To accept new job offer whist waiting for the interview outcome?

[Sushiandunagi]

I’m in a very specific industry where everyone knows everyone. I’ve been offered a new job and negotiated a great salary but they took over 6 weeks from the start of the 1st interview until their offer! In the meantime I had 2 interviews with another company, and I’m due to have the final interview with them next week. I’ve accepted the new offer because the other one is not guaranteed but in the actual fact I really want this other job (and it pays £20k more). Now if Im incredibly lucky and get the second job - should I accept it or leave it because I’ve already accepted another offer? Should I hold off signing the contact? What do I say? I can’t sleep. Please help! I’m so worried that I’m going to let people down…

If you have accepted the first offer verbally you have accepted the contract. It's unprofessional to accept a contract and then decline it because you have received a better offer. How would you feel if your new employer treated you like that. No idea what impact it would have on your career - we work within an industry where everyone bumps into each other again and again - you might get away with it - it's a risk you'll have to judge for yourself, but people do talk and your character matters in senior positions - your word will be considered worthless for anyone involved. You should not have accepted the first offer - you should have told them you needed more time,

Difficult. I really wanted to go through with a second interview paying £5k less but straight shifts Mon to Fri (same sector too) but I only heard I’d reached a second interview, the day the equipment from other company was due to land in just really bad timing and him above has kind of decided what will be.

The second interview had another person lined up anyway from what I could tell so I may have risked one job to land neither, so it wasn’t ever guaranteed.

Maybe if the remote job fails then I’ll certainly re-apply to the other job again, that I once turned down with apprehension and just pure bad timing.

Well I don’t think it’s as bad @Loveyourlifenow . I since found a couple threads here where HR people say that this happens all the time and annoying as it is there’s nothing one can do. Unless they can beat a better offer. So no one should take a job because they feel bad.

@Spinewars23 oh I feel for you! It’s really like being between rock and hard place! Sometimes one door closes so that the other one can open.

I would do it, go for the interview. It’s you who is living your life, why would you possibly not take a chance on getting an extra 20k?

I agree there isn't anything anyone can do - but it's unprofessional. Rationalise it anyway you want ... you won't know the cost later down the line.

If you get offered the 2nd job...and after the interview I would accept it. First job took 6 weeks to offer you the job...were you even first choice?

And it's not HR I'd be worried about - it's the hiring manager who put in the effort, who is looking forward to you joining the team - making everyone's workload a little lighter, they will be the ones who have to tell their team the bad news and start the whole process over again - they are the ones who won't forget you going back on your word. They are the ones who are in the meetings where your name gets mentioned as a potential and they are the ones that will say no - not that person and you will never know how many doors are shut to you. There might be none - in our industry I am amazed at how small it is, you can get away with very little.

I wouldn’t give up the chance to earn an extra £20k! That’s like having a second job at NMW on top of your day job.
If they do offer you the job at higher salary, it’s also a sign that that is what your skills are worth, so potentially the first job is below your level / too junior for you? You’ll only find out if you go for the interview.
I think PP is being overly dramatic, sure it’s annoying for the recruiter, but anybody in their right mind would understand your decision if you explain it politely.
Good luck!

You've found threads that say it happens all the time bit you've said you are in an industry where everyone knows everyone. That's the crux of this. It may affect your reputation if you upset influential people in your industry. Or it may not. Only you can assess that.

It would have been better to say you were awaiting the outcome of another interview before accepting a job you don't want as much.

This! But certainly don't sign a contract until you are certain.

Accept it and retract the acceptance if you get the other offer. Look after your own interests. Employers generally look after theirs.

I agree with this, but would also caution that you may burn your bridges permanently with company 1. Only you know how much of a problem that could be.