Accepting a job and then..unaccepting it

[Pigtailsandall]

I am currently job hunting, and interviewed for a job yesterday. It was a perfectly nice role, slight step up, and I was offered the post later in the day. I accepted as I am not currently at work and definitely need a job.

I had also applied for other roles, one which I have been invited to interview for next week- I got the invite today. It sounded intriguing and I dug around a bit and by the sounds of it, it could be a truly unique role with lots of exciting opportunities. But I have no idea how many people are interviewing and what my chances are realistically.

Obviously I've already accepted another job, which I don't want to turn down for something that I might not even get. But the job I've only just been invited to interview for sounds so good.

Of course accepting a job and then (potentially) turning it down a week later is bad form, but I wonder what the protocol really is, and how often it happens. It must be fairly common when people apply for multiple roles and interviews happen over a period of time. Or...?

I did something simiar.. contract ending.. applied for a few job.. accepted the first one i was offered. I thrn had an interview for another job which i got. I only declined first job.once everything was in place for second job.

I know 1st employer would probably not offer me a job again but it is business as far as i am concerned and did whatbis right for me.

It’s very common I wouldn’t worry about it. You have to take the role that is right for you.

It's fine. I've done it once for a different reason (childcare fell through) and although they weren't thrilled about it, they accepted me revoking my acceptance. I've also had it where I've been expecting a new starter at work and they simply haven't shown up to work and that's that! It isn't great, but it happens

Happens all the time op.

I have done this, to the point where I revoked an acceptance after signing a contract, due to getting another better and unexpected offer. If you find yourself in that situation then legally you must give the notice in the contract - even if (as it was for me) you haven't yet started, but realistically no employer is going to force you to come in, work for (what is usually) a week, and then go again. It happens a lot, has happened three times on my team in the last three months!

Thank you all, reassuring to know it's fairly common. And I might not get the second job after all!

I was once offered (and accepted) a job several weeks after being turned down, because the first successful candidate had done just that ie accepted and then pulled out. It was so many weeks later that I suspect she had already started in the role.

So on the bright side you'll potentially make someone very happy when they are offered the job they thought they hadn't got!

Similar to @digestivebiscu1t , I'm starting a job in December that I was only offered after the first choice candidate pulled out and I'm thrilled.

(It's a fixed-term part-time post with some odd hours to backfill a rota gap, which happens to suit me extremely well, but it's also not surprising that someone might pull out for a better offer)

Good luck with the next interviews!

Common. Those job hunting are applying for multiple jobs so of course might have many interviews.

It's fine, just let them know as soon as you can. I once had three job offers but due to timing had to accept one before I was offered another which suited me better. It was still a few weeks before I was due to start and I let the first employer know the position had changed as soon as I could.

Do let them know though - I've known people just not turn up on day one with no message about their whereabouts, and we eventually found out they had started another job instead.