Have to turn down a job tomorrow-don't know how to approach

runningbuddy

Hi folks, I got an offer and accepted a job on Thursday last. This was through and agency and nothing signed yet. Thankfully didn't hand in my notice in my existing job.

However, got a bit of a prersonal blow on Friday evening. All will be fine but I need surgery. Will be out of action for at least 4 weeks. Not feasible for me to take the new job now. How do I approach this with agency ??

godtabh

runningbuddy wrote: »

Hi folks, I got an offer and accepted a job on Thursday last. This was through and agency and nothing signed yet. Thankfully didn't hand in my notice in my existing job.

However, got a bit of a prersonal blow on Friday evening. All will be fine but I need surgery. Will be out of action for at least 4 weeks. Not feasible for me to take the new job now. How do I approach this with agency ??

Tell them what you wrote here. Don’t need to compete or over think things.

rainbowtrout

Tell them the truth. If they want you badly enough they'll wait four weeks, and if not no harm done.

OMM 0000

godtabh wrote: »

Tell them what you wrote here. Don’t need to compete or over think things.

Exactly this.

OP - What exactly is the issue here? Why do you feel you can't just tell the truth? Do you tend to bend the truth when it's not necessary?

I'm curious as to the source of where this is coming from.

runningbuddy

Hi, the recruitment agent is very pushy. I received offer on Thursday and she pushed for an answer. I told her this morning and she said she would revert to them and tell them I can't start until mid January. I said I cannot commit to mid January. My surgery is just before Xmas and I need recovery time. Also have to assess if further treatment is necessary. She said she would push it to end of January. I said I'd rather not as I need to concentrate on recovery. She kept insisting on speaking to company, I have had 3 missed calls from her already.

bucketybuck

Its a recruitment agency not a government agency...

You really are overthinking this. You accepted an offer, the next day your circumstances changed and you reversed that decision. It happens, just tell them and forget about it.

Personally I wouldn't give two tosses about the agency, they certainly do not see you as anything more than a seat filled. Are they pushy? Only as pushy as you let them, so don't let them. You didn't even have to tell them about the surgery, its none of their business and you owe them nothing so just tell them you are no longer interested and leave it at that.

OMM 0000

runningbuddy wrote: »

Hi, the recruitment agent is very pushy. I received offer on Thursday and she pushed for an answer. I told her this morning and she said she would revert to them and tell them I can't start until mid January. I said I cannot commit to mid January. My surgery is just before Xmas and I need recovery time. Also have to assess if further treatment is necessary. She said she would push it to end of January. I said I'd rather not as I need to concentrate on recovery. She kept insisting on speaking to company, I have had 3 missed calls from her already.

She wants the commission.

A lot of recruiters have a target of 1 sale per month.

So you're very important to her.

But make no mistake she is only thinking about herself.

You need to do what's best for you.

It sounds like you don't actually want this job, so just tell her.

bellylint

OMM 0000 wrote: »

She wants the commission.

A lot of recruiters have a target of 1 sale per month.

So you're very important to her.

But make no mistake she is only thinking about herself.

You need to do what's best for you.

It sounds like you don't actually want this job, so just tell her.

This is bang on ^^. For recruiters you are not their client, you are an asset they are trying to sell... it's not an intuitive situation for most people to get without thinking on it a bit more.

I was in the same boat as you (tore my achilles the night I accepted a job offer). The company has put effort into getting to where ye are at the moment they might not be as quick to walk away as you fear. They may let you sign now and start in January.
Best of luck with both surgery and the job.

runningbuddy

Thanks all. I also feel a sense of duty to my existing workplace. They very good to me, albeit only offering part time. I don't want to return after surgery and say, "right, I'm off"

Rubberchikken

do you really want to leave the job you're in?

scamalert

Rubberchikken wrote: »

do you really want to leave the job you're in?

As i understand he didnt even start it yet.


either way op its not forced thing like you make it to be, people run into unforeseen issues, once your getting better start looking again, dont get this mentality as if you owe em anything, in such case.

runningbuddy

Thanks guys. I'm part time and love it but alas I need full time wages :mad:

ldy4mxonucwsq6

runningbuddy wrote: »

Thanks guys. I'm part time and love it but alas I need full time wages :mad:

If your existing employer is good to you then this will be invaluable for you to have their understanding for your surgery and recovery.

Starting a new job can be stressful so it might be best to postpone until you are 100%.

Feel free to tell the recruiter that you are not in a position to start the new job and that you will be considering jobseeking again early in the new year.

Some recruiters are only too happy to shoehorn you into something if it gets another vacancy filled on their books.