To go for an interview after accepting a new job?

[Tokelau]

I was offered a job a few weeks ago, and am supposed to start next week. The people there seem nice, the pay isn't great, and it's not really using my skills, but it's a job and I accepted it. They sent me the contract, I signed it and sent it back.

Out of the blue this morning, I had a phone call from a company asking if I was still looking for a job. We had a chat and I explained that I was starting next week, but this new job sounds so much better. I would be using my skills (languages), the hours are slightly shorter and I suspect the pay will be better.

WIBU to go to the interview and accept if they offer me the job? It sounds really good, but I feel bad about letting the other firm down at the last minute, especially as I have signed a contract. In the contract, it did say that for the first six months they could terminate my employment with one week's notice, or I could resign with one week's notice, but I can't believe they would want me to go in for a week.

You owe nothing to your "current" employer. As an employee on probation you can just stop working there.

Go for the interview and see what happens.

Absolutely go for the interview.

You aren't bound by the terms of your contract until your employment actually starts surely?

Yanbu. I understand you would feel guilty backing out with that firm last minute, but these things happen, and you've got to do what's best for your career.

Obviously it's not ideal but if it's a better job, then you have to do what's best for you.

Go for it. It's a pita for your would be employer but you have to do what is right for you.

Go for interview.

Nothing at all wrong with that. I've always been taught, by my extremely frugal and practical mum for one, that you accept the very first job you're offered, and if it's not exactly what you want, you continue looking for exactly what you want while you get by on the first job.

As PP have said, you don't owe anybody anything. It's not the most polite thing to do, but this is your career and your livelihood, so polite goes out the door! It's much easier for a company to find an employee than it is for an employee to find a good job.

Keep looking until you get what YOU need.

Go for it, I arranged an interview for job C while I was at my leaving do for job A, had interview during the first week of job B and left job B after 3 weeks. Job B completely understood my reasons and several were jealous (less commute, better contract and permanent).

Well, the interview is tomorrow. It'll be a stressful day, DD's GCSE results in the morning, and then a job interview in the afternoon!

How did the interview go?

The interview went really well, it ended up more as a chat, and I didn't say much at all! We got on well, it is a small company and the people seem nice. I had to have a conference call with them today, to test my language skills, and they've offered me the job. I've accepted, and let the other company know. That was hard.

My head is spinning now, it's been a really stressful few days, and I don't know what to do with myself!

Congratulations OP!

(and I think you did absolutely the right thing.)

Great result, OP, you have to do the right thing for you, you'd have really regretted it if you hadn't gone for the interview. Hope it goes really well.