Have any of you ever gotten a job offer you liked and went on to accept, but then another job you would be much happier in called you a few days later offering you a position there? If so, what did you do in such a situation?
If you really would be happier at the second place and haven't started yet, I'd be honest and let the first place know. They won't be happy but they'll appreciate your honesty. It's a relationship and no one wants to be second fiddle. No one wants a worker who isn't happy on the first day of work, right off the bat.
It is unethical to accept an offer and then jump ship right away....and what Yonkers said, be honest with them, don't burn bridges...
Happier why? If it's things that the first job can change, you might let them know and see what they can work out for you. If they like you enough, they just might be able to offer more money, relocation expenses, company car or reimbursement for gas, flexible hours, more vacation, better benefits, etc.
+1 on what CCR said. Be honest and tell them what the offer is. If they think highly enough of you and want you to be a part of their company they will make accommodations to keep you. If not then you have the second job to fall back on but don't just jump ship.
Yep, pretty much agree with everyone. You never know who you'll meet down the road so don't burn bridges and be honest. If the 2nd job is a dream job then they'll understand unless your Lane Kiffin...which in that case leave town first then tell them you are taking your "dream job".
i had the same thing happen to me. I interviewed with a company and ended up not getting the position they were offering. A week later I got accepted to another job at another company. A couple of weeks later the first company called me back for a position. Not the one i interviewed for but a new, better, one. It was my "ideal" job at the time. I explained my situation to him (the CEO nonetheless) and explained that I gave my word by signing the offer letter from the other position and that I could not go back on that. He said was sorry but he respected my decision very much and told me how impressed he was. I can't say I regret the decision but I sure do wish he would have called a few days earlier.
The jobs are based on two different disciplines and quite frankly, as much as I like the first job, the second job would be my dream job since it's discipline I would want to work. I guess the crappy job market led me to accept the job offer feeling afraid that I would lose it and not get a call back from the other place.
I'm going through a similar situation and I've come to the conclusion that you gotta lookout for nĂºmero uno. These companies look out for themselves, you gotta do the same.
Also take into consideration the person(s) you applied with. That person may be pretty easy going and might just brush it off and understand completely. Others clearly will be upset regardless of the reason. You could also throw in a white lie and say the pay at this other position is eye-popping and you can't turn it down. Usually employers will understand because they realize it's a no brainer to go with such a pay increase. Who wouldn't? Very few.
Take the job you would enjoy more, but be polite and deferential as heck. I've applied for some transfers internally, been interviewed, turned down a few days later and then just watched the listing sit there for a month or two. I also scheduled a phone screening with a company I had spoken to a few weeks earlier for another job; five seconds into the scheduled middle-of-the-workday phone call she decided she would "just compare notes" with the other HR rep. Point being, companies are as selective and/or neurotic about their process as you are.
This happened to me in early 2000 and it could happen again. What I did back then was be honest with the first place and told them that I had a second company that wanted me and was to me, my dream job. As someone else said, it depends on the personalities involved. Luckily, the people I talked to at the first job understood. Yet, they had to move and get someone else. So, there is a risk that if you turn down the first place for the second one that you may wind up with no job at all. Now if this happens again to me, what I would do is go ahead and take the first job offered to me. If I get offered the second job, I would have to explain to my supervisor at the first job that I had put in applications to many different places (not a lie). I felt due to the job market that I could not count on getting other job offers, so I took the offer to the first place. Yet, after careful consideration, I would feel it is a better opportunity to leave and take the second job. Don't tell them that you are leaving because of more money because you want to give them their dignity. ALWAYS offer to work out a 2 week notice as well. I believe that if you handle this in the right manner, then it will work out for you. But it is a tricky situation. Good luck.
Yep, happened to me. Interviewed at company #1, two days before interview at company #2, company #1 emailed me saying they hired someone else. Company #2 offered me the position the very same day, I signed the contract week after. One week after signing offer with company #2, company #1 called me and said they wanted to offer me a position since they just got money for expansion, but I told them no because I signed a contract already, and although I am sure I could've gotten out of it, company #2 is a much more respected place and where I would like to end up eventually higher up in the ladder.
In this situation, you have to be polite, professional and honest. In the long run, its your life, you only get one chance, so go with the offer that makes you happier. When I was job hunting, I was under consideration for two positions. When I was offered the first position I called the hiring manager at the other company and let them know that I had an offer in hand and was answering within 24 hours. The next morning I had two offers to consider. I still went with the first one, but it gave everyone an equal chance for my services.
I had this situation when I graduated college and I just told the first job never mind and went to the second job. You probably burn the bridge, but you can't worry about that, and you have to do what is right for you. When I graduated I had other friends who accepted job offers at different companies and stopped looking for jobs, and then when they were on their way to go work for that company, the company told them business was down and that they no longer had a position. I figured, the business is going to do what is best for it so you need to look out for yourself.
tell them you're going with the other job but let them know you found a replacement for them. then proceed to give me a call.
Get both. then tell the second company you have a rare disease where u can only work at night. PROFIT!
This is exactly how I feel. I would be as polite and professional about it as possible, but you really have to do what is best for you.