Hey everyone! 🌟 I’m in a bit of a pickle and could use your advice. I’m currently stuck in a toxic job that’s making me miserable, and I’ve applied to three new positions.
Here’s where I need your input: I’ve had two interviews with one job, and one interview with the other two. I believe the job that’s already had two interviews is going to offer me the position soon. But here’s the catch – it’s not my first choice, and I’m not 100% sure I want to work there.
So, do I accept the job out of desperation just to escape my toxic current job? Or should I wait and see if the other two jobs pan out?
Here are my thoughts:
– On one hand, accepting the job could get me out of my current toxic environment and give me some breathing room to continue looking for a better fit.
– On the other hand, do I risk burning bridges by accepting a job I’m not fully committed to?
What do you think I should do? Should I be upfront with the first job about my uncertainty, or is it better to just jump ship and figure it out later? Any similar experiences or advice would be greatly appreciated! 🤔🤝
Usually offers come with a time limit. If they don’t give a timeline, then you have to ask them when is the latest that you have to provide response or ask them if they can work with your timeline.
Do you know if there is a job you’ll be satisfied with? Are you willing to hold out? If so, then I’d wait. I was in a toxic environment and looked for jobs for a year until I found one that I was actually happy with, and quit when I got it. At that point, I knew that if I got a job I was neutral about, I wouldn’t be happy there either (even if it was “better”), and I would still be looking for a job I was satisfied with. I was really happy with the decision to wait it out and keep searching. If your current job is physically harming you though, and if you’re in a place where it doesn’t matter if job hop frequently, then maybe you could get the offer you have now. It’s really up to your stamina.
There probably isn’t a perfect job. Every job has ups and downs. Think of it this way: you’re not applying for a job; you’re applying for an offer. It would be nice to have a couple to choose from but take whichever comes along.
Employment is not a lifetime commitment. The average tenure in US companies is about three years.
One friend took a job and immediately knew it was a mistake. A month later, an offer came through for one of her other interviews, and she took it. She then simply removed that one job from her resume and LinkedIn.
Businesses interview you like they want you to stay forever, but they won’t hesitate to lay you off when times are bad. Take the same approach. You are a free agent. Do what’s best for you.
If your goal is to leave, then leave. at the very least, you buy yourself some time to keep job hunting while getting out of your current job.
I did! Do I love the job? Meh. Still getting used to it. However, my mental health has completely bounced back, I feel like a new person since leaving the other job. You’re probably extremely burnt out. If you choose to take the job and can afford to do so, see if there’s a way to take time off between the two. I needed 3 weeks to decompress and get in a better headspace before starting my next job and it helped a ton!
If the current job is unhealthy, then yes leave because your mental health is important. However, please make sure you are not just replacing one toxic place with another.
If you’re expecting other offers to come in, you can buy time by asking about and extended timeframe to allow you to finish out projects – but I would not count on getting more than 7-10 days. Good luck
Ask for a few days to decide. If you still don’t have the other offers, negotiate as best you can and accept, and give whatever notice you think is appropriate. Keep working on the other interviews. Even if you start the 2nd choice job, keep trying. If you get a better offer, take it.
There is no more decorum. Companies will rescind offers or lay people off. Do what’s best for you
If you have an “at will” contract, you take the job, keep interviewing with the other companies, and if you find something better, you move on.
If they cared you so much (and to my surprise to their own company), they won’t give you an at will contract where you can literally walk out any day.
What does “toxic” mean to you? To be blunt, I see a lot of people on this sub calling basic human interactions in the workplace “toxic” (my boss called me out for a mistake, a coworker was mean to me, etc.) That’s not something that you can fix by going to a new job.
You don’t need to tell the new job you’re waiting to hear back from other companies that you’d prefer to work at. Just ask them how long you have before you have to make a decision.
You don’t tell one job you need to wait on another job to make your decision. If you need to go then you take option B till option A comes through. If option A falls through while at B you stay looking. Keep your cards close it ain’t nobodies business what you got going. I once took a job for 6 weeks till something better came along then gave one week notice when I had to go. I figured that was fair and left them off my resume.
Leave the toxic job. Give the new job a chance. You can always keep looking if it doesn’t work out.