So I'm looking for a new job and I've got interviews with two different companies. I would gladly take either job, but the one I would prefer will probably take a little longer to make me an offer (if they do, fingers crossed).

My question is, if I accept an offer (again, getting wayyy ahead of myself) then get a better one from the company I prefer, what do I do?

Will it burn a bridge with the company if I then go back and say "sorry, I know I said I would take your offer, but I got a better one elsewhere".

Advice??

10/16/2013 2:06:24 AM

Always look out for number one. You don't owe either company any loyalty and you shouldn't go a job that you don't like as much just because you already accepted the position. Just be polite and honest and if they are bitches about it then it is probably a company you didn't want to work for anyway.

10/16/2013 3:58:20 AM

How long can you wait after you get an offer?

10/16/2013 6:01:56 AM

Quote :

"Will it burn a bridge with the company"

if you're lucky, no...but i wouldn't count on an interview with them any time in the near future if you do it

10/16/2013 9:01:28 AM

I've dealt with this situation before. If you get both, put off the one you get first by asking for a little more time to decide then ask the second one to hurry because you have already gotten an offer from another company.

10/16/2013 9:29:33 AM

Just be up front with the first company to offer and say that you need some time before accepting. Then go back to the other company and tell them that you have a written offer and that they need to get you an answer. Nothing wrong with being up front that you are looking at multiple companies. If you are a good candidate, they probably already realize this.

10/16/2013 9:35:58 AM

not to mention if you have a written offer in hand you can leverage that in salary negotiations

10/16/2013 11:38:33 AM

an employer should expect that if a candidate is competitive, they will have other offers

10/16/2013 12:17:59 PM

Quote :

"Always look out for number one. "

Using this as an excuse to be a d-bag is not the best thing for your career. I've seen people pull this shit, only to have a hiring manager (or if the company is small, the CEO) call the other company and tell them what he did.

The story ends with the guy not getting either job.

10/17/2013 2:50:28 PM

Quote :

"If you get both, put off the one you get first by asking for a little more time to decide then ask the second one to hurry because you have already gotten an offer from another company."

10/18/2013 10:02:48 AM

Quote :

"Always look out for number one. You don't owe either company any loyalty and you shouldn't go a job that you don't like as much just because you already accepted the position. Just be polite and honest and if they are bitches about it then it is probably a company you didn't want to work for anyway."

I work in Talent Acquisition, and this is the best advice posted in this thread.

This situation happens all the time. You don't owe anyone anything except yourself and your family. Take the best opportunity available, period.

Quote :

"Just be up front with the first company to offer and say that you need some time before accepting. Then go back to the other company and tell them that you have a written offer and that they need to get you an answer. Nothing wrong with being up front that you are looking at multiple companies. If you are a good candidate, they probably already realize this."

Same vein, also A+ advice.

Quote :

"I've seen people pull this shit, only to have a hiring manager (or if the company is small, the CEO) call the other company and tell them what he did."

Not only have I never seen this happen, but I believe it's illegal and would open the door to a lawsuit. And if it did happen, I'd laugh my ass off at the other people on the end of the phone trying to sabotage my hiring and tell them to go fuck themselves.

10/18/2013 10:39:22 AM

I've seen it done.

If you approach job hunting that way you're being an idiot. You have to think more than one move ahead or you're going to paint yourself as that guy who no one can trust to stick around.

10/18/2013 11:29:30 AM

I think to be clear, you will most likely burn bridges if you accept a position and then bail within 6 months. Either accept an offer and that's your job for at least the next year, or turn it down. If you can't decide, postpone until you are ready or they force a decision.

10/18/2013 11:55:35 AM

I knew a couple of people who quit a job after a week for a different position. It was the same job, for a terrible company.

10/18/2013 12:10:35 PM

regardless of whether it burns the bridge or not, if the company you want to leave for is more desirable then thats what u do. you should still contact the hiring manger or HR and apologize cause it still fucks them up but you could always convey that you would likely be unhappy and leave quickly anyways so

10/18/2013 11:41:23 PM

Quote :

"Using this as an excuse to be a d-bag is not the best thing for your career. I've seen people pull this shit, only to have a hiring manager (or if the company is small, the CEO) call the other company and tell them what he did. The story ends with the guy not getting either job."

I've heard every kind of hiring/firing story under the sun, and I'm not saying this has never happened but you have to be a grade A moron to base an employment decision around the fear of a prospective employer calling another prospective employer and telling them you're a liar.

10/19/2013 1:40:49 AM