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Can anyone give me some guidelines as to the proper way to handle receiving multiple job offers? It seems like my biggest fear right now is that I'll get a job offer, be really excited, accept it, and then a few weeks later receive a better offer. What do I do? Is it okay to call the first library back and turn down their offer because you got something better, even though you already accepted that first job? At what point do you just have to accept your losses and stick with the job you accepted, even if a better one is offered?
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Location: Moscow, ID
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Sara,
I had this happen to me this past year in my hunt for the perfect job. I think it is best to be honest with the library that you initially accepted the offer from if you feel you need to then turn down the job. In my situation, I called the library, let them know I had another offer that was closer to home and that I felt was a better fit. I did ask if perhaps they had an alternative candidate to whom they could offer the job (many times they do and that would be ideal). I'd venture to say I was not their first choice because they told me that, no, they didn't actually have anyone else waiting in the wings. Still, they were very understanding about it, and let me know they only wanted me to come if I really was excited about the job. They also told me it would in no way affect any future applications I put in with them, and they said they appreciated my honesty. I do feel bad about letting them down, but at the same time, a cross country move (if that is the case) should not be taken lightly, and after all it is your life. While I don't think reneging on an acceptance should be a decision made lightly, I am still happy I made the choice, for now I have a job I enjoy in exactly the right geographic location. I also think very highly of the librarian at the first institution who was so understanding.
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Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Job Hunting Tips - Moderator
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Joined: 1/4/2008
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Location: Cairo, Egypt
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Sara, my take on this is different (my experience has been in academic libraries; is that where you are looking?). I wouldn't go back and turn down a job I had already accepted except for major reasons (ie not "got a better offer elsewhere").
Once you accept a position, it's best to withdraw your applications from other places. Otherwise, you might be in a situation where you've accepted a job, and someone at the other place, where you're still applying, hears about it. That would reflect terribly on you. We librarians live in a small professional world and people will hear about it.
There are ways to avoid this situation, namely, try to stall on accepting the first job offer until you hear about the second. It's totally reasonable to ask for a week when you first get the offer. If you need more time, you could call HR (or whomever offered you the position) and say, "Can I have another week to get back to you?" If they hem and haw, you could say, "I'm waiting to hear on another offer."
You can also call the other place where you are applying and let them know you have an offer. That might speed up the second place. (This was my experience; place two found out through the grapevine--really a friend of mine at the institution--that I had just had an interview at place one, and I think this helped move place two along in the process. I had offers from both around the same time and ended up at place two.)
So, in short, to answer your question: don't accept a job you don't really want, and once you accept a job, don't even keep your applications open at the other places.
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