Declining a position after accepting it.

caliotter3 · Dec 17, 2014

Maybe if you mention the housing dilemma someone there may be able to help. Unless you have another offer at hand, I would not be so inclined to leave this one so quickly.

elkpark · Dec 17, 2014

You can politely turn down the job offer for the same reasons you've told us; now that you're looking seriously at the cost of housing and living in the area, you're having concerns about whether you can live on the salary they've offered you and are reconsidering the job. If they really want you, they may offer to review the salary, or they may have some other kinds of assistance they can offer (e.g., helping you find an affordable apartment). Are you willing to consider having a roommate? Would a longer commute to work get you a better housing situation?

If it really comes down to it, it's dumb to take a job for which you can't afford to live on the salary you're making. Whether, having rescinded you acceptance this time, you would be considered eligible for rehire in the future is another matter.

I hope you'll find a way to make this work for you. Best wishes!

DanSHT · Dec 17, 2014

It is your decision; however, if it was me to decide I would explain exactly, why it won't work for me (just like you did in your post) and will loook for another place to start.

classicdame, MSN, EdD · Dec 17, 2014

tough spot. I agree with Elkpark. Talk to HR again.

movingforwardRN · Dec 17, 2014

It's 2.5 Hours away from home, and I even thought about commuting for the first 2-3 weeks to save that pay check to make a move if I found something decent, but realistically driving 2.5 hours to and 2.5 hours from an 8-4 hour day for 3 weeks sounds unrealistic and deadly.

I have to mention also, that I became desperate from not being able to secure a job near home. and decided to look back up upstate but the salary quoted to me PLUS not even being able to find a decent clean neighborhood/apartment is speaking to me that this might not be right.

The unit is AWESOME!, but I imagine myself living paycheck to paycheck.

@ellpark

Im not comfortable with roommates. but it's something ive considered in the past. But the reviews of many people who live in the state/area have nothing nice to say but that you have to suck it up with whatever you get. With the high crime and stuff, Im not sure if Id be comfortable getting a roommate. who knows what they're actually like.

My aunt works up there, and she is renting a room from someone with the pay she's getting. She has 4 kids, who live at home, but she works up there. She's doing what she can I guess.

I haven't signed anything, and the recruiter was trying to help me with finding an apartment, but the areas they were mentioning to me, I was thinking to myself (Does she remember how much she quoted me for salary, she must think Im only moving up there to work to only pay rent and that's it). The places she was recommending might require 1.5/2 of my monthly bi weekly. That leaves me with 1 week works pay to pay my car, insurance, student loans.

What am I going to eat. lol.

I rather let them offer it to someone else, who maybe this may work better for, although I really wanted the position, which I was offered, I forsee myself struggling.

RunBabyRN · Dec 17, 2014

Is there anywhere that's maybe a bit further away that's less expensive? You'd still have a commute, but not the 2.5-3 hours that you currently have.

movingforwardRN · Dec 17, 2014

@RunbabyRN

Yes there are. I actually preferred to get an apt 15-20 minutes max 30 minutes away, so that I can not live around where I worked. Those further areas, are either very expensive, the ones I cant afford, or are actually worse in crime than the area around work. The further I move past the job location the expensive, the further I move before the job location the more crime. It's shocking that many have these experiences. While I think I can make it out there, I won't have anyone with me. No family. Just me, 25 year old, single young female.

My aunt and I aren't that close, to be going shopping on day offs. lol. and that okay with me, its a mutual feeling.

Management on the a majority of the apartments are negligent per residents reviews. But they suck it up, because its affordable, and they cant go anywhere else.

elkpark · Dec 21, 2014

Would going in on an apartment with your aunt work? Or would she be willing to rent a room from you instead of whoever she's currently renting from, to help you out? I know you said you aren't particularly close to her, but, frankly, that's probably better in terms of sharing a place. She's not a stranger (and presumably trustworthy :)), and the fact that she would only be there part-time would be better (IMO) than having a full-time roommate. That might be something that would work out well for both of you.

caliotter3 · Dec 21, 2014

I have found that it is nice to have family nearby when moving to a new area. Nobody says you have to be in each other's face all the time! This sounds like your best option; at least worth an inquiry to see if she would consider it.

SubSippi · Dec 21, 2014

I turned down a job after I had already accepted. I ended up getting another job offer that I wanted more. I emailed the recruiter and told her that, unfortunately, my circumstances had changed, and that I would no longer be able to work at that facility. I apologized for any inconvenience it had caused her, and wished her well.

She replied to my email, and said that she was sorry I wouldn't be able to work there, and to please consider them in the future if my circumstances allowed.

Keep it vague and apologetic. You could also mention that you are still very interested in working for the facility, and hope to apply again sometime in the future. There are enough applicant applying to jobs that you won't be leaving them high and dry.

SoaringOwl · Jan 4, 2015

might require 1.5/2 of my monthly bi weekly. That leaves me with 1 week works pay to pay my car, insurance, student loans.
What am I going to eat. lol.
I rather let them offer it to someone else, who maybe this may work better for, although I really wanted the position, which I was offered, I forsee myself struggling.

Most decent apartments won't rent to you unless you're making 3X the rent. I was offered a job I really wanted, but the pay was $20 an hour. All the 1b/1b apartments were $1200-1800 a month in safe areas. On $2880 a month, I wouldn't qualify as a renter. Even with differentials, I'd probably make enough to qualify, but it would still be tight. I turned the job down and told them the low pay was why.

I agree with you about the roommate. No college-educated professional should be paid so little they need to get a roommate. What is this world coming to? That makes me very angry. It seems that all the other residents in the job I turned down are getting together as roommates, like that's okay. Like it's normal to go to school for 4 years, then still not be able to afford your own place. Unreal!

I wish I had some advice for you. It's a hard choice. I ended up finding a job that will easily pay $50,000, so there is hope. There are well-paying jobs out there. Have you tried N. Dakota, Minnesota, and needy places like that?