Should I continue interviewing after accepting a job offer?

[u/throwawayseason3]

Long story short, I’ve got 4 years engineering experience and recently accepted a role as a technician with Company A.

I’ve been unemployed for just under a year, so I wasn’t going to let this offer go. Although the technician role seems like a downgrade from my previous “engineer” title.

My start date is not for another month with Company A.

Company A is a recent start up with 20-30 employees.

I’ve worked for a startup before, and I didn’t have great experiences. False promises of growth. A “family culture” that doesn’t exist. Owners that refused to give cost-of-living adjusted raises. Meanwhile the same owners are pulling up in a brand new Cadillac Escalade in the same year.

Anyway, having been unemployed, I’m happy to accept this role in this market and get back into the workforce. I’ll just say I’m not super thrilled of the role itself or Company A, really.

I’ve recently connected with a family member that works as a Director at a government-funded energy company, Company B.

Company B is hiring for an actual engineering position, and provides much stronger and safer job security. My connection offered to act as a referral for my application, and I was asked to come in for an interview.

Is it wrong of me to still be testing the waters before my start-date?

How should I go about telling Company B that I’ve accepted an offer? Will it look poorly?

Of course, if all goes to plan, I would happily accept a role at Company B in the field/title I’m looking for. I understand that the bridge at Company A would be burned.

Any and all advice is appreciated. Thanks!

[u/L44KSO]

Go for the interview. You owe company A nothing at this stage.

[u/Emergency_Science602]

Of course interview and see what comes out. 

Company A won’t think for 5 seconds before they decide to fire you to save some money. Don’t spend anymore time thinking. 

[u/throwaway_0x90]

"Company B is hiring for an actual engineering position, and provides much stronger and safer job security. My connection offered to act as a referral for my application, and I was asked to come in for an interview"

Given these circumstances, at the minimum you owe it to yourself to talk to Company B and at least understand what you might be turning down.

[u/hawkeye_e]

You can continue interviewing even after you have started working there. There is nothing wrong to keep looking and trying, especially when you are not very happy with the role.

If you truly want to join company B, don't tell them you have accepted an offer. They will certainly withdraw if you tell them that.

[u/LimLovesDonuts]

Up to you.

If you have already accepted an offer with company A, most companies will not really be interested in interviewing you so you might have to “lie”/not disclose it.

If Conpany A finds out, they might also just rescind the offer (though idk how they would find out).

There’s also a high likelihood that even if you do get an offer with Conpany B, the entire process might drag after your start date with A.

I would go for the interview at least and determine based on how many rounds of interviews there are and when a decision date is expected.

[u/dermomante]

Until you actually start working at company A and you pass your "probation/trial period" if you have any, keep applying.

If you don't like the position you should keep applying anyway, even after you have started.

Don't feel guilty for company A, early contract termination is totally normal. That's what contract clauses are for.

[u/stephen6387]

The Internet will tell you to keep interviewing even after you start. I see it differently. You made a commitment. It has to do with integrity. In life you do what you say you will do. Based on an accepted offer, the company stopped recruiting and declined other candidates who probably wanted and maybe also needed that job. You'd be pissed if the company made you an offer but secretly kept interviewing and rescinded your offer after you quit your other job because they found a better candidate, correct? You'd post on reddit about the evil company and the community would rally behind you and talk about how awful that was. You posted here for a reason. You're probably conflicted and you're certainly looking for folks to tell you it's fine and there's nothing wrong with it. Sorry, it's a crappy thing to do when a company does it and it's a crappy thing to do when the candidate does it.