Is It Okay to Accept a Job Offer When You Are Waiting to Hear from a Second, Better Job Offer?

• 

  orangetrain on 15/04/2023 - 16:30

  +3

  Second job responded with an offer? Sounds like first job did not pass probation then. Thank them and resign with zero/1 week notice.

  Probation is a two way street.

  • 

    Sinnerator on 16/04/2023 - 10:37

    +2

    YES, so many people believe that interviews and probation are only serving the business. Employees should also be using this to their benefit.
    Your employer does not give a single sh!t about you, find a better job and leave. If employers want to hold onto good quality staff they need to treat their employees well.

• 

  poboy on 15/04/2023 - 16:31

  +2

  Decision needs to account for salary, location, company, job title and reports, upward opportunity, culture and your gut feel based on interviews.

  Jobs are not a commodity. One is always better.

  But anyway, if you are more interested in the slower moving job, call them up and tell them. They will fast track you if they like you.

• 

  AustriaBargain on 15/04/2023 - 16:32

  +1

  That's how it's done. Obviously if you work there only for a few weeks then you exclude it from your CV. And keep applying for jobs even fi you're happy with your current job just to stay in practice and maybe you'll get a job offer for something that pays a lot more and has better conditions, you never know. The way to move up and gain more experience is to apply for new jobs, rather than asking for a raise or promotion at your current job. It's the new normal.

• 

  trustnoone on 15/04/2023 - 16:35

  +1

  Accept Job B, if Job A offers u a position 2-4 weeks later call up Job B and say u chnged ur mind

  I'm interested to know what your reason is for not just picking this? If its some ethical thing then nah bruh thats just the way it goes. Infact I'd argue thats half the point of being in a capatalist society, is that you need to grow or provide better to keep talent. If they are running low on funds they'll happily drop an employee they won't care, but conversely if a place is offering better you should be going (and they should be understanding that the current place could do better).

  If its for something else (like you'll burn a bridge, or you're enjoying the new place, or theres some other reason) then its more case by case basis.

  • 

    Twitchh on 15/04/2023 - 16:39

    Well in my scenario, once Job B offered me the role, I called Job A to see where I was at the in process and they basically said they want to offer me the job but they can't do it legally yet as I need to pass reference checks/criminal checks/director approvals etc.

    So I would feel bad wasting everyone's time at Job B when I am very confident in getting Job A, but on the small off chance something goes wrong with Job A, I would feel pretty dumb declining Job B

    Job B is also in federal government so I am unsure what sort of "burning of bridges" could occur, likely none, but not 100% sure.

    I am also just curious on the overall sentiment of people for doing something like that, as it has raised a sort of ethical question amongst some of my friends

    • 

      freefall101 on 15/04/2023 - 17:30

      +1

      I work in recruiting (data analytics, amongst the companies we work with probably 1k hires a year, so a lot), this happens all the time and people understand. If they're not willing to counter with a better offer then it's their problem, not yours, and it's actually useful for them to get feedback on why people are going elsewhere.

      I called Job A to see where I was at the in process and they basically said they want to offer me the job but they can't do it legally yet as I need to pass reference checks/criminal checks/director approvals etc.

      This is so damn frustrating. There is absolutely no issues with offering a letter subject to passing background/medical but for some reason companies just don't do like to do it, despite that it really does result in losing good potential hires.

      We've lost so many good candidates because of internal pissing around and refusal to just get an offer letter out the door. It can even differ within different parts of the same company, there's no common sense to it. Granted, the director signoff could mean they are doing some other shenanigans so you're right to have a backup job. Just be wary that "2-4 weeks" can sometimes take a lot longer and you'll have a harder decision to work through after that.

      • 

        Twitchh on 15/04/2023 - 17:36

        Thanks for the insight.
        Yes.. if i accept Job B and it goes longer than 4 weeks it would be quite awkward starting a new job for 2 weeks then leaving..

    • 

      afoveht on 15/04/2023 - 18:45

      I would feel bad wasting everyone's time at Job B

      Don't. They want you because they'll make money off of you. That's it, there is no other reason. You owe them nothing.

• 

  deme on 15/04/2023 - 18:08

  +1

  Didn't we just have a forum topic like this?

  Yes
  https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/689726

  • 

    Twitchh on 15/04/2023 - 18:33

    +1

    ah sorry, can i delete this post?

    I read some of the comments of those just now a lot of it is about negotiating salaries

• 

  tabz on 15/04/2023 - 19:37

  +1

  Surprised so many chose the first option.

  This might be an unpopular opinion, but accepting Job B just to change your mind 2-4 weeks later if Job A offers you a role is pretty poor form. You don't want to burn your bridges.

  Have you considered asking Job B for more time to decide (e.g. 2 more weeks). Go back to Job A, and tell them your situation that you got another offer but would prefer to work at Job A, but you need to give them an answer in 2 weeks and if they can speed up their process?