Accepting a job offer but I may change my mind

Greymug

Hello fellow workers.

I'm asking for advice on how to deal with a situation. Any help from previous experience is welcome.

So, I have a job which I don't mind. I don't love it nor hate it and it's got its pros and cons just like every other job.

Anyway, I received a job offer from another company; good salary, slightly higher than my current one and the job is pretty much equivalent (same role, same type of company, same industry). This new company is asking me to give them an answer and I have a 1 week deadline to decide.

Of course since I'm not unhappy at my job, I want to let my company know about this other offer and see if they can give me a pay rise. If they decided to give me a pay rise (which is likely), this would require a series of approvals that take longer than 1 week.

So my question is this: can I accept the new job offer, wait until I know if I get a pay rise, and then eventually change my mind and say oh well I don't want the new job anymore? So far I just have an offer letter, but no contract with all the details. 

74jax

Are you happy to stay at a company that only gave you a pay rise as you are leaving?  In your appraisals previous what were the reasons for not increasing your pay?  Its these answers which would make me decide. I would rather leave for a company that itself recognises my potential than stay in a company that only, when pushed, increases my pay. 

You wanted to move enough to see what was out there, and attended interviews etc.

I'd move personally. But I've never accepted a job offer without a contract, and then I've spent a couple of days ironing out the contract with the new company (depends on the job of course, but this is usual at my level/industry). 

Greymug

74jax said:

Are you happy to stay at a company that only gave you a pay rise as you are leaving?  In your appraisals previous what were the reasons for not increasing your pay?  Its these answers which would make me decide. I would rather leave for a company that itself recognises my potential than stay in a company that only, when pushed, increases my pay. 

You wanted to move enough to see what was out there, and attended interviews etc. I'd move personally. 

I've been at my current company for less than 1 year so no appraisals yet.

I'm in an industry where yearly pay rises based on performance/appraisals do not happen so if you want a pay rise you have to ask for it.

74jax

In which case, ask for the rise today (detailing what you've brought to the company in the year since you started / why you are worth more now than a year later etc). I wouldn't mention the other company personally. 

Ask the new company for the contract. Make sure you are happy with the new contract, and amend etc. Say you'll need a week to get it checked over. 

If current company increase, then stay, if they don't then leave. 

Smithcom

Greymug said:

Hello fellow workers.

I'm asking for advice on how to deal with a situation. Any help from previous experience is welcome.

So, I have a job which I don't mind. I don't love it nor hate it and it's got its pros and cons just like every other job.

Anyway, I received a job offer from another company; good salary, slightly higher than my current one and the job is pretty much equivalent (same role, same type of company, same industry). This new company is asking me to give them an answer and I have a 1 week deadline to decide.

Of course since I'm not unhappy at my job, I want to let my company know about this other offer and see if they can give me a pay rise. If they decided to give me a pay rise (which is likely), this would require a series of approvals that take longer than 1 week.

So my question is this: can I accept the new job offer, wait until I know if I get a pay rise, and then eventually change my mind and say oh well I don't want the new job anymore? So far I just have an offer letter, but no contract with all the details. 

You absolutely can.  In theory, if you signed the contract, you may be required to give the employer some notice, but in reality, I don't think that you would be pursued for this.

I do think that your behaviour could do with some self-reflection, and I do hope that you don't get treated in the future the way that you plan to treat the new employer, whose recruitment process may be influenced by the fact that you have accepted their position.

Good luck !!!!!

Greymug

Smithcom said:

Greymug said:

Hello fellow workers.

I'm asking for advice on how to deal with a situation. Any help from previous experience is welcome.

So, I have a job which I don't mind. I don't love it nor hate it and it's got its pros and cons just like every other job.

Anyway, I received a job offer from another company; good salary, slightly higher than my current one and the job is pretty much equivalent (same role, same type of company, same industry). This new company is asking me to give them an answer and I have a 1 week deadline to decide.

Of course since I'm not unhappy at my job, I want to let my company know about this other offer and see if they can give me a pay rise. If they decided to give me a pay rise (which is likely), this would require a series of approvals that take longer than 1 week.

So my question is this: can I accept the new job offer, wait until I know if I get a pay rise, and then eventually change my mind and say oh well I don't want the new job anymore? So far I just have an offer letter, but no contract with all the details. 

You absolutely can.  In theory, if you signed the contract, you may be required to give the employer some notice, but in reality, I don't think that you would be pursued for this.

I've read through my offer letter and it states that I will receive my contract of employment on the first day of my employment. I find it a bit weird but kind of plays in my favour because if I accepted, all they're asking me to do is sign the offer letter but not the contract.

Anyways, thanks. What I'll do is wait to hear from my current employer until the end of the deadline. If I don't hear from them, which is 99% sure as it takes time, I'll accept the offer, sign it and then decline it further down the line if I get more money. No regrets.

Smithcom

Greymug said:

Smithcom said:

Greymug said:

Hello fellow workers.

I'm asking for advice on how to deal with a situation. Any help from previous experience is welcome.

So, I have a job which I don't mind. I don't love it nor hate it and it's got its pros and cons just like every other job.

Anyway, I received a job offer from another company; good salary, slightly higher than my current one and the job is pretty much equivalent (same role, same type of company, same industry). This new company is asking me to give them an answer and I have a 1 week deadline to decide.

Of course since I'm not unhappy at my job, I want to let my company know about this other offer and see if they can give me a pay rise. If they decided to give me a pay rise (which is likely), this would require a series of approvals that take longer than 1 week.

So my question is this: can I accept the new job offer, wait until I know if I get a pay rise, and then eventually change my mind and say oh well I don't want the new job anymore? So far I just have an offer letter, but no contract with all the details. 

You absolutely can.  In theory, if you signed the contract, you may be required to give the employer some notice, but in reality, I don't think that you would be pursued for this.

I've read through my offer letter and it states that I will receive my contract of employment on the first day of my employment. I find it a bit weird but kind of plays in my favour because if I accepted, all they're asking me to do is sign the offer letter but not the contract.

Anyways, thanks. What I'll do is wait to hear from my current employer until the end of the deadline. If I don't hear from them, which is 99% sure as it takes time, I'll accept the offer, sign it and then decline it further down the line if I get more money. No regrets.

Well done!!!  Great to know that you can sleep well at night.   Be careful of karma!!

Greymug

Thanks for your valuable contribution

TELLIT01

Once I had decided I wanted to leave I wouldn't change my mind unless the offer made to keep me was far above what I felt was a fair wage.  If they didn't value enough to give you a pay rise before, their main reason for giving it when you say you are leaving is because it's cheaper than the recruitement process and less disruptive to the company.

Smithcom

Greymug said:

Thanks for your valuable contribution

You're very welcome.   It's pretty horrible being shafted whether you are an employee or an employer.  If you're prepared to live by the sword, be prepared to die by the sword

Although your comments above are, almost certainly, sarcastic, maybe it will help you to learn a little about how your actions may not be seen as 'good form'.  You never know when your actions may bite you in the bum in the future.

Good luck!!

JReacher1

It’s pretty standard to change your mind if your current company gives a counter offer which is more attractive. You need to make the decision that is best for you. It’s a purely business decision at the end of the day and neither your current employer or the employer who offered will take it personally over whatever decision you make. 

People will say if your current company valued you then they would give you a pay rise and you shouldn’t have to leave etc but these people don’t live in the real world so it’s best to just ignore them 😃.