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Post by Quest on Jan 5, 2022 16:00:55 GMT -5
I know there's a Reddit thread on this. And I feel like many people argue that doing this is a big no-no. People will judge you, gossip about you, may give you unfavorable reviews in the future if they're evaluating grants that you submit, etc.
But how bad really is it to accept a verbal TT job offer and then decide that you want to turn it down because a better opportunity came your way? Is this as career- and reputation-damaging as people are claiming it to be? Are there any circumstances when it's acceptable?
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Post by 1 on Jan 5, 2022 16:23:27 GMT -5
I've often heard you are allowed 1 a-hole move in your career. It's your life. If you really believe the other offer is significantly better, then take it. Departments have a long list of candidates to choose from. Worst case scenario, a few of them might be annoyed with you/hold grudges, but I don't think it is a career ending move by any means.
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Post by Thoughts on Jan 6, 2022 19:08:48 GMT -5
I'm hearing from other people as well that doing this is not necessarily "career-ending," but it's still not looked favorably upon. It's also possible that you'll have an upper hand over ABDs if you decide to apply again for TT jobs in a year or two. So maybe it's safer (both socially and financially) to just take the current offer.
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Post by don't on Jan 9, 2022 9:55:09 GMT -5
Of course this isn't "career ending." But that is a pretty low bar; is this really your standard for evaluating ethical behavior?
It is, however, a bad idea. Word will get out, some people will remember. Including some of your new colleagues at the institution you are joining (the one you didn't screw over) who will disapprove and talk about you behind your back. I have seen this play in irl. People in academics have really long memories and love to retell slights and grievances from years past.
Have you asked your advisor for advice about this yet? If you're reluctant to do so, that should tell you something about what you already know.
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Post by OP on Jan 9, 2022 15:52:28 GMT -5
Of course this isn't "career ending." But that is a pretty low bar; is this really your standard for evaluating ethical behavior? It is, however, a bad idea. Word will get out, some people will remember. Including some of your new colleagues at the institution you are joining (the one you didn't screw over) who will disapprove and talk about you behind your back. I have seen this play in irl. People in academics have really long memories and love to retell slights and grievances from years past. Have you asked your advisor for advice about this yet? If you're reluctant to do so, that should tell you something about what you already know. I think what’s frustrating about this situation is that no paperwork has been signed yet, and I know one of the other finalists who is still on the market, so if I declined the offer, the department’s search wouldn’t necessarily fail. It’s a bit annoying that people would hold a grudge over something like this. Yes, it’s inconvenient, but if the person who accepts ends up leaving after 2-3 years, would they really want to do this search all over again? Or just accept that their top pick was seeking a better opportunity, and move on to the next candidate in their pool the first time around? I have asked my advisor for advice about this. They said that while there’s nothing legally binding about accepting a verbal offer, socially it’s still not a good look. So, as annoying as this situation is, I won’t do anything to make other people unhappy. |
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Post by just do it on Jan 9, 2022 19:28:03 GMT -5
Honestly, if you already know they could pick another finalist, then they won't even be upset with you.
Why go somewhere you don't want just because a handful of people MIGHT get annoyed? You are worrying about things that likely won't ever happen. That doesn't make any sense to me.
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Post by Disagree on Jan 9, 2022 19:37:50 GMT -5
^ This is misleading advice. Academics are insufferable. Just stick to what you've accepted, and if you really feel like you need to leave after a couple years, you can apply for jobs again. It will be easier to get a new job if you don't have people talking bad about you.
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Post by disagree on Jan 9, 2022 20:38:13 GMT -5
sounds like you have had a bad experience. most academics I know do not care
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Post by anon prof on Jan 10, 2022 14:06:08 GMT -5
If it's an absolute dream job that is in a significantly better location for you (close to family, some place you always wanted to live, a city vs. a rural area), or a significantly higher ranked job (like R1 vs. a slac) then I would burn that bridge. If it's basically the same job but one offers you slightly better pay or something take the one you agreed to.
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