Post-doc decision

[noworkftw]

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[singasongofjoy]

If you accept and then change your mind, then yes, you will be seen as inconsiderate and you might be leaving them out to dry. By the time you (potentially) pulled out, many of the other applicants they interviewed would likely have pulled out of the running by accepting other offers already. It also takes considerable effort to review applications, contact folks, plan interviews and organize folk's schedules to allow for interviews, etc. I think an important thing to consider is that if you accept somewhere and then pull out, then (unless it is for medical reasons), you're not only making yourself look bad but you are also potentially reflecting poorly on those who recommended you (for their judgment in recommending someone who doesn't follow through) and they might not be willing to recommend you to future positions. Edited for clarity and to add: You say you don't mind burning bridges but do you want to risk burning (or strongly singeing) the ones with those who wrote you letters of rec?

 

[WisNeuro]

I have been offered a post-doc position at a site that participates in the uniform notification process and must give the site an answer tomorrow. This is my only offer at the moment, but there are other sites of more interest to me that don't participate in the uniform notification date (i.e., application deadlines haven't even passed yet). I plan to accept the current offer, but was wondering if anyone has any advice on how to navigate this process, especially because I would consider backing out at a later point if a more preferable site gives me an offer. Although I come from a fully funded Ph.D. program, I am not concerned about burning bridges with "big names," as I am geographically restricted for the post-doc process anyway and I am not in a super specific subfield. I am more concerned with seeming inconsiderate and potentially leaving this site out to dry. Thoughts?

If you accept an offer and later back out, HUGE faux pas. Prepare to have burned bridges if you do so and that it could harm your job prospects in some areas.

 

[noworkftw]

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[WisNeuro]

You've got to the decision that works for you. I, personally would not back out if I accepted an offer somewhere. Especially in my field, it's an easy way to get blackballed, and pretty much an all-around d!ck move. You essentially cause that site to lose out on all of their other top picks in this scenario. My advice, accept and stick to it, or reject and roll the dice.

 

[123EW]

Too late now, but this is a conversation you should have been having with both sides weeks ago when you knew some positions would not follow the UND.

I was in this situation, and I informed the non-UND site that I would likely have an offer on UND. I knew I had a good chance of an offer, because I also let my UND site know about the non-UND sites. The non-UND sites were able to expedite some of the interview process and give me a relatively solid understanding as to where I was on their list. Why not contact the non-UND sites right now and ask where you stand?

You may not think you will burn a bridge, but you never know who knows who in this field. Also, we all talk.

 

[temppsych123]

If you are geographically restricted, I would be *very* concerned about burning bridges! People talk - you could be shooting yourself in the foot in terms of client referrals, possible job opportunities at those places down the road, opportunities for professional advancement via networking, etc. Even in relatively large cities, psychologists talk across specific sub-areas. I'd also think long and hard about the sites that aren'f following UND and that have such late deadlines - why is that? By doing so, they're precluding themselves from having a chance at getting most folks who are applying to UND sites, so that's a potential red flag.