Accepting a job offer and then reneging

[Anonymous]

I think there's a strong chance I get a job offer early next week. I am currently unemployed and currently interviewing at six other companies. 4-5 out of the 6 I would seriously consider over this one in part because of salary + in-office expectations. I've been transparent during the interviewing process that I'm okay with starting the job only two weeks after an offer. In those two weeks, can I keep doing my interviewing process and then renege on the offer I may have to accept another offer? I've heard people do this, but I've only seen this once at a professional job (two months in) and I would personally feel so guilty. I can't imagine leaving a job immediately after starting it, but if I haven't started, is this acceptable?

[Anonymous]

Bottom line, do what's best for you. Period. Remember, they'll cut you in a heartbeat if they need to. It's just business.

[Anonymous]

Happened to me once as a hiring manager. TBH, that was several years and companies ago, and I don't remember the person at all...meaning they could potentially even reapply successfully with me.

I think it depends a lot on the role and your sector. This was a relatively junior tech role. The company I worked for at the time has since been acquired and doesn't exist anymore. For a more senior role in a more stable industry, memories might be longer. But now that there are so many examples of companies reneging offers, I would be less wary of backing out than I would have been even a few years ago.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Bottom line, do what's best for you. Period. Remember, they'll cut you in a heartbeat if they need to. It's just business.

This.

[Anonymous]

Of course you can do this, if you think it's the right move in your situation. I've seen it happen a couple times. I think what you need to consider, however, is whether you are comfortable with completely burning a bridge with this company, because that's what will most likely happen. At my previous workplace, someone accepted a position, went through the whole security clearance process, but then took another position somewhere else at the last minute. That person ended up applying repeatedly for the same position later, but we had no interest in taking a chance on them again. Likewise someone did this at my current workplace recently--accepted a position only to back out shortly afterwards. I think it was for understandable reasons, but again, the bridge is burned.

Sometimes it may still make sense, but I would just consider whether there's likely to be any negative impact on your reputation, particularly if you're in a niche field where everyone talks to each other, or there's a chance you'd want to return to this company down the road.

[Anonymous]

One generally can stall in giving an answer for at least a few days by asking them to send benefits details and/or saying you are interested but need to talk with spouse before committing.

[Anonymous]

Its better not to start then to start and leave in 2 months. If you dont start at all, you just dont put it on your resume and have no record of it. Yes you will burn a bridge with that company but it wont matter to your other jobs.

If you start and then leave you are making things much more complicated. And you will be remembered as that guy. A lot goes in to the first month of training and on-boarding.

I work in hiring and have candidates reneg regularly, although it's not common. It happens maybe 5 times a year (out of several hundred hires). It is so frustrating because we wasted our time and usually let other candidates go, but also we do move on. I dont remember their names.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Happened to me once as a hiring manager. TBH, that was several years and companies ago, and I don't remember the person at all...meaning they could potentially even reapply successfully with me.

I think it depends a lot on the role and your sector. This was a relatively junior tech role. The company I worked for at the time has since been acquired and doesn't exist anymore. For a more senior role in a more stable industry, memories might be longer. But now that there are so many examples of companies reneging offers, I would be less wary of backing out than I would have been even a few years ago.

That's a good point! I remember getting people to acceptance and being very excited and then they backed out (they were good candidates--they were in demand). I don't remember their names or them with any particular bitterness.

[Anonymous]

One generally can stall in giving an answer for at least a few days by asking them to send benefits details and/or saying you are interested but need to talk with spouse before committing.

This. Delay giving them an answer. Tell the other potential employers that you have an offer and need answers from them quickly.

Yes, you can accept and then decline a job, but it's not very nice to do that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think there's a strong chance I get a job offer early next week. I am currently unemployed and currently interviewing at six other companies. 4-5 out of the 6 I would seriously consider over this one in part because of salary + in-office expectations. I've been transparent during the interviewing process that I'm okay with starting the job only two weeks after an offer. In those two weeks, can I keep doing my interviewing process and then renege on the offer I may have to accept another offer? I've heard people do this, but I've only seen this once at a professional job (two months in) and I would personally feel so guilty. I can't imagine leaving a job immediately after starting it, but if I haven't started, is this acceptable?

Keep interviewing if there's a better job out there. But don't turn this one down until you get a written offer and start date elsewhere. You need a job now and you have one. Go start it.

I've seen people start a new job and then bail after a week or two when a better offer comes along. Don't worry about feeling guilty or "burning bridges" - I guarantee no billionaire ever experiences those emotions. That's just what they try to say to workers to get them to stay for sub-optimal pay or work conditions.

Again, start this job and then reassess once you have an offer in hand + a new start date. Job offers fall through ALL THE TIME. A bird in the hand and all that.