Turning down an accepted job offer
Discussion
Hi all,
TL;DR I accepted a job offer which I’m meant to start next week, but I think I made a mistake. How bad is it to turn this job down before I even start?
I was feeling rather stuck in a rut in my job for a while. I went from being a contractor in my technical/engineering field, to perm, and took on a supervisory role.
Long story short, the management structure meant that I was burning myself out and generally unhappy.
I secured a new job at a prestigious company, with good benefits like healthcare, contributory pension, cheap Mercedes car scheme, life assurance etc. The money is reasonably good, but the shift is quite unsociable and may well affect my home life.
I think in hindsight I only accepted the job because I felt stuck and needed to get out and I was flattered this big name in the industry wanted to hire me.
I’d scared myself off contracting again because of the ever tighter regulations. But now I realise that in the short ish term, contracting again would really suit me, as we’re trying hard to save some money. There is and pretty much always has been stacks of contract work out there in my line of work, and I already have 3 ongoing contracts waiting if I decided to go down this route again. Contracting in the job I do is as close to stability as it gets really, so no problems there. I am also fairly young and do have time to settle down In to a comfy role in the future, but could do with chasing the money for a while now.
It’s a small industry, and I’d hate to burn my bridges with the company I’m due to start at, but just can’t help but think I took the job in haste and want to be a weekly paid contractor again to get some money behind me. How bad is it to turn a job down at this stage? I am starting next week, I accepted the job 3 weeks ago. Is this a massive no no, or will it cause a little inconvenience and be fine? I know there will realistically be minimal repercussions for me aside from struggling to get in to this particular company again, but I really hate to be so inconsiderate and let them down. Figures wise if it helps, with holidays and sickness taken in to account, I’d be anywhere between 10 and £20,000 better off per year net with a contract role than the perm role in question.
Your thoughts would be greatly appreciated, particularly if you have been faced with a similar situation and have any words of advice
Thanks
John
TL;DR I accepted a job offer which I’m meant to start next week, but I think I made a mistake. How bad is it to turn this job down before I even start?
I was feeling rather stuck in a rut in my job for a while. I went from being a contractor in my technical/engineering field, to perm, and took on a supervisory role.
Long story short, the management structure meant that I was burning myself out and generally unhappy.
I secured a new job at a prestigious company, with good benefits like healthcare, contributory pension, cheap Mercedes car scheme, life assurance etc. The money is reasonably good, but the shift is quite unsociable and may well affect my home life.
I think in hindsight I only accepted the job because I felt stuck and needed to get out and I was flattered this big name in the industry wanted to hire me.
I’d scared myself off contracting again because of the ever tighter regulations. But now I realise that in the short ish term, contracting again would really suit me, as we’re trying hard to save some money. There is and pretty much always has been stacks of contract work out there in my line of work, and I already have 3 ongoing contracts waiting if I decided to go down this route again. Contracting in the job I do is as close to stability as it gets really, so no problems there. I am also fairly young and do have time to settle down In to a comfy role in the future, but could do with chasing the money for a while now.
It’s a small industry, and I’d hate to burn my bridges with the company I’m due to start at, but just can’t help but think I took the job in haste and want to be a weekly paid contractor again to get some money behind me. How bad is it to turn a job down at this stage? I am starting next week, I accepted the job 3 weeks ago. Is this a massive no no, or will it cause a little inconvenience and be fine? I know there will realistically be minimal repercussions for me aside from struggling to get in to this particular company again, but I really hate to be so inconsiderate and let them down. Figures wise if it helps, with holidays and sickness taken in to account, I’d be anywhere between 10 and £20,000 better off per year net with a contract role than the perm role in question.
Your thoughts would be greatly appreciated, particularly if you have been faced with a similar situation and have any words of advice
Thanks
John
Thanks for your replies all.
So I did it. I wasn’t provided with a contact number and the reception kept telling me the HR woman was in a meeting, so I emailed it through. I was very polite, apoligised and thanked them for the opportunity.
All sorted now and I feel a lot better. New contract position starting on Monday.
So I did it. I wasn’t provided with a contact number and the reception kept telling me the HR woman was in a meeting, so I emailed it through. I was very polite, apoligised and thanked them for the opportunity.
All sorted now and I feel a lot better. New contract position starting on Monday.
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