Can I accept a job, but then turn it down If I get a better offer?

fret_wimp2

Lets say I have done a number of interviews. Company1 has offered me a position. Its a good position but not the better of the two i have interviewed for. Company2 has a role thats much more interesting and preferred, but I have not been offered the position yet.

Company2 has 2-3 stages of interview and ive passed the first stage. I wont know if i have the job for 2-3 more weeks. Its a 50/50 chance of if i get the role or not.

Can i accept the job from Company1, but still keep interviewing for the the job in Company2 on the off chance that i get it, and if i get it, am i legally allowed to turn down the position in Company1?

3DataModem

Yes you can.

dvpower

Depends on the contract you sign and the wilingness of your employer to enforce the contract.

Mrs OBumble

Of course you can.

Remember, you'll be on probation for up to the first 12 months, and the company can give rid of you with no notice for the first 12 weeks. No reason why you can't so the same.

donkey balls

Play it safe if your working at present tell the company that you have to give a months notice and in the mean time see if your sucessfull with the other company in the coming weeks.

Raffeal

Yes you can, especially if you have not started working (i.e. have accepted but have not started) or have only just started (i.e. first week).

Two weeks notice during any probationary period is the norm, however typically in early stages of the probationary period the employer will prefer if you finish earlier if you resign.

Depends on the role of course, if the role technical or specialised it may take the employer some time to replace you and they may not be keen on you leaving. Will the employer have to provide training to you and a possibly replacement? If so they may want to recoup that investment.

Another thing for you to consider is how you found the job, recruitment consultants tend to get staggered payment and if you leave before they get fully paid for filling the role they may be less interested in dealing with you in the future.

In short there's nothing illegal about what you're considering, but there could be other consequences

fret_wimp2

Thanks folks.

I have a 4 week notice in my current job, thus 4 weeks during which to get the new job i want.

there's nothing illegal about what you're considering, but there could be other consequences

Thats what bothers me. Despite it being strictly business, I still dont want to put the other company out, or to burn bridges, as the saying goes. But, looking at it another way, most companies would not think twice about it, and will do what is best for them. perhaps i am too cynical.

The initial thought of taking a job but hoping i get something better before i actually start begs the question - Do i want the first job at all? Lots to consider!

Thanks Boarders

sharkDawg

Does the same hold true for graduate positions? Ive applied to quite a number of graduate programmes and have interviews coming up. I have a final round interview with one company shortly, which would be far from my first choice. Say I get the job and sign a contract, where does that leave me with my other applications? Whats the worst that can happen a month or two down the line if I tell them I want out, bearing in mind all these positions won't be starting till September?

lalalovely

sharkDawg - I have currently been offered 3 Graduate Positions. I have signed the contracts for the first two as they were offered to me ages ago. I recently was offered "the dream job", so Ill be contacting the other two companies shortly to let them know Ill wont be following through with my signed contracts. Ill let you know what happens!

sharkDawg

lalalovely wrote: »

sharkDawg - I have currently been offered 3 Graduate Positions. I have signed the contracts for the first two as they were offered to me ages ago. I recently was offered "the dream job", so Ill be contacting the other two companies shortly to let them know Ill wont be following through with my signed contracts. Ill let you know what happens!

Thanks lalalovely, and congrats on the job(s)!

lalalovely

So just an update...

I contacted a company that I signed a contract with a few months ago with a generic email:

"Dear Sir/Madam,

I recently accepted a graduate position as "role" in the "area", beginning in Autumn 2011.
Unfortunately I have since accepted a position with another firm and wish to politely withdraw myself from the graduate programme.

Yours sincerely,
lalalovely"

A few days later the recruiter rang me and said, that it was fine, she understands the market and that the firm dosent suit everybody. She did want to know who I was going to go work for (I told her) and she wanted to know what salary and package they were offering (I didnt give her exact details - just a vague idea - as its none of her business).

So in the end, no big deal. It seemed second nature to her to hear that a position was being rejected.