Dear MTU Career Advisor,
I accepted a full-time job over spring break (that does not really interest me), and now have another interview with a company I am extremely interested in. I need advice on what information I should share in my upcoming interview as well as what I would do if I got another offer. There are many circumstances that I need to consider in this situation and need professional advice.
Not One, but Two
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Dear Not One, but Two:
Congratulations! Your efforts have been recognized by not one, but two employers! This is both exciting and stressful, right? RIGHT. I’m glad you reached out to us. Let’s call the first company…Company One, and the second…. (you may have guessed it) Company Two.
You already said “yes” to Company One and made an agreement. Even though Company Two is more appealing, I don’t recommend reneging on Company One. It may sound old fashion, but your word is your bond. Meaning, you should always keep your promises, for a variety of reasons.
It’s a small and connected world, especially at Michigan Tech. Recruiters talk. They will and do talk to one another. Launching your professional career with a renege, may burn a professional bridge that can negatively affect your reputation. It could also keep Company One from recruiting at Michigan Tech in the future, which ultimately impacts other Huskies.
From an employer’s perspective, recruiting is expensive. It’s a significant investment of time and money for every person that is hired into an organization. When you accepted the first position, Company One stopped looking. You prevented others from accepting that job. When a candidate reneges, there is a real cost to starting the process over again!
Here’s what I recommend:
- For Company Two, be transparent. Be honest and tell them you accepted another offer. Emphasize that you want to stay connected and build a rapport for future opportunities, but that you can’t, in good conscience, accept this one. Let them know how excited you are about the company and request an “informational interview,” in place of a job interview.
- For Company One, remind yourself of why you said “yes” in the first place! Remember your initial excitement. They selected you from a competitive candidate pool, and they are equally excited to have you on their team. You could, and probably will, totally love this job!
Lastly, you may hear advice from familiar and trusted resources (parents and friends) that might be contrary to what I am advocating. I hope you’ll consider this information in your decision.
Our doors are always open to discuss this matter in person. Again, congratulations for being THAT crazy, smart student!
Regards,
An MTU Career Advisor