How to deal with two job offers…

[Ladyritacircumference]

I am so stressed out right now. I realised that my current job wasn’t right for me due to a physical condition. So I applied for a few other jobs, got a few interviews last week. The ‘results’ all came in today. I got two offers. I accepted the first one… and then got an offer for a better job. I feel really awkward now. How can I turn down the first offer without burning bridges with the organisation? I already work for them in another capacity and it is a small world in my line of work. I haven’t signed a contract etc. I am feeling so guilty

Congratulations! Yes, you can turn down the first. It'll be mometarily painful but honestly I think everyone can forget about it after that. Just say you're really sorry, but unexpectedly something else came through later that day and for reason X and Y you have decide to accept that.

I was actually in a similar position a fortnight ago funnily enough but both roles were at same org so I basically had a further discussion with each line manager and picked one of them. It was awkward but once it was done was fine.

Thank you so much, I am being consumed with awkwardness, knowing that I have wasted their time. They will
have turned down the other candidates already :/

I'm waiting for HR to come through with everything (currently unemployed) and still taking interviews for things that sound good just in very case something goes wrong, unlikely I know and no reason to imagine it will, but being offered lots of interviews is not a problem I had last time I was in this position.

I have a face to face for something actually very nice on Friday but that I think I'd still take the offered job over it (better career path, more money) but I'm kind of going because I have nothing better to do and it's quite interesting giving an interview when less is at stake. There's a good chance I'll get offered a second round for it but hopefully by the time that might happen I will have start date and contract and feel confident to say 'Sorry, accepted something else'.

It's work - you have to do the best thing for you.
And you will absolutely not be the first person to change their mind on accepting a job.

Be polite 'Im sorry, my circumstances have changed and I can't accept' and move on.

Tell them ASAP so they can start looking for a replacement.

Congrats!