunity, is it okay to step away from the medical assistant job? Will there be consequences? Do people do this?

I feel guilty just thinking about it 🙁

If you commit to a year of working there, then NO, it's not okay to "step away" if something better comes along.

Option A: take the job, be happy that you're employed in something medical-related (I concur with @Goro and vote for Option A)
Option B: decline the job, hope something better pans out
Option C: if it won't start until June, see if you can hold out on giving them an answer until May. This isn't super professional and I doubt they'd go for it so I'm not really recommending it, but it would be better than accepting the position and then quitting right away or before you even start.