What happens if you back out after accepting a job?

[5v3d3b0]

Here's the potential situation I may find myself in soon:
I'm currently doing interviews and assessment centers etc for 2 companies, let's call them A and B.
I would MUCH rather work for company A, but I'm currently further along in the process for company B.
Because I don't have many jobs on the go and I really need to get something, it would be very difficult to turn down any offer.
What if company B offers me a job before I get word from A?
If I accept their offer to start in September, and then get an offer from my preferred company before then, what could happen if I back out from B's offer?
I know it's unfair on other candidates that could have got that job but when it's something as big as the start of my career I can't just go with a job that I'll enjoy much less if I have the chance for something better..

[angryjonny]

Typically it comes down to whether or not they've got your signature on a contract or not. If not then you may get some huffing and puffing but nothing more. You can probably string company B along a bit discussing contractual technicalities etc before you actually accept, giving company A some time to make you an offer if they're going to.

A bird in the hand is worth 2 in the bush etc, so don't take the piss too much or you may end up with no job.

[Rigga]

Nothing they can do, it's your career. They won't be happy for sure but that's how it goes. It's happened a few times at my work recently.
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[fatpies]

Depends if you ever want to work with them in the future.

As it may burn bridges and as above who says you're going to get the 2nd job anyway?


I went through this in Jan, had 4 job offers one solid one, one I wanted more and I delayed them for a bit. I ended up with the one I least wanted.
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"It's easy to attack and destroy an act of creation. It's a lot more difficult to perform one"

[5v3d3b0]

Yeah basically if B offers me a job I have to accept it because of how hard it is to get anything at all. But if I then got an actual offer from A I'd find it difficult to reject as I want it so much more. B isn't even the grad scheme I wanted, so I'd have to finish it just to be able to move horizontally in the organization...

[Nexus Icon]

There's nothing they can do, even if you've signed some sort of contract, so just phone them, apologise that your personal circumstances have changed and you won't be able to take up the job after all. Wish them the best and move on.
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[Rogerborg]

Is this a serious question?

Your contract will spell out the notice period that you have to give them.

Give them that.

If it turns out that your "end" date is after your "start" date, they're hardly going to demand that you come in for a week, are they?
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[5v3d3b0]

Well a friend of mine recently did an assessment centre for an engineering firm and it was highly likely that he would get an offer from them before Airbus (his dream job) would have a chance to evaluate the results of their assessment centre. He was under the impression that accepting the first job would legally bind him and the company could potentially seek damages if he backed out after accepting.
I'm gonna speak to the career centre at my university to make sure I know exactly what I'm getting myself in to.

[Llama-Farmer]

If you've not signed the contract stating start of employment and notice period etc, then you don't actually work for company B so there is nothing they can do.

Try to be respectful about it if you tell them you're backing out of accepting the job, explain that it is due to a change in personal circumstances, and that you are grateful of being given the opportunity to work there etc and hope that should your situation change you hope it may be possible to return etc. Much better to avoid burning the bridges, even if it doesn't keep the door open.


If company A offer you the job, explain that you have accepted a position with company B, but would prefer to take this new job at company A is there anything they can do to help, or would they keep the job open for you if you have already signed your contract at B and need to work a notice period.

[Northern Monkey]

If you quit before you start, nothing happens. Nada, nothing zilch. Happens all the time. It's a massive pain in the arse when you are trying to recruit

[Rogerborg]

[sidewinder]

Would company b just offer the job to the next best candidate?

[Llama-Farmer]

[Scythe]

[0l0dom0l0]

If it's a grad scheme and you back out, they'll have a reserve list anyway.
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[5v3d3b0]

Yeah fair enough, I got an email from Toyota saying something along the lines of no but maybe if more positions are available. It was all very ambiguous
So maybe in the case of a few people dropping out they would call up people like me who did well but not quite top of the pack

[TheArchitect]

Look out for number 1 first then worry about the agency which has a long list of names they can replace you with at the drop of a hat.
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[DrDonnyBrago]

I'm about to do something similar.

However... I had the good sense not to sign anything from job A until job B gave me a contract .

[Llama-Farmer]