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How do I manage a job offer and pending 2nd Interview with another company?

I'm in a bit of a confusing stage of my job search. I'm too exhausted by all this to write in paragraph form so I'll bullet. I would appreciate help from experienced job seekers and/or reasonable people with HR experience. - After about a year 1/2 I resigned my position with a current employer effective in a week. ( I gave 2 weeks notice) The atmosphere was just non-stop cut throat, back stabbing, micro-managing, unhealthy and the list goes on. - The day after I resigned I received a job offer. I was pretty sure that I would be receiving an offer from this company as the interview went extremely well. - I accepted the job offer, although I was a little put off by the salary negotiations. I had initially been given a range, but when the offer came the salary was no longer negotiable. It is higher then my current salary, but I was still a bit put off by this. I even wrote a very professional yet probing letter on the issue, but got the same response from the supervisor. - Yet still, a few days after I accepted the offer, I received another call from a different, more desirable employer requesting an interview. I went to the interview today and was called back within a few hours for a 2nd interview. - I had to schedule the interview for the same day that I am due to attend an orientation with the company I have already accepted an offer with. - I would much rather work for company #2 as the position is more in line with my career goals, however the 2nd interview is scheduled two days before my start date with company #1. - I also have some reservations about company # 2, even though the position they are seeking a candidate for is again right in line with my goals. - Those concerns are, they were interviewing candidates one on top of the other, which I thought was a little unprofessional. Meaning, I was on time for my interview, and had to wait 10 minutes as they were finishing up with another. As they called me in for the interview, another applicant was arriving. Is this not unusual? I know times are hard for the job seeker, but I have never been put in such an awkward interviewing situation like this before. - I have no idea what the salary/benefits are for this position. It was not advertised with the position and there was no mention of it during the interview - Also, during the interview, one of the interviewers, began speaking of another position within the company that he thought my skills would be a good fit for, however there is no clear title/job description for the position, nor has is been formally advertised by the company. - When I returned the call to the manger regarding the 2nd interview, he stated that my interview would be dual, and that I would be essentially interviewing for 2 positions at once. The original position I had interviewed for that day, as well as for the 'undefined role' within the company that they thought might be appropriate for my skill set, if they should move forward with hiring me. - The 2nd Interview will be 2 to 4 hours long! Is this standard? I'll have to meet staff members,bring sample work, and basically meet with members of two separate departments - I am a little overwhelmed by all of this, as everything is happening all at once, and very quickly. I am due to start my position with Company 1 on the 22nd. My last day with my current employer is the 17th, and my 2nd Job interview with Company 2 is the 18th. My orientation with company 1 is on the 18th as well. I would really appreciate some unbiased guidance with this situation. - Would it be premature to mention that I have a pending offer to Company #2 in a thank you letter? - Should I bring up the issue of salary /benefits to company 2 if they don't by the end of the 2nd interview? - Assuming I get a good offer from Company 2 and I've already started working for Company 1, what do I do?

Public Comments

1. Tell them of the orientation and, in fairness to the other company, you would appreciate a tentative offer before they invest un-necessary resources, time and money. Ask if you could call during a break in the orientation or, if possible, wait in the break room while the next interview is arranged. If they agree to the call, make it non-descript from a company phone. If they happen to google the number, it would add credibility to your story. Tell the first company an unexpected opportunity for more money will alleviate the long term difficulty of reluctantly accepting their non-negotiable offer and you would welcome any opportunity to work with them on a consultant, or independent contractor, basis to compensate for their time. Good Luck.