How to Back Out of an Offer You Accepted Without Awkwardness or Burning Bridges
You finally land an offer, and then a better opportunity comes along. Is it okay to change your mind at the last minute? And if the role is a software or hardware engineering position, does that make a difference? Last month, the well-known US job platform Hired released its 2022 State of Software Engineers data report. In 2022, employer demand for engineers worldwide is double what it was in 2020, average engineer salaries have risen 9%, and every engineer can expect to receive one to three or more interview requests. On its list of the most in-demand software engineering skills, Go ranks first, with Ruby on Rails and Ruby in second and fourth place respectively. Engineering roles are in very high demand.
[Figure 1] The most in-demand software engineering skills of 2022 (Image source: Pexels)
"As the largest Ruby / Rails system development company in Taiwan, we have indeed received more résumés over the past two years than ever before," says Sho Chang of 5xRuby. "But we have also noticed a few patterns, including: candidates who accept an offer and then back out, candidates who back out and later come back asking about the position, and candidates who cancel right before their start date." Chang sees these situations as common, but believes job seekers should avoid anything that counts against them. Even if you decide not to take a job after being hired, how you handle the aftermath matters.
[Figure 2] The most in-demand software engineering skills of 2022 (Image source: Hired official website)
Be honest with the interviewer about your job search
"Let the interviewer know that you are also waiting to hear back from other companies." Chang believes the best approach is to be upfront about where you are in your job search, and even to say that you need more time. Most companies will understand a candidate's position. If your honesty leads an interviewer to set an unreasonable deadline, pressure you verbally or deliberately put you in a difficult spot, that tells you a lot about the company's character. 5xRuby co-founder Tsehau Chao, who has long served as one of the company's interviewers, says: "Everyone has the right to make the best choice for themselves. If someone is a great candidate worth waiting for, we are willing to wait. This process is also a test of integrity on both sides."
If it comes to the worst case—you change your mind after being hired—job seekers are advised to apologize sincerely to the company. That means more than a quick text or phone call: writing a formal letter, or even visiting in person, are ways to make a "sincere apology." There is no set formula, as long as you take responsibility for your actions. That said, it is best to avoid getting to this point at all, since your personal credibility is priceless. Chang recalls that the company once had a candidate accept an offer, back out, and then a few days later come back to ask whether they could still start. "Of course we didn't hire them, because the position had already gone to another candidate."
How does it affect a company when a hire backs out at the last minute?
Don't assume that pulling back before your start date means nobody loses anything. A well-run company has to prepare for a new hire before day one, including setting up accounts and paperwork, arranging handovers, and configuring hardware and software. The team may also have prepared to welcome the newcomer and reassigned tasks accordingly. All of that time and effort is wasted, and if the company recruited through a job board or headhunting site, there are platform fees as well. Tsehau Chao notes: "When hundreds of people apply for one position, we go through round after round of screening to select suitable interviewees, and finally choose the one who stands out to make an offer. All of that internal and external communication takes a toll." What's more, once a candidate is hired the company closes the position, so other suitable candidates can no longer apply.
A good offer is one that opens up your own possibilities
Wavering over a job choice comes from not being clear about your own goals. If you are simply tired of your last job or chasing a higher salary, you will end up with more of the same. As Chang puts it: "The most important thing in life is discovering where your passion lies." Only by finding work that opens up your own possibilities will you reap real rewards!
About the Company
5xRuby is the largest Ruby / Rails system development company in Taiwan, providing system development, technical consulting and corporate training services to clients around the world. We have also long been deeply involved in the tech community, working to advance its growth and help engineers advance their careers. Our corporate value is "Use the tools that make engineers happy to create services the world loves."
*5xRuby (五倍紅寶石軟體開發) is not affiliated with any other educational institution of the same name, and our business and operations are entirely independent. We make this statement to avoid confusion. Our company website is: https://5xruby.com/
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