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Need job advice ASAP!

A

archcommus

Diamond Member
Hello. I'm a college senior in computer engineering, right after Christmas I received an offer at a small company. It was a little too small for me and wasn't exactly the pay I was looking for, but nothing else was showing promise at the time so I accepted it, and they wanted me to start on Jan 19th part time till I graduate in April, then move to full time. Today, two weeks after accepting that offer, I received another offer for about $6k/year more at a larger company. This is enough reason for me to accept it, and they are okay with me waiting to start till May.

So do I:
- tell the first company that I quit now before I even start, possibly creating a bad relationship, but would be easier for me so I don't have to juggle school and work during my last semester, or
- work for first company now, don't tell them about anything, and quit before I transition to full time in May, telling them it's not for me or something like that, or
- tell the first job of my situation and let them decide whether they want me to work for them between now and May or not, or
- not even take the second job for whatever reason.

Please advise on what's proper here. I want to be as polite and courteous as possible while still doing what's right for my future. Thanks.

Update 1/23: Thanks again everyone for all the help. I ended up explaining the situation to the first company before starting, they weren't thrilled but not terribly angry either and he confirmed for me I could still look to them in the future. I accepted the second job, and they are also okay with me starting part time immediately, so I can still make money between now and graduation.

So it worked out for now and I hope I enjoy it.
 
It sounds like you don't really want the current offer. Don't take it. You'll regret it. And they won't get their money's worth out of you because you'll resent being there. It's not fair to the company to not give 100% to your job. And taking the job while knowing you'll quit in May is not honest.
 
If you really want to take the second job, I'd probably accept it and just be up front with the original employer. I wouldn't start part time and work until its time to quit for the new job, since at least this gives them a shot to look for someone else. Even if you were to do that, though, it's not entirely wrong. An employer won't do you a favor and keep you around if they're bleeding money and/or you're unprofitable, and you don't owe the same courtesy.

I wouldn't make a habit of this for fear that you will eventually WANT to work for one of the companies from whom you rescinded your acceptance, but you're a new grad and occasionally things like this do happen.

Just be sure that the job you're accepting will still be there when it's time to start in May. There's always the chance they'll rescind due to bad economics, after all. It can go both ways.
 
Surely you aren't completely basing your decision on $6k. If there are other reasons that's fine, but if the lower paying job is better and you are giving it up for slightly more money...I think that could be a bad move.

The right thing to do is to be honest. Some people might tell you different, but you should tell the first company that another offer came along and it better suits your needs. They will either retract their offer or ask what they can do to keep you. Don't beat around the bush and string them along. You are wasting their time by doing that.
 
i left a voice mail for a new employer the monday morning i was supposed to start
the previous friday afternoon i got a better offer, it was too late to call the first company


oh well
 
Second company can always reneg...if I were you I might just work for the first co then make sure the second co job is still there before quitting.
 
My only driving reasons to accept the second offer are the $6k more and the fact that it's a larger company with more upward mobility potential. There's nothing better about the first offer as far as I can tell, it's just the one I already accepted.

I feel like if I know I'll be leaving in May that I shouldn't keep that to myself. I originally thought that would be better because then I'm not quitting before I'm starting, I'm simply quitting before going to full time after putting in 3 1/2 months of honest work. But then they still have to find someone new right then, they'd probably prefer to start that search now. However I had not considered the other company retracting before May, and I don't want to jeopardize myself.
 
You should be slightly worried about the second company rescinding the offer because of the bad economy.

If you're willing to take the chance, just be honest with the first company and tell them you got a better offer. Maybe they'll be willing to match the higher offer.
 
In this economy you're taking a gamble IMO...you have a guaranteed thing lined up...in the time between now and May a lot can happen, they could change their mind in an instant.

When you need a job money is not as important as getting the job period.

I would take the 1st job and stay with the company and see where it goes...you are already writing them off because they are paying you 6k less to start....but what is company B asking you to do for that 6k?...is it worth 500 a month to possibly fuck yourself out of a job?

The more they offer starting the more they are going to require of you, can you handle it?

your a graduating senior.....it's a big bad world out there and you are just one small fish in a very, very large pond.
 
I agree with the fear of the other company retracting their offer, so is it dishonest of me to accept it, and stay with the first company till I graduate? Quitting after 3 1/2 months isn't a completely terrible thing, people do that all the time. I agree that having a job at all is important. However it's hard to turn down that much more money, when I haven't started either yet, just because I already took one.
 
Originally posted by: archcommus
- tell the first company that I quit now before I even start, possibly creating a bad relationship, but would be easier for me so I don't have to juggle school and work during my last semester, or GOOD
- work for first company now, don't tell them about anything, and quit before I transition to full time in May, telling them it's not for me or something like that, or BAD
- tell the first job of my situation and let them decide whether they want me to work for them between now and May or not, or BAD
- not even take the second job for whatever reason. GOOD
Click to expand...
I won't help you make your decision between the small or the large company. But I will eliminate two of your choices. There is no ethical way or reason to do either of the two center options. Either of the two outer options is proper and will likely lead you to a pleasant life. You just have to decide which life you want.
 
After working part time for the first company, you may realize that you will like it there.

If nothing else, experience will help.
 
Originally posted by: dullard
Originally posted by: archcommus
- tell the first company that I quit now before I even start, possibly creating a bad relationship, but would be easier for me so I don't have to juggle school and work during my last semester, or GOOD
- work for first company now, don't tell them about anything, and quit before I transition to full time in May, telling them it's not for me or something like that, or BAD
- tell the first job of my situation and let them decide whether they want me to work for them between now and May or not, or BAD
- not even take the second job for whatever reason. GOOD
Click to expand...
I won't help you make your decision between the small or the large company. But I will eliminate two of your choices. There is no ethical way or reason to do either of the two center options. Either of the two outer options is proper and will likely lead you to a pleasant life. You just have to decide which life you want.
Click to expand...

How is #3 unethical? 😕
 
6K a year more is not worth the hassle, plus IMO a smaller company would be nicer to work at.
 
I had a similar situation when I was in school. I just called up the first company and explained the situation, and I took the 2nd job.
 
I believe I would be able to work for the second company part time now as well, but does that really guarantee my position any more than just accepting a May start date does?

I also don't see how my third option is unethical. It's being honest about the situation I'm presented with and I'm offering to do 3 1/2 months of honest work if they want it.

I feel like $6k more is worth it, because the first job's pay is actually below my original target, which wasn't an unreasonable goal by any means. The second job is slightly above my original target.

Deeko, how long before starting the first job did you do that? Did you feel it was unethical at all to quit in that time window?
 
Originally posted by: archcommus

Deeko, how long before starting the first job did you do that? Did you feel it was unethical at all to quit in that time window?
Click to expand...

It was a former internship that I was currently working at part time. I graduated in mid June, I believe it was some time in mid to late May that I got the other job.

I felt bad about it, but I had to do what's best for me.
 
Originally posted by: archcommus
I believe I would be able to work for the second company part time now as well, but does that really guarantee my position any more than just accepting a May start date does?
Click to expand...

Wouldn't this be an identical arrangement to the one you have with the other company?

 
I had an internship offer from a company when I was in school (no promise about when/if full time would be available). I worked there for about 2 months part time before I graduated, then I received an offer from another company. I accepted that offer, but had the choice of taking a 6 month break or starting 1 month after I graduated. I wanted to travel/relax for a few months, and I also wanted to stay in Atlanta (where I was in grad school). So I kept working for the internship company for 3 months after graduation. I put in an honest effort, to see if they would give me an offer equal to or greater than the one I had accepted. In the end they had nothing to offer fulltime so I took the other job after a few months break of travelling/relaxing. Don't really think I did anything too bad or burned any bridges at that company.
 
Originally posted by: dullard
Originally posted by: archcommus
- tell the first company that I quit now before I even start, possibly creating a bad relationship, but would be easier for me so I don't have to juggle school and work during my last semester, or GOOD
- work for first company now, don't tell them about anything, and quit before I transition to full time in May, telling them it's not for me or something like that, or BAD
- tell the first job of my situation and let them decide whether they want me to work for them between now and May or not, or BAD
- not even take the second job for whatever reason. GOOD
Click to expand...
I won't help you make your decision between the small or the large company. But I will eliminate two of your choices. There is no ethical way or reason to do either of the two center options. Either of the two outer options is proper and will likely lead you to a pleasant life. You just have to decide which life you want.
Click to expand...

How is #2 wrong?

People change and situations change. For whatever reason, he could give 2 weeks notice and leave. That is the proper thing to do.
The employer could simply eliminate his position at any time.

Look out for yourself man.
Go work for company A until you have confirmed that company B still has that position open for you. If they do, set a firm transition date and properly notify company A that you are moving on...give them time (2 weeks) to bring in someone for you to train and take over your position and leave.
 
Originally posted by: Superself
Originally posted by: dullard
Originally posted by: archcommus
- tell the first company that I quit now before I even start, possibly creating a bad relationship, but would be easier for me so I don't have to juggle school and work during my last semester, or GOOD
- work for first company now, don't tell them about anything, and quit before I transition to full time in May, telling them it's not for me or something like that, or BAD
- tell the first job of my situation and let them decide whether they want me to work for them between now and May or not, or BAD
- not even take the second job for whatever reason. GOOD
Click to expand...
I won't help you make your decision between the small or the large company. But I will eliminate two of your choices. There is no ethical way or reason to do either of the two center options. Either of the two outer options is proper and will likely lead you to a pleasant life. You just have to decide which life you want.
Click to expand...

How is #2 wrong?
Click to expand...

Because they are ultimately hiring him for a position that "really" would start after he graduates and he would leave them swinging in the wind if he just gave 2 weeks notice. Contrary to popular belief, it is rather difficult for an employer to find someone competent in a 2 week period.
 
do whatever you think is best for YOU, not for either company. however, DO be honest about what you are doing and realize that screwing over a company can have negative effects in the future as well (ie be prepared to accept).
 
Originally posted by: torpid
How is #3 unethical? 😕
Click to expand...
#3 is either:

(a) The same as #1 (the company just ditches you when you state it), or

(b) He wants to back out of the original agreement, hope the company ponies roughly $6k more in a new agreement, and then work for them knowing that he still really wants to work for the large company and will dump the small company at the first chance. The small company ponies up training expenses, possibly ponies up more salary, and has a non-loyal employee who can do countless harm.

It is the implied terms in (b) that are never stated but are true nonetheless that are unethical. Sure, the company may just say goodbye and #3 is the same as #1. If so, just do #1. The only real reason to do #3 is in hopes for (b) to happen.
 
Originally posted by: dullard
Originally posted by: torpid
How is #3 unethical? 😕
Click to expand...
#3 is either:

(a) The same as #1 (the company just ditches you when you state it), or

(b) He wants to back out of the original agreement, hope the company ponies roughly $6k more in a new agreement, and then work for them knowing that he still really wants to work for the large company and will dump the small company at the first chance. The small company ponies up training expenses, possibly ponies up more salary, and has a non-loyal employee who can do countless harm.

It is the implied terms in (b) that are never stated but are true nonetheless that are unethical. Sure, the company may just say goodbye and #3 is the same as #1. If so, just do #1. The only real reason to do #3 is in hopes for (b) to happen.
Click to expand...

(c) He works for them part time until he graduates as stated in the OP.
 
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