To think it would be OK to decline one graduate job offered first for another one?

[fabulousathome]

Hi

I'm asking for opinions in advance of what will probably be a fantasy situation.

DS2 will graduate from respected Uni in June this year. He's applied for numerous graduate schemes (20 or so?) in one particular field two or three in his absolute dream career. The connection, in case you are wondering, is writing and research.

Fortunately, he's been getting through the various stages that the big companies make you go through, telephone interviews, online tests, invited to assessment centres for the day and so on.

Between each stage of the process for each company is (so far) a few weeks space when you wait to see if you've got to the next stage. Started applying in September. So far no actual job offer.

So, if (if his dreams come true) he gets offered a position in the first group and accepts it and then is offered a job in the second (have always wanted to do this) sector what happens? We are talking about jobs starting in September 2013 by the way.

Would it be so wrong to turn down the first one and accept the second if he much prefers it?

What if he's signed something with the first one? I realise it would be ethically wrong to do this but what can they do? On the other hand there are probably 100 other graduates waiting for the one he turned down and as these companies recruit nationally they probably have a huge list of people who would be delighted that there is another space.

Obviously he could never work at the first company again but it's a big field and hopefully wouldn't come back to haunt him.

It's nasty to do this to the potential employer but what about the theme of looking after number one?

I'm aware that this (lovely) deilema may well not happen. He may not get any job offers or only one.

Your thoughts please? Any experiences of turning down jobs after accepting them?

I think it is quite normal to do this, and there are not many places that will hold it against him I wouldn't think.

People will always drop out due a whole raft of reasons. Some will get what they see as a better offer, others will decide to disappear off round the world for a year.
There will most definitely be a backup list!

Graduate job or not, the rule is that you will go and work for the company that the most interesting/better paid/better job prospect... job.

The one thing I would be clear about is the fact that he has other proposal ongoing too. They might want to ask about them and how he feels about them (Double edge sword. If he says he is much keener with option B, they might think it isn't 'safe' to hire him after all).
Being clear and honest about my job hunting has been my best policy (And they will understand if they have a good candidate in front of them,especially if the 'big companies' are actually fighting a bit to get the best candidates themselves)

Perfectly normal - I've been in this position - not with a graduate entry level job, but when looking for my last one I had 2 offers on the table. I'd accepted one, then the other which I prefered contacted me the following week. I just called the HR and turned down job 1, saying that i'd been offered at X company and thought it would be a better fit for me.

Lots of people accept jobs, go to resign their current one then get a counter offer to stay put so then withdraw from the one they've been offered.

In your DS's position, they will be used to this happening.

Really? That's great news. I think I'm a bit old school and thought it was like party invitations, if you've accepted the first one you mustn't change your mind even if you'd prefer to go to the second one.

I should just be grateful he's getting through the processes shouldn't I? He's had a few rejections along the way though.

I'm sure you all know this, but do be aware that the graduate schemes mostly close in December of the year before you finish Uni i.e. closing by Dec 2012 when finishing in June 2013. Some close even earlier so as soon as they open it's best to apply. The forms take ages to fill in (usually takes DS2 at least 6 hours to research the company and fill in online application form).

Be very clear with him that if he accepts a job that is offered to him then legally, he could be made to work out his notice. Unlikely but it could happen.

If he is offered a job then his best bet is to say thank them for the offer and that he will confirm in writing IF he decides to accept the job

Now please cross your fingers that he gets at least one offer!

Oh my, this is a very sweet post. It's absolutely normal to take the best job, even if you've already had to accept a different one. Happens all the time and is completely expected. As you say, there will be a queue a mile long of suitable applicants waiting to step in.

After a short time working for a big firm I can guarantee neither you nor him will be concerned about being "nasty" to an employer.

Hopenglory, that's exactly the kind of thing I'm worried about! As they are all for a September 13 start date I hope it will be OK as there is time for him to mess about and for them to recruit someone else who has already gone through their processes.

I would think that any offers will be in writing anyway so one can stall for a bit I suppose.

OK. I'll stop worrying now. You all seem to be in of the same mindset. May the best firm win (him)!

Legally that's the case, but in practice it doesn't happen with graduate schemes.

The will have a list of reserve candidates, all ranked and ready to be called the minute someone declines or withdraws.

hope - most contracts only have that clause for once you have started. I don't think I have ever seen anything which is binding prior to actually starting the job?

OP - the recruiters will all be used to this and I would expect that the offers will come out fairly hard on each others heels - otherwise the firms offering last would feel that they might miss out on the best people!

Offers don't need to be in writing for them to 'count' as an offer (and acceptance).

At one group and then individual interview session that he attended recently he was told that they had 1500 applications, 96 grads were then interviewed and there were two or three positions on offer! He was one of the 96 and had the interview earlier this month. They said they'd let him know in Feb or Mar if he'd been selected to attend the assessment centre for a day.

In retrospect, I think it was a deeply daft question on my part. Of course it will be fine to turn down a big company.

Yes and it won't mean that he should never apply for a job with them in the future.

Thank you all for your reassuring advice.

I couldn't ask RL friends as it sounds immodest (even if he doesn't get two offers in the end).

Until he has signed a contract I doubt he could be held to it?

Update:

Hurrah! He's been offered a good graduate job verbally and will get something by email soon. According to current employee whom he met during the interview process, she didn't get her contract until July.

He's now chasing up other schemes that he hasn't heard from for a few weeks to see what's what. He's pretty happy with the current offer but it's not in the dream category.