Can I retract on a job I have accepted?

[Anonymous]

Under what circumstances is this allowed? I have said yes to a job (different geographic location) but having second thoughts due to leaving family and friends behind. Not sure if I am getting cold feet.

Any advice will be appreciated.

[Anonymous]

Yes, of course you can. They don't own you!

But some questions to ask yourself:

Are you married or in a relationship, and have you talked with those people?
What drew you to the job in the first place?
What would you gain and lose by staying here?
What would you gain/lose by going there?
Is it too far to feasibly visit your family/friends more than twice a year?

[Anonymous]

Obviously, yes, you can withdraw.

How long ago did you accept and when are you supposed to start?

Is it something relatively fungible (e.g., are you going to be an associate at a large law/consulting firm where it will take them all of 30 seconds to call the next candidate to replace you) or is the position somewhat unique (i.e., it will be hard to find someone else)?

Do they still have time to find a candidate before you were supposed to start?

If so, be apologetic, but you can rescind your acceptance. Basically you're just quitting early. But recognize that they went to effort and expense to select you. How much your rescission will inconvenience them is an open question, and that measures the degree to which you might be burning bridges.

What kind of industry is it? If it's small, then others might hear about you as someone vents that they now have to start their search over again.

All things to consider.

[Anonymous]

There's no such thing as a contract for your personal services that you can be legally bound to perform. That is slavery. You cannot be forced to work for someone.

If they have in some way advanced you money or depended on your acceptance -- furnished your office -- you might have to pay them back. But you can't be forced to work for them.

[Anonymous]

Can you? Yes.

Should you? It depends, but be aware that this is considered bad practice - if you were unsure about accepting the offer, you should have asked for more time. So if you renig on the acceptance, they may blacklist from future consideration - not all do this, obviously, but it's a real risk when you accept an offer and then renig.

My graduate school considers it a serious enough offense that if they find out, meaning the employer complains, then you're blacklisted from future career services support.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Under what circumstances is this allowed? I have said yes to a job (different geographic location) but having second thoughts due to leaving family and friends behind. Not sure if I am getting cold feet.

Any advice will be appreciated.

I accepted a job offer for $500K from uber and then changed my mind.

Shit happens.

[Anonymous]

I'm in this same position right now. I accepted company A job three weeks ago and going through the on boarding process right now. I had an interview with company B the day after company A's interview. Company B called and made me an offer yesterday that is the same $ amount as company A. Now I've to decide whether to accept company B offer..both pay 130k with benefits, 401k, etc...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm in this same position right now. I accepted company A job three weeks ago and going through the on boarding process right now. I had an interview with company B the day after company A's interview. Company B called and made me an offer yesterday that is the same $ amount as company A. Now I've to decide whether to accept company B offer..both pay 130k with benefits, 401k, etc...

Why switch? If the comp is the same....

If I were you I'd tell them you have another offer and if they want you the floor is $160.

Careers are made in moments of intense leverage.