A reader writes:
I’m about to complete grad college and am job-hunting. I’ve interviewed with an organization for Job A, and really feel like I’ll get a suggestion within the subsequent week. Though I’m interviewing now, I’d not begin this job for a number of months resulting from my grad college programs, one thing Job A is aware of about.
I’m additionally interviewing quickly for Job B, which is with the federal authorities. I utilized for this job final yr, effectively earlier than Job A was on the radar. Job B could be my dream job — increased beginning pay than most positions in my subject, ironclad stability, and on an unimaginable workforce in an amazing company. Nonetheless, the federal authorities is notoriously gradual to make its presents, so it’s unlikely I’d have even a verbal or tentative provide in hand from Job B earlier than a suggestion and its window to just accept from Job A has come and gone. The job market can be extremely robust in my subject and area, and so I’m fearful these two jobs might be my solely prospects for the following few months.
How dangerous would it not be if I have been to just accept a suggestion from Job A, after which someday between now and my begin date again out due to a suggestion from Job B? On the one hand, you’ve given recommendation prior to now that backing out of a suggestion after you’ve accepted is dangerous type, and I’m in a subject the place individuals from these two employers know each other. Alternatively, Job B has been in movement for some time, and there’s probably not something I or anybody can do to hurry it up. Moreover, it’s been some time because you’ve written about this subject, and in 2023, I believe all of us have a unique concept of what we owe our employers and potential employers than we did 5-10 years in the past, particularly after seeing how firms have handled their staff throughout Covid and layoffs.
So far as I can discover, I’ve at all times stated you’ll be able to again out of a job provide if you happen to resolve it’s in your finest pursuits to try this — you simply have to just accept that you just could be burning the bridge with that employer.
I’d state it much more strongly now although, and that’s as a result of each the world has modified and I’ve: these are enterprise choices and also you get to make the choices which are finest for you.
And folks again out of presents. They take one other job they like higher, or they resolve to not go away their present job in spite of everything, or they resolve they’re not keen to maneuver, or all types of different issues. You do want to just accept that you just could be burning the bridge with the employer, however that simply means they may not be keen to give you one other job sooner or later, not that they’ll be badmouthing you throughout city. (At the very least they gained’t in the event that they’re moderately purposeful — and in the event that they’re not, that’s all of the extra purpose to not go work for them.)
On their aspect of issues, employers additionally again out of presents. They do layoffs and oops, your place is one which was minimize despite the fact that you haven’t began but and despite the fact that you’ve already stop your previous job. They’ve hiring freezes. They reorg and the job you have been supposed to begin is gone. It’s not tremendous widespread nevertheless it occurs. These are enterprise relationships, and everyone seems to be appearing in their very own finest pursuits. Employers get to, and also you get to too.
You shouldn’t do it cavalierly, clearly, however you by no means must sacrifice your finest pursuits to an employer.
