Has anyone ever crossed this road? Accepting an offer (not internship, actual job), then receiving a better offer elsewhere?
Everyone says it’s important to look after yourself, but do people actually accept and start, and then leave? I’m asking because I’m starting a new job on Tuesday, but still waiting to hear back from a few other interviews I’ve been on. It’s too soon to even assume I’ll get the other offers, but I’d be lying if I didn’t hope to get them. Assuming I’m lucky and I do, how do you even go about leaving a new job, after less than a week? Can you? Anyone experienced this? Can you do the whole, “Received a better offer with better money elsewhere, but thank you for this amazing opp,” speech without burning a bridge?
Me too...strangely enough
Yeah, I’m sorta in the same boat. I’ve been at one magazine for a little while and I’ve been offered a staff position (crazy, right?). It’s a great company, I love working there and had no desire to leave until I recently got a call from a competing company…
So, I’ve been contacted by an editor at another magazine that really wants me to work with them, but it wouldn’t be as stable…better pay…more interesting work, but insecure future. I’m not really sure what to do….any thoughts?
I know how you feel
I’ve been in the same situation twice before. Very early in my career (9 years ago, ugh) I received a juicy offer about two weeks after starting a job as a website EA. I accepted the better offer and resigned from the site without mentioning the other job at all (I think I said something to the effect of, “I don’t think I’m quite right for this position”). I offered to stay for two weeks while they found a replacement, but my boss said there was no reason for me to stick around. He seemed a little pissed, but whatever — I’m sure that within a month he didn’t even remember my name.
The other incident happened about two years ago, when I was a final candidate for three separate jobs at the same time (those were the days!). I got an offer from my least favorite place, grudgingly accepted it with full intention to quit after getting a better offer, and then…nothing. The other two jobs totally evaporated on me. Maybe it was my sketchy karma. :)
Bottom line: Play it by ear. Definitely start the job on Tuesday; it’s the only one you have right now! And if you land another gig, just be diplomatic and professional when you quit the first place. Good luck!