[fiona87]

I’ve been interviewing around, after making the jump from public to private and realizing I HATE IT. I’ve had several interviews, and earlier this week had to reschedule one with BDO. Now I’ve received an offer I plan to accept, and don’t really need to hear from BDO because I don’t feel like they’d do anything that would sway my decision (the place I got the offer from is a five minute bike ride from my house, a VERY casual work environment, and willing to be flexible with my schedule and offer me the ability to work at home periodically – I don’t think I’m getting much better than that). I don’t want to burn bridges, but I don’t want to lead them on.

Now that I’ve rescheduled, do I just email the recruiter AGAIN and say something to the effect of “I am writing to withdraw myself from consideration” and hope they don’t put a big red mark in my file for any potential “next times”? Going through with the interview seems disingenuous at this point.

FAR - 79 (11/27/13)
AUD - 76 (2/1/14)
REG - 77 (5/30/14)
BEC - 88 (7/18/14)

MN Ethics - 100% (3/9/14)

AND DONE! 8/1/14

[rfc63]

Why not go to the interview and tell them you got an attractive offer but you wanted to come in, introduce yourself and — at the very least — network a little bit. You never know…you may need a job from them in the future or they may up the ante to sway your decision.

[Anonymous]

In my personal opinion, it is more respectable to just cancel the interview if you honestly know that you have no intention of working there. Why waste their time and effort? I cancelled a few interviews when I took my current position. The sooner you tell them, the sooner they can fill your interview slot. They're not going to be personally offended; it's just business. Politely send them an e-mail and thank them for their time and courtesy. Tell them that you greatly appreciate and value their firm and personnel etc, and wish them the best.

[Anonymous]

I'd ere on the side of cancelling as to not waste their time, as BillfromAccounting suggested. It's the most respectable thing to do. But the way they perceive it comes down to how you write the email. Make sure you are very kind and appreciative.

[silverdice7]

I was in the exact position last month. I went to the interview anyways. It's good practice and I got to meet some more people. It actually made me think about my decision a little more, but ended up going with the previous firm instead. I think you should go and hear them out. Turn down the subsequent offer if you get one. Don't chance burning bridges with a good public accounting firm.

AUD 94
BEC 91
REG 88
FAR 91

Done!

[fiona87]

I was leaning towards canceling before I posted, and have moved firmly in to the cancel camp. I don't want to waste their time. I'm a very good interviewer and have had TONS in the last few weeks [and several job offers, but this is the one I wanted the most] and am so exhausted from work/interview/study/kids that I'm excited to just be done. Today is the day of canceling interviews, declining the other offers on the table, and QUITTING.

(Much as I've fantasized about packing my crap and walking out, leaving ID/keys/resignation letter on my desk, I'm going the classy route of a face to face conversation, actual two weeks notice, and a letter to follow up and have the written notice in my file. SIGH. Being a grown up sucks sometimes.)

FAR - 79 (11/27/13)
AUD - 76 (2/1/14)
REG - 77 (5/30/14)
BEC - 88 (7/18/14)

MN Ethics - 100% (3/9/14)

AND DONE! 8/1/14

[Tripp11]

As a recruiter for my Firm, please send an email or call their office and let them know you have accepted another offer and would like to cancel your scheduled interview. It's the polite thing to do if you have truly made up your mind and accepted another offer.

AUD - 93
BEC - 80
REG - 86
FAR - 83

[fuzyfro89]

I get that. As long as you are certain you don't want to take the potential offer from BDO (or any other place), I don't see an issue in cancelling.

The big concern is to just make sure you leave a positive impression if you think you might consider working there in the future.

Perhaps give the recruiter a quick call? Or, if you knew someone and met with them before (a professional who referred you), give them a courtesy call to let them know you've found something else you plan to accept. Hear them out, but still let them know your decision is final. They'll appreciate you not playing games and wasting their time, and also likely keep the door open if the right opportunity comes up in the future. Who knows, one of them might end up working with you if they leave BDO… 🙂

[taxman89]

yeah good cal canceling…it would be much more frustrating (from an employer standpoint) to waste the time interviewing someone who already accepted a job. and i completely agree…being an adult sucks sometimes

AUD - 75
BEC - 77
FAR - 78
REG - 82

AUD: 61-67-75 (Thanks ninja aud)
BEC: 77
FAR: 78
REG:69-73-70-82

Aud-75 3x I knew i never liked you
Bec-77 1x being in the bubble is stressful
Reg-82 4x its not me its you...and no we cant be friends
Far-78 1x easiest section

[impska]

Just cancel. 1- It's polite. 2- There is no secret red file that they keep for years in perpetuity with your name on the “No call” list.

The interviewer is not that invested in you as a candidate. They will have forgotten your name by next month.

And seriously – worst case scenario – there is a secret red file of grudges at BDO and your name is going on the list for having the nerve to take a different job and cancel your interview. Would you honestly want to work at a place like that?

REG - 94
BEC - 92
FAR - 92
AUD - 99

[fiona87]

The recruiter I worked with directly is on vacation this week, but she left me the email of another person on her team with whom I have not spoken directly, so an email is probably OK at this point.

@impska – good point on not wanting to work there anyway if that's what they do when people cancel on them. 🙂

FAR - 79 (11/27/13)
AUD - 76 (2/1/14)
REG - 77 (5/30/14)
BEC - 88 (7/18/14)

MN Ethics - 100% (3/9/14)

AND DONE! 8/1/14

[taxman89]

just curious. why did you hate private?

AUD - 75
BEC - 77
FAR - 78
REG - 82

AUD: 61-67-75 (Thanks ninja aud)
BEC: 77
FAR: 78
REG:69-73-70-82

Aud-75 3x I knew i never liked you
Bec-77 1x being in the bubble is stressful
Reg-82 4x its not me its you...and no we cant be friends
Far-78 1x easiest section

[fiona87]

I find it boring, personally. I also think part of it is THIS private place. It's ended up being a lot less financial stuff and a lot more sitting on hold with insurance companies. Besides which, I was GOOD at bookkeeping/taxes and I want to go back to that.

Also the administrator here is sketchy as hell and a terrible manger (he came in here after I'd been here four weeks and told me the other women in the office didn't like me, and then when I talked to one of them about it, the fact that I'd brought it up got back to him and he came and yelled at me) and apparently the fact that he steals from the company is just common knowledge and no one really cares. Except that my name goes on the financials so the hell with that.

The woman I replaced, I found out, quit because of him. And here goes another employee for the same basic reason. I could handle the boring work if it weren't for him.

FAR - 79 (11/27/13)
AUD - 76 (2/1/14)
REG - 77 (5/30/14)
BEC - 88 (7/18/14)

MN Ethics - 100% (3/9/14)

AND DONE! 8/1/14

[Tripp11]

If your boss is “stealing” from the company, don't you feel you have a duty to report the theft?

AUD - 93
BEC - 80
REG - 86
FAR - 83

[fiona87]

I don't have the actual evidence, just the rumor mill around here, so really nothing I can report, but it's enough to make me distinctly uncomfortable.

FAR - 79 (11/27/13)
AUD - 76 (2/1/14)
REG - 77 (5/30/14)
BEC - 88 (7/18/14)

MN Ethics - 100% (3/9/14)

AND DONE! 8/1/14

[Anonymous]

“and apparently the fact that he steals from the company is just common knowledge and no one really cares”

That's the ONLY reason you need to leave and ASAP…Wow…some people literally couldn't care less about following the law.

[Author]

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