The interview I had last week with 'Company X'

Q. The interview I had last week with “Company X” went really well and the hiring manager called me the next day to say I had the job. I was so excited I accepted right away. I even told my current boss I would probably be leaving soon. But the more I thought about it, the more I realized changing jobs would be a big mistake.

For example, the approximate 20 minute commute I have to and from work would become a 1 hour plus commute (each way) every day. And while the salary would be about 15% more than what my current job pays, other benefits such as paid vacations (since I’ve been here for almost 10 years, I get 3 weeks) would be substantially less.

In other words, along with excellent benefits, I have great colleagues and a job that I truly enjoy. I don’t want to leave but does my already accepting the job mean that I don’t have a choice?

A. Whoa – slow down. Accepting a job offer and then changing your mind is not the end of the world.

Believe me, you are definitely not the first one who has done that. And I guarantee you certainly won’t be the last. In fact, with the booming job market we are enjoying today (which according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics has resulted in 6.7 million job openings and 6.4 million available workers as of June 5, 2018) there are sure to be plenty of other job hunters that have accepted an offer only to turn it down because something better came along. Or, like you, after thinking it over they “realized changing jobs would be a big mistake.”  

So, do contact the hiring manager who offered you the job at “Company X” and tell him or her you very much appreciate their consideration. But you have decided to stay where you are.

(Note: Do not do this when you are at work, call from home.)

And, if you haven’t already, tell your boss you are definitely not going to be handing in your notice because after “almost 10 years” you still very much enjoy working there.  

Judy Gillespie, CPCC, CPRW, CEIP

You may submit job and career questions for Judy to judy@careeravenuesbyjudy.com