Should I turn down a job offer?

I interviewed at two companies this past week. I've received a job offer from Company A. The interview with Company B went extremely well.

Company A gave me a verbal offer on Friday afternoon, and gave me the weekend to think about it before we discuss the terms on Monday morning. Here are the details:

Company A
Public Sector Consulting
Pay will most likely be appr. $10K higher than Company B.
Generous health insurance plan
Flex spending
401k
Educational Assistance
Professional Development Programs
1 hour commute

Company B
State University
Low pay
Great benefits
Haven't heard back, but I just interviewed with them yesterday
15 min. commute

Company B is more aligned with what I want to do in the long term, which is to be an IT Business Analyst. The role for Company A is more administrative, dealing with contracts, reconciliations, invoices. The role for Company B is technical, involving requirements documents, end user support, etc. What should I do?

It sounds like Company B offers work that you would find stimulating. Money is important, but you might be bored with the work at Company A.

So it depends which is more important to you right now. If B takes you further along your career path, you may be able to move on from B in 2 years to a higher-paying job in the same industry.

Is there perhaps a Company C you can approach, in the same field as B, which is offering a salary closer to A's?

I would not accept A's offer and then renege (go back) on it. It's a small world and it's well-known that that will quickly earn someone a bad reputation. Networking is the best way to get good jobs, so you want to protect your rep.

A useful approach is to make a List of everything you want in a job. Where it is (how long commute), what the office environment is like, benefits, pay, kind of work, etc. etc. It's amazing how you'll find something that lines up with your list. The first step is being clear on what you want and having the courage to reject things that aren't that. Or to identify something that's a very close stepping stone to it.

Good luck and let me know if you have other questions. :)

You should be able to ask for a couple of days after getting the terms of the offer at company A - to think it through carefully. They should not have a problem to let you have 2 days.

Then, contact Company b and let them know you've a job offer in hand. tell them that their job appears more suited with your personal goals and interest, but that they will need to give you an offer by the next day.

If they really want you, they will likely respond. If they are not sure, or there is still interviewing going on, they will decline.

In this way, you'll be able to work both sides and not be at a disadvantage.


You should not accept the Company A job, and quit after a few days or a week - even if a better job comes along. That will not be a professional thing to do, and it may come back to haunt you in the future.

If you haven't heard from Company B before your deadline with Company A, go ahead and accept the offer with Company A. That way you'll at least have a good job regardless of whether you hear back from Company B or not. Then if you get the job with Company B, decide which one you want more and take it. You can just tell Company A you had a more desirable offer and you need to resign if that's the case. Never give up a great opportunity for just the possibility of a better one. That amounts to giving up a gold bar for the pursuit of two gold bars. Someone could beat you to it and by then it may be too late to go back. Also no one will blame you for accepting a job and resigning it for a better offer, they may be jealous or they could potentially try to sweeten their own deal with you to get you to stay, but they can't blame you for wanting to better yourself.

It sounds like you might want to give Company B a chance.

There is nothing wrong with contacting Company B first thing on Monday morning and letting your contact there know that you have received another offer, and that you would like to know if you can get any feedback on your interview.

You could even tell Company B that the position they have interviewed you for is more in line with your goals, and that you truly don't mean to put any kind of pressure on them, but you wanted to let them know the situation.

You owe an answer to Company A by Tuesday afternoon (you should be able to take a day to think about an actual offer), do not drag this out and have them bid against each other!

Company B will either hurry to extend an offer OR they'll pass.

You'll know by the afternoon on Monday.

Best of luck!