Second thoughts after verbally accepting job. Help! (job offer, company, compensation)

[fredtbayer]

I was torn between a job offer I received from company B but accepted it because I am contract at company A. I accepted verbally Friday and had second thoughts immediately. How terrible would it be to rescind my acceptance first thing monday morning? (both are good jobs, but I didn't really appreciate that I am just not ready to leave my current job, even though it's contract). I wouldn't have started the new job at company A for another month and I'm hopeful by calling immediately monday they can contact their other candidates.

1. Is this a terrible idea, to rescind my verbal acceptance?
2. Should I just stick with new job?
3. Will I burn a bridge forever? I would hate to do that.

[jaypee]

1. No
2. Why?
3. No

That's why they have the saying "sleep on it".

[fredtbayer]

Hi Jaypee,

I don't want to seem unreliable to Company B who I might come across in the future. You don't think they'd think I'm crazy? They sent an offer letter Friday afternoon. I haven't signed anything, but I did verbally accept.

I feel terrible about this. But I also don't feel as excited about this new opportunity as I should.

[jaypee]

Usually, when you get an offer letter, you tell them to give you a day or two to think about it.
Personally, I don't think you'll burn any bridges ... Company B hasn't lost anything. They may ask you why and attempt to change your mind (bump in compensation or other bennies) so be prepared.

[fredtbayer]

In this case, we've chatted about questions I had about the job and the benefits over this week since I was so torn and asked lots of questions. It didn't hit me how apprehensive I was until now. Also, I didn't realize a couple things until I got the offer letter (like I won't get more than 2 weeks vacation for another 5 years). I have more flexibility in my contract role and the reality didn't sink in about how rigid their rules were until I got the offer letter, despite the summaries I'd gotten about the benefits.

[manderly6]

There is no way to know if you would be "burning a bridge". That is entirely on those people. I wouldn't worry too much about it given what you stated. The fact that you don't even start for a month gives them plenty of time to find someone else. Also the fact you accepted on Friday may also mean they haven't yet told anyone else they were considering they did not get the job yet. And even if they did those people probably didn't find something else in the meantime.

[fredtbayer]

This is helpful.

What's difficult is that it's not that the new job is a bad job, it's just that I'm not ready to leave my current job yet. I'd like more time and it seems wrong to leave now.

[thebunny]

You will probably burn the bridge. By the time they got to the point of the offer, they had put a lot of time into the process. They will likely assume that in the future, you will do the same thing. Once bitten, twice shy and all....

[longnecker]

Originally Posted by fredtbayer

This is helpful.

What's difficult is that it's not that the new job is a bad job, it's just that I'm not ready to leave my current job yet. I'd like more time and it seems wrong to leave now.

That Fred is exactly what I would tell the folks who made you the offer.

[fredtbayer]

Longnecker -- do you think it is a professional disaster? This is my worry. I think what I should have done is turned them down (they had approached me -- I wasn't looking, but after they approached me there very briefly were some fears of a merger at my work that actually subsided.) If i had turned them down then I would have had a positive connection there for sure. Now, I feel that i look like an insane person and they will never work with me ever again.