I took a new job at my company. Now, how do I take it back?
April 10, 2017 11:06 PM   Subscribe

A few weeks ago I had to choose between working for Division A or Division B within my large corporation. I signed the offer letter for A and called the director to express my enthusiasm, but now I'm having doubts this is the right career path. What's the best way to undo this and jump back to B? Is it even possible?
posted by boghead to Work & Money (7 answers total)
 
Do you often second guess your decisions?
Do you have a 'gut instinct' that you know and trust?
Are your doubts about long term, medium term or short term things, taking into account that 'career paths' don't really exist as they used to - i.e. we will all have a number of careers, each with paths.
Do you think you have the option to change your mind without repercussions? Has anyone you know within your own company done this successfully?
Without any more detail, it is hard to offer substantive advice.
posted by Thella at 2:16 AM on April 11, 2017 [4 favorites]


It's been many years since I worked for a large corporation, but when I did, trying to undo something like this would have been career suicide. I had to leave because I essentially ended up blacklisted for future promotions because I turned down a move to Chicago (from Atlanta) when I had two classes left to get my MBA, and my wife was pregnant with our first kid. On, and the company was paying for the MBA. Yet they still thought me not moving to Chicago for a 15% raise at that time was unreasonable.
posted by COD at 6:01 AM on April 11, 2017 [4 favorites]


It will depend a lot on the company and the people involved. In some cases, it might be not a big deal. In others, they may have already filled the position in Division B, so that door may be closed for the time being. You might also make enemies or burn bridges by wanting to change at this stage. It is likely to be at least a minor detriment to your career there, so be very cautious if you anticipate wanting to stay at the company for the long term.

Do you have a mentor in the field that's not highly invested in Division A or B that you could talk to about your doubts?
posted by Candleman at 6:49 AM on April 11, 2017 [2 favorites]


I think this is completely dependent on the organizational culture. I just moved within divisions in my government agency, and there was a lot of kidding-only-serious about how my new division head owes my old division head a pony for poaching me and a couple of other people. If I had wanted to back out of the move after getting and accepting the offer, I would have gone up the ladder to my old division head and asked for help, to see if she could make my backing out about old-division's needs rather than about me being flaky.

But... I think that only works where someone fairly high up the latter at Division B wants you enough to do you a favor, and it means that you owe them a fair amount. I wouldn't count on this being workable, and I wouldn't count on being able to do anything like that repeatedly.
posted by LizardBreath at 7:53 AM on April 11, 2017 [1 favorite]


Hey, just chiming in to say that this might well be seen as flaky, but not if you've given it a real go and it's not working out. Then, you'd be within your rights in most reasonable situations to say something like, "Having been here for a few months, I feel like I'm not a great fit for the culture/team/project. It's been a great learning experience, and I'd like to talk about moving back to Division B with the benefit of this broadened perspective".

Also, why not give it a go. One is supposed to "do the thing that scares you" after all, and you won't really know if it's not right for you until you give it a go.
posted by greenish at 8:07 AM on April 11, 2017 [1 favorite]


Is Division B still even an option for you? Might check and see if that's even on the table anymore. If it's not then sally forth. If I were you, I'd try to figure out what made me initially choose A and then what is bugging me and see if I can get more info to either confirm or allay my fears.

Also, it's so dependent on company culture and your place in it. If you have a trusted advisor who can help you sort through your misgivings and maybe help you choose, that would be ideal.
posted by amanda at 4:32 PM on April 11, 2017 [1 favorite]


Depends on your company culture, but if you try to go back you risk looking as squirrelly and flakey as when Sarah Palin bailed on her Governer position in AK. You may just have cold feet about the job change. Give the new position, and yourself, a fair chance at success.
posted by pushing paper and bottoming chairs at 6:00 PM on April 11, 2017 [1 favorite]


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