Is it unethical to take an interview after accepting another job offer?

[erub]

Company A's (accepted on Tuesday) job sounds pretty cool, but the day to day work is pretty unclear. Salary and city are very good, I am guaranteed to soon be making more than I was pre-layoff. Took some time, but 2 months after my first onsite interview I got the job. I was given a September 21 startdate.

Company B emailed me Thursday, they want a phone interview Friday. I had applied for this job 4 months ago, and previously worked at Company B where I really enjoyed the work environment. City isn't as good as Company A's, no idea on salary, but the city is quite a bit more expensive. Job description is exactly what I want to do (will of course verify when I talk with them).

My girlfriend, however, thinks that it is unethical to even talk to Company B..but my argument is that people who have jobs often interview elsewhere..what do you think?

 

[beat mania]

Take it. Keep your options open. Co. A might go bankrupt on September 20th. Who knows.

And its normal to interview with another company while one's working, so you sure as hell can interview all you want when you aren't working at all.

 

[lxskllr]

You gotta look out for yourself. I'd at least do the interview. People act like an interview's a one way transaction, with the company evaluating you. You're evaluating them just as much, and deciding if you like what they offer. It would take one hell of a enjoyment increase to abandon my bird in hand, but I would if it were really worth it.

 

[Sea Moose]

look out for yourself. Do the other interview. I send out resume once every couple of months, to test the job market now and then

 

[StageLeft]

How is it unethical? Is it unethical to marry a woman and THEN find a better one, or do you go with the better one first? Is it unethical to be undecided between two jobs but take the first one you had just because you accepted first, despite knowing you don't want it, and then six months later after the company has invested time/money in you then you move?

Jobs are like women if you're a man-whore. Go with the one you want now and that will help your pay and resume. Do not show loyalty unless you know it will be paid in kind and do what is best for you, just a your employer does what is best for him.

I'm sorry your girlfriend is wrong and is not old and has not worked professionally long enough. Now it's hard to argue the right or wrongness of ethics or morality, but seriously, she is wrong. Interview with Company B. Tell them you already have an offer from A but that you love them more and can they show you the money? You may regret this otherwise if Company A sucks, or maybe company B sucks crap and they want to give you $4/hour and then you'll know you at least checked it out.

 

[lokiju]

Of course you should do it.

 

[Platypus]

No, no company gives a fuck about you and you're naive if you believe so. You have to look out for yourself.

 

[xalos]

Using logic I can conclude with 86% certainty that the OP will never score a threesome with his current GF. However, I believe the OP would be silly to ignore the interview
with the 2nd company. It's like playing the lottery with millions in the bank, you don't have anything to lose.

 

[spaceman]

Originally posted by: Platypus
No, no company gives a fuck about you and you're naive if you believe so. You have to look out for yourself.

this is truth.

 

[mrCide]

Skoorb is right. What is your g/f thinking? Jesus. MAN UP.

 

[SunnyD]

Originally posted by: Platypus
No, no company gives a fuck about you and you're naive if you believe so. You have to look out for yourself.

This. Go interview.

 

[rudder]

No reason not to check out company B. Company A still has plenty of time to find a replacement if you change your mind.

 

[dphantom]

Go to the interview. Anything can happen with your fisrt job. There is nothing unethical about it. I hire lots of people and have had more than one turn down a job after accepting because they got a better offer. Not a problem for me at all, just move on teh the next candidate.

 

[Blackjack200]

Originally posted by: Platypus
No, no company gives a fuck about you and you're naive if you believe so. You have to look out for yourself.

Companies don't exist, they are just an idea. Some people inside companies do give a fuck, and I've seen the impact. My boss has shown huge loyalty to everyone on his team. Where layoffs were unavoidable (financial industry) he's leveraged his contacts to help people find jobs. Many people that were laid off back in 4Q '08 have been rehired. In return, we don't act like jackasses, and behave professionally when it's time to leave. Not everyone does this, some think it's funny to damage their laptops or other equipment or badmouth management on the way out. they not only do they not get any help, but they are pretty much blacklisted from returning

OP, I would protect my reputation. That doesn't mean you shouldn't interview, but I would disclose to company B that you've already accepted an offer from company A, but that you are interviewing because of the great work experiance you've had there in the past. If you do decide to go back to company B, I would send a letter to company A explaining your decision and I would also call them. Fortunately for them, it's usually a little easier to find someone in a down economy.

 

[evident]

not unethical. do it

 

[BoomerD]

I would NOT disclose the offer from Company A, as blackjack recommends.

WTF would you sabotage any possible chance with Company B?

Even though the offer from A has been tendered and accepted, he isn't on their payroll...yet, and unless he's signed a contract, he's free to continue looking...and accepting offers elsewhere.

IMO, take the interview with Company B. Interviewing does NOT mean you'll be offered a job, nor does it mean you'd accept any potential offer. You're just "window-shopping."

Now if you like Company B's offer, then accept, but also at that time, you MIGHT consider telling them about the offer from Company B, and that you need to let them know you won't be accepting the offer. (IMO, that's "iffy.")

 

[Pepsei]

look out for youself first...

oh, and get a better gf while you're at it. let her read this.

 

[oboeguy]

How is it unethical? I you had a job, wanted a change and took an interview elsewhere it would be the same thing!

 

[compman25]

pics of gf?

 

[SunnyD]

Originally posted by: Blackjack200

Originally posted by: Platypus
No, no company gives a fuck about you and you're naive if you believe so. You have to look out for yourself.

Companies don't exist, they are just an idea. Some people inside companies do give a fuck, and I've seen the impact. My boss has shown huge loyalty to everyone on his team. Where layoffs were unavoidable (financial industry) he's leveraged his contacts to help people find jobs. Many people that were laid off back in 4Q '08 have been rehired. In return, we don't act like jackasses, and behave professionally when it's time to leave. Not everyone does this, some think it's funny to damage their laptops or other equipment or badmouth management on the way out. they not only do they not get any help, but they are pretty much blacklisted from returning

OP, I would protect my reputation. That doesn't mean you shouldn't interview, but I would disclose to company B that you've already accepted an offer from company A, but that you are interviewing because of the great work experiance you've had there in the past. If you do decide to go back to company B, I would send a letter to company A explaining your decision and I would also call them. Fortunately for them, it's usually a little easier to find someone in a down economy.

That wasn't the company showing loyalty... that was your boss. People are completely different from companies.

 

[Renob]

Is it unethical to take an interview after accepting another job offer?

Nope in todays job market is everyman for himself!!!

 

[a123456]

No, because a company will do the same thing back to you. A while back, I got a job offer from a company for a lot more than I had expected. I was surprised but happy. Some time before the start date, they changed their minds on some random BS reason. I'm guessing they interviewed more people and found someone taking less money or something like that. This company seemed okay when I interviewed and it was my first choice. Luckily, I had an even better offer at a relatively crappier company (the work I would be doing would be a lot less interesting) so I wasn't too unhappy but it still annoyed me that Company A will change their mind.

Especially in this economy, keep all your options open. Company A might lose a few clients between now and your start date and might not be able to afford you. Or they interview more people and find a better candidate or any number of reasons that the company would rescind its offer. Until both of you sign on the dotted line when you come in for the first day, there's nothing wrong with more interviews.

 

[sunzt]

LoL I just did this!

Company A gave me 2 offers (first one was revised to include some more $) and a few days later I got a call from company B to talk to interview with them on the phone. I only had a day or to accept company A's latest offer and pushing the day further out would have looked bad on my part because of the persistence I pushed with the revised offer.

Anyway, I interviewed with Company B on the phone and decided to accept Company A's revised offer a day or so later. I did tell Company B that I had to respond within a week to company A so they just flew me out that weekend (after the phone interview) and I got a free trip for some R&R, a hyundai sonata, free meals, and saw my friends

It all worked out in the end cause Company B just told me they were not gonna give me an offer, which actually works out better for me because I wouldn't have to reject their offer. Plus, they want me to keep them in mind for the future so there's always next time.