Declining a job offer

Maybe I'm misunderstanding, but you say that you have not signed anything. If that's the case you're fine.

Then you say that you might sign the paperwork thus accepting said semiconductor company's offer. Then you imply that you might (after signing and accepting the offer of company #1) turn down the offer if a juicier offer comes before your start date.

There are two issues here: legal and ethical.

Legally, you'll be OK because you will have declined the offer even after you've signed an acceptance letter. It would be just as if you were an employee for years with the company and you decide to quit, your employee agreement will be terminated. The difference being that you will not be privy to any company confidential info since you will not even have started working there yet.

Ethically what you're doing (or planning to do) is rather shakey IMHO. If you're going to sign the acceptance letter that means you intend to accept their offer and by all means you should keep your word and start working for them. If, after a couple of years you decide that you want to seek employment elsewhere (perhaps sooner if you find that the job wasn't as represented OR if you find something bad like illegal activity, etc. going on). Why a couple of years? Well if things aren't completely terrible there you should try to stick around for at least 2 years because you don't want to be seen by future employers as someone who moves around a lot.

If you think you'll be getting better offers in next couple of months you should decline to sign the offer letter but try to keep your options open with the first company - be honest and let them know that you want to evaluate some other offers before you commit. Since your start date wouldn't be until July 1 they would probably be flexible if they really want you. However, given that things still aren't that great in the industry right now, I would consider myself lucky that I got one offer - don't burn your bridges with this first company, you might need a job from them in the future.

Mr. Manners...errr.. Phil

You are only as good as your reputation.

Bob

Are you in the USA? Slavery is no longer legal here; nobody can force you to work at a job for one minute longer than you wish.

If you want to be ethical, tell them you haven't made up your mind yet, and request a few more weeks to decide. If you don't care about that sort of thing, just fill in the forms and don't show up if you get a better deal. The only person who really cares about the ethics of your behavior is you.

John

It's a tough call, I was in your position a couple of years ago.

I accepted the offer, I'm glad I did.

I'm assuming you're in your mid 20's.... So you have 40+ years of being an engineer and building your career. You can make the big bucks on your second job after you get a few years experience.

Don't let your desire to make big bucks right out of college, cause you to pass up a good job offer.

You'll be worth more after a couple of years.

That's my 2 cents, Eric

And the hiring manager that you will have stiffed. If s/he's still the hiring manager in a few years when you approach him resume-in-hand s/he's not goint go give you the time of day.

Phil

If there's nothing seriously wrong with the offer, in todays economy take it, they can be more picky than you.

You still got your career in front of you with the yet to come possibility of outsourcing later on making it harder for you.

20yrs ago the foot was on the other shoe, you could easily get 5 offers in quick succession and not worry too much about holding up 1st offer.

While you are waiting it might not hurt to bone up about the company and products you will be in, if you are 1 of many fresh intakes, you can make a pretty good impression by getting in earlier with more knowledge than the other freshers.

regards

JJ

Since its your first job.. I would take it! You may not get a better offer.. but with some work experience you will always get a better offer. If the job fits with your ethics then there is no problem, if you work there for a year or two you are probably doing better than most Americans (so I've been told :-) It will give you time to work out what you really want to do ... and find a job you really want to do. and not to menton the bucks for toys.

Simon

As ever, it is not wise to screw people around.

A comedian once made up an old Sicilian Mafia saying:

"He who sits on the fence gets splinters up his ass!"

In your position I would tell them that you provisionally accept their offer, and intend to start work unless you get a _very_significantly_ better job offer that you'd be an idiot to refuse.

I've said that on one occasion, and it showed I was sufficiently serious but not mad enough to bin any other work offers.

If I were an employer and someone offered you a much better deal (e.g. 50% more for oiling up supermodels) I'd find that reasonable.

If you cop out for a few percent, it suggests money is all you care about and you can be poached for little more than your real value.

Equally, the employer could in return ask that the job offer is subject to them not finding anyone better or cheaper in the meantime.

A good option might be that you both accept the deal as is, and that you spend the time till then shared between having a holiday and swotting up like mad on whatever it is they do. Thus when you start, you'll be refreshed, ready, confident and ready to bust ass!

May the force be with you, young padawan...

Gee I almost forgot, this actually happened to me.

I had a great offer from 1 of top 20 semi companies (DSP..) with big increase over what I was getting already so of course I was excited and accepted, but days before the move was set to happen..

Worst thing happened, somebody else came along that was desperate, really desparate, they doubled that offer and made it impossible for me to refuse both in stock, salary etc, I switched, the other company understood, they knew it was an exceptional counter offer so they let it go as one of those wierd things. 2x was not something they could do anything about.

Do I regret doing this, yes & no, 1st company is a rock solid company I would have done well at and they are still here and stronger. The company I went with had alot of potential upside (and it was way before the bubble started). The gig lasted along time, was an interesting ride and I learnt as much as I would have at the 1st company, maybe more. Well the bubble did eventually burst and they barely exist now, lots of stuff outside my control, but I can now do my own gig.

Would I recomend doing that again, in a booming economy that can be okay for seniors, but today I wouldn't do it and also youngen's shouldn't do it either as it really messes up your future options. Once you get into the mile high club, you won't be so welcome if everybody thinks you want 2x. If you want a long company career you will be in a salary tunnel that is fairly limited anyway. 20yrs exp is only worth 2x recent graduate unlike in other professions.

Do your homework on the company, did you like the people you met, if so it will probably work out, if not don't go there. If you get other offers, they will likely be very close in salary anyways.

regards

JJ

But the probability of that happening - applying to the same company, same group, same person - is essentially nil.

John

So, your point is what?

Bob

I said it already: the person who most cares about your ethics is yourself.

John

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Okay, but I'm not sure that's always true. It should be, though.

I sense that the OP hasn't developed your or my level of ethics, yet. My ethics plus my memory would cause me to not hire him (if I were in that position) -- assuming he had chosen a deceitful route and I knew about it.

I hope that he is reading these replies, and at least considers the potential ramifications of his actions.

Regards, Bob