Would you leave a new job for a better offer??

[mappers]

I work in Oncology and started applying for outpatient chemo clinic positions several months back. I had an interview with a clinic within my hospital organization that went very well, but I didn't end up getting the job. I few weeks later, I interviewed and got a position at another outpatient chemo clinic within a different hospital organization. I started there three weeks ago and really like it.

Today,I got a call from the original interviewer saying they had another opening and she would like to consider me for the job if I'm interested. I apparently was their 2nd choice before. (I know who they hired and she has tons more experience than me. I would have hired her over me too!) I told her thank you, but no...just started the new job.

My husband was a little surprised that I didn't even really consider it. The new job actually pays $2.00 less an hour than I made before. However, I work 40hrs a week instead of 36, so it really isn't that much difference in gross pay. The health insurance was a lot less expensive at my old job as well. If I had gotten the first job, it would have been a latteral move inside the organization, so I would have kept my senority (only two years) my PTO and my pay rate, same benefits, etc. Now I'm changing health insurance, dental insurance (significant for my DD's orthodantia), starting on the bottom of the seniority ladder, etc. Those negatives, however, were not significant enough for me to turn my new position down.

I feel like I've made a commitment to the new place and I have an obligation to stay there for awhile. It just feels wrong to "up and quit" for a better offer after only three weeks. Plus, these two organizations tend to hire back and forth alot and it's a small community. I think my reputation might be damaged, which would be worse in the long run.

My husband asked if they would be that loyal to me? Well, if the person I replaced came back and said they wanted their old job back, I don't think they would fire me to give it to them. However, I'm not naive enough to think that they wouldn't lay me off if times got tough some day.

What would you do? If I had been offered both positions at the same time, I probably would have taken the first one I interviewed for. But that's not the way it happened. I made a different choice and I feel like the honorable thing to do is stay where I am.

[diligent-trooper]

I am more old school on subject areas such as these. It is one reason why I didn't apply to work in a Nursing Home prior to being offered a RN position at an acute care Hospital. I didn't wish to begin working at a Nursing Home, just to tell them "see ya, would not want to be ya!" when the Hospital decided to extend an offer, which I believe would be about 3 months.

That is plain cruel, I believe. In fact when I was a manager, and making plans for resigning my position in accepting a new position at another facility, I gave my former employer an one month notice, even though 2 weeks notice is what was considered acceptable. I was at this facility for 14 years. I believe the working world has changed some, but I still believe common courtesy and being considerate, to ensure a smooth transfer, speaks volumes. I do believe it has been instrumental in securing the job offer, after the second interview, with new employers. It is something to think about.

[dollbaby]

I think you made a foolish decision. Although I admire your honestly and committment. Don't fool yourself. You are on probation on your new job and if they feel that you won't work out or if your supervisor doesn't think 'you fit' in their department they can get rid of you.....no questions asked. I would have explained to them that my husband thinks I should go back to my previous employer and that I think he is right. I want to keep my seniority and benefits because overall that works best for my family. I'm sorry and I have enjoyed working here but I have to go. If they seem puzzled by this I would bring up the difference in health insurance premiums and I'm sure that they could relate to that.

[erroridiot]

You don't owe an employer any explanation for leaving and you don't have to participate in any exit interview.

The explanation you give for leaving may perfectly reasonable, but to some employers it may sound completely different. Some employers take a resignation like a "break up" and take offense to it. In this case, it is best to say as little as possible about your reason for leaving.

Accepting a new position is adequate reason for resignation if you must leave.

Remember to get your new job offer in writing before any resignation - always and without fail.

[caliotter3]

You are not a new grad jumping from their first or second job to their "dream job". You did what is right for you.

[lifelearningrn, BSN, RN]

I think you made a foolish decision. Although I admire your honestly and committment. Don't fool yourself. You are on probation on your new job and if they feel that you won't work out or if your supervisor doesn't think 'you fit' in their department they can get rid of you.....no questions asked. I would have explained to them that my husband thinks I should go back to my previous employer and that I think he is right. I want to keep my seniority and benefits because overall that works best for my family. I'm sorry and I have enjoyed working here but I have to go. If they seem puzzled by this I would bring up the difference in health insurance premiums and I'm sure that they could relate to that.

I don't think I'd ever tell an employer "my husband thinks I should....".. Not exactly a professional way to handle a situation.

What I haven't seen addressed here is the fact that the OP CHOSE to leave her former job and seniority, benefits, etc. to take the position she is in now. If that was a deciding factor, why not stay in your current job until something does become available in the same system?

She likes her new job. Her gut response was to turn down the new offer. There has to be reasons for that. I believe what comes around goes around. Wouldn't it be a ***** if the boss you jump ship on right now is in charge of hiring for a position you want a few years down the road? Do you think you'd have a chance in hell of getting the position after leaving in a lurch? I doubt it.

[dudette10, MSN, RN]

If you decide to stay in your current job, be sure to look at many more things other than some sense of loyalty to it. However, it's good practice to take into account the consequences for you of jumping ship so soon after starting a new job.

That's as far as I'd go with any job-changing decisions with regard to "loyalty": what consequences does it have for me? The company can take care of itself; your responsibility is to you and your family. You might find that staying right where you are is the best scenario, but please don't weigh loyalty too much. It's misplaced, imo.

You are not a new grad jumping from their first or second job to their "dream job".

Why the focus on new grads? Whether it's a new grad or an experienced nurse who leaves, other nurses are still responsible for taking on add'l work for a time and the facility still needs to get someone else hired for the position.

Someone who is highly experienced and decides to leave is exponentially more of a loss to the whole unit than someone who doesn't know diddly and decides to leave. But, I would say "good for them" anyway. Inconvenience to the unit is transient, temporary. If it happens again and again, management needs to take a long, hard look at their hiring practices and the culture of the unit as a whole.

This goes for all industries...not just nursing. No one just out of school knows how to do a job in the real world, regardless of the amount of academic training.

[Brainiacster]

My husband asked if they would be that loyal to me? Well, if the person I replaced came back and said they wanted their old job back, I don't think they would fire me to give it to them. However, I'm not naive enough to think that they wouldn't lay me off if times got tough some day.

Your loyalty is certainly admirable; however, it's a dog-eat-dog world out there. You have to do what's best for YOUR career over the long term. Which job will benefit your career the most over time (promotions, opportunities, pay, hours, benefits, working conditions, etc)? Also, you probably want to consider what effect, IF any, leaving your current position after a short time will have on your reputation (assuming that's even germaine). Overall, consider the long term and all ramifications. Base your decision on logic.

Best wishes either way

[island40]

The problem might arise if you are ever laid off or terminated from the one employer and then went to ask for a position at the place you left after a short time. They might not be interested in considering you for a position with a fickle employment history - been there, done that and survived but it really hurt my career. SMALL town is the key