How bad would it be to renege on an accept postdoc offer in favor of another?

[StickySituation]

Nevermind

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[WisNeuro]

It is extremely frowned upon. If you are in a niche area (e.g., neuro) be prepared to be blacklisted from that institution and from colleagues of people at that institution. I've had a colleague that that had someone renege. We all know the applicants name, and they will never work in this area at any reputable place. Reneging really screws sites over, because by the time someone reneges, the majority of top applicants are off the market and they have to scramble with what's left. Additionally, they have to redo interviews and whatnot, making it a huge PITA for people with busy clinical schedules to find more time that they had not accounted for.

 

[psych.meout]

It is extremely frowned upon. If you are in a niche area (e.g., neuro) be prepared to be blacklisted from that institution and from colleagues of people at that institution. I've had a colleague that that had someone renege. We all know the applicants name, and they will never work in this area at any reputable place. Reneging really screws sites over, because by the time someone reneges, the majority of top applicants are off the market and they have to scramble with what's left. Additionally, they have to redo interviews and whatnot, making it a huge PITA for people with busy clinical schedules to find more time that they had not accounted for.

This is exactly what I was thinking. Psychology can be a small world, particularly for specialties, so you decisions and interactions will reverberate throughout your career. You don't want to irk someone at your post doc and then have that limit your career options later on.

 

[singasongofjoy]

if you end up accepting at your second choice, maybe you could apply to do a second postdoc at your first choice, if you want to be there that desperately? I have heard of research-focused people doing multiple postdocs, but rarely, and haven't heard of anyone clinical doing that (because who wants to keep getting paid at the postdoc level if you can get paid at the licensed level) but just a thought. I def would not risk burning bridges. It's true that the further along you go, the smaller the world gets, and people who burn bridges make reputations for themselves very quickly.

 

[WordDoc]

I don't think it's a simple yes or no. Technically, you could do it. However, it's important to consider the ramifications. The field of psychology is small. Who are you going to piss off and how will that impact future employment opportunities (e.g., what if the training director at site #2 is well-connected)? Also, it doesn't bode well for your graduate program. For example, I knew a student from the cohort above me who accepted an offer and then backed out after they got their first choice. The training director at that site was understandably upset and has yet to take a student from our program since.

I understand it's frustrating to feel like you're being forced into making a decision. Unfortunately, there's no hard-and-fast rule about this type of thing. I can say that in the real-world, it happens all the time. People accept job offers and then renege when they get a better offer. Is it the end of the world? No. Will it potentially impact future employment? It might. Either way, you're the one who has to live with your decision.

 

[psych.meout]

I don't think it's a simple yes or no. Technically, you could do it. However, it's important to consider the ramifications. The field of psychology is small. Who are you going to piss off and how will that impact future employment opportunities (e.g., what if the training director at site #2 is well-connected)? Also, it doesn't bode well for your graduate program. For example, I knew a student from the cohort above me who accepted an offer and then backed out after they got their first choice. The training director at that site was understandably upset and has yet to take a student from our program since.

I understand it's frustrating to feel like you're being forced into making a decision. Unfortunately, there's no hard-and-fast rule about this type of thing. I can say that in the real-world, it happens all the time. People accept job offers and then renege when they get a better offer. Is it the end of the world? No. Will it potentially impact future employment? It might. Either way, you're the one who has to live with your decision.

But if reneging on an offer causes that post doc site to not take future students from that person's program, it sounds like other people are having to live with their decision as well.

 

[WordDoc]

But if reneging on an offer causes that post doc site to not take future students from that person's program, it sounds like other people are having to live with their decision as well.

I think it's fairly evident that the decision will impact a variety of individuals, including the folks at site #2 and the students and training director from their program. Not to mention any other applicants who had ranked site #2 as their #1 and didn't get the offer because OP accepted.

 

[AcronymAllergy]

As others have said, the potential for negative ramifications is fairly significant, in no small part because of the bind the renege puts the postdoc site in. As difficult as it may be, I would avoid backing out if at all possible (i.e., if you do accept site #2's offer, I would tell site #1 that you've done so and would like to withdraw your application from consideration).

It's true that this happens semi-frequently for jobs, but I'd make the argument that it's generally not as disruptive when it occurs. And it can also happen for reasons that aren't quite as pertinent on postdoc (e.g., significantly better salary or other benefits elsewhere).

And hey, at least you're in the position of having an offer in-hand.

 

[StickySituation]

Well that's about what I expected! Thanks for the help, everyone. The thought of doing this definitely made me cringe and I had a sense of everything that you guys are saying, but I guess I'm just so frustrated with this process and in love with site number 1 that I was just curious.

With that said, I have a postdoc now! What a ride....

 

[psych.meout]

Have you asked site #2 for a deadline extension?

 

[StickySituation]

Have you asked site #2 for a deadline extension?

I have not. Site #1 told me that they didn't anticipate making offers for about two weeks, so it seemed to me that asking for a 700% increase was a bit much haha

 

[calimich]

this is definitely frustrating and a StickySituation. I'd advise the same as others already have.

in some ways this is good practice for the job hunt. There are no uniform deadlines and the posting/reviewing/interviewing/offering cycle will be long for some positions, short for others. I found it useful to become more clear with my goals/priorities and to think through scenarios..."If I get an offer from school A or B I'll take it and stay there a bit...If I get an offer from school C or D I'll take it and see how it goes...If I get an offer from school E or F I'll take it and look for a new job in year 2..."

 

[erg923]

It is extremely frowned upon. If you are in a niche area (e.g., neuro) be prepared to be blacklisted from that institution and from colleagues of people at that institution. I've had a colleague that that had someone renege. We all know the applicants name, and they will never work in this area at any reputable place. Reneging really screws sites over, because by the time someone reneges, the majority of top applicants are off the market and they have to scramble with what's left. Additionally, they have to redo interviews and whatnot, making it a huge PITA for people with busy clinical schedules to find more time that they had not accounted for.

I cant say i don't agree. But outside of training, I'm not sure it such harsh judgment and landscape. Just FYI....

 

[WisNeuro]

I cant say i don't agree. But outside of training, I'm not sure it such harsh judgment and landscape. Just FYI....

Doesn't happen as much at the faculty/staff level, but at the intern/postdoc level, it is disruptive enough that if you do it, your name will get around in some areas. Overly harsh or not, it happens. We all have our list of schools that we won't take applicants from, and in some areas, we know of an individual or two that we will pass on if we ever need a hire. Reputation matters.

 

[DynamicDidactic]

It happens and its dirty. If you feel like you will never have to interact with the people you are jilting its less difficult in the long term.

Good luck.

 

[ellenew]

I'm in the process of requesting a reciprocal offer from a site because I have received an offer elsewhere so I understand the hesitancy to reject an offer and possibly end up without a position. However, I personally will not back out of a position if I accept it - 1) unprofessional 2) makes your program look bad 3) puts site in bad position 4) possible stigma from others in area/field. I will say that I am very frustrated two of my sites are making offers well before the uniform notification date. They said they do it so they don't lose top applicants to other programs, but it seems to me that if said applicants didn't request a reciprocal offer then preferred to go elsewhere. Sigh...I really wish everyone who adhere to the notification date.

 

[kestrelcry]

I have not. Site #1 told me that they didn't anticipate making offers for about two weeks, so it seemed to me that asking for a 700% increase was a bit much haha

If you ask for an extension and they say no, you're no worse off than you are now. If they say yes, you have a better chance of ethically getting what you want. Sites have to know that making an offer well before the notification date is a bit of a dirty pool move. I got an offer weeks before and asked them to wait until the notification date, and they said yes. I think we are socialized throughout the grad school process to not ask for things and take whatever we can get because of the competitive nature of the grad school and internship application process. Starting to ask for things and being assertive (not aggressive) is an important piece of transitioning from trainee to professional.

 

[ellenew]

If you ask for an extension and they say no, you're no worse off than you are now. If they say yes, you have a better chance of ethically getting what you want. Sites have to know that making an offer well before the notification date is a bit of a dirty pool move. I got an offer weeks before and asked them to wait until the notification date, and they said yes. I think we are socialized throughout the grad school process to not ask for things and take whatever we can get because of the competitive nature of the grad school and internship application process. Starting to ask for things and being assertive (not aggressive) is an important piece of transitioning from trainee to professional.

I thought about asking for an extension, but the site that made me an offer specifically stated the date they need an answer from me and explained why they will not wait for UND.