Ethical to continue interviewing even after recently starting new job?

I graduated a year ago and have been networking and applying for 100's of jobs every month nonstop. I applied on Monster, interviewed, got an offer early this year and accepted it (let's call this Company A.)

I've been in contact with another company (Company B) through Networking which is larger and has better prospects. In fact, I've been in touch with Company B long before even first applying to Company A.

Shortly after I accepted my offer at Company A, Company B responded and offered to interview me for the first time. Normally, I would decline any interviews after accepting an offer but since I've already invested an extreme amount of time and effort in Company B, I took the phone interview anyways.

Recently, it seems Company B has shown great interest in having me join. As eager as I am, I still wish to stay at Company A for some time (at least several months to a year) before switching jobs.

Keep in mind I've not had an offer from Company B yet. Would it be ethical to continue interviewing with Company B if I do not intend to join in the immediate future? As much as I'd like to join Company B eventually, I do not wish to have any "black marks" in my record such as leaving a job in the first few months.

 

Not ethical. If you want to stay at A for a while, be honest with B and tell them you are grateful for their support, however you have accepted an offer with A and are ethically bound to stay with them for a bit. At the same time, you would love to stay in touch for future opportunities. It is very important to make sure that they don't think that you CHOSE A over B.

 
Best Response

I see no problem with it assuming you let them know your intentions - if they need you asap you would just be wasting their time dragging the on the recruiting process without planning to join them immediately afterwards. So make it clear to them and if their willing to wait than all is good.

Alternatively, if you have been with Company A for a short period of time than you could just ditch it and forget it ever happende, in case things with Company B pick up pace ofcourse.

Also, keep in mind the context and how fast info propagates in the business. Such a move (quick bait and switch) would not work among BBs since they often work together on deals and you would be immediately recognizable as 'that guy'.

 

3 Words: At Will Employment.

If you aren't under contract, do whatever is most advantageous to you. Companies always look to bring in top talent; you should always look to join a top company.

This job market is screwed up. If you do your job well, no one will care about job-hopping. Just make sure you're doing something worthwhile and respectable.

********************************* “The American father is never seen in London. He passes his life entirely in Wall Street and communicates with his family once a month by means of a telegram in cipher.” - Oscar Wilde
 

Just to clarify:

My long term career goal is to become an independent quantitative trader. Obviously, as a recent graduate, I do not have the capital and savings required for this pursuit (not to mention the experience trading.) I have a MFE.

Company A is a small trading firm and I get paid (nearly) minimum wage with little performance bonus and few benefits. At this point, training is almost non-existent (i.e. "learn on your own and get X, Y, and Z done!") This position is in the US.

Company B is a prestigious multinational corporation with nothing to do with Finance although they're seriously considering recruiting me for their Finance Department. They're located in Europe (and are willing to sponsor a work visa.)

Both are entry-level positions.

Reasons to go with Company A:

  • It's not ethical to quit very shortly after joining.
  • It's very much in line with my long-term goals, despite the pay and current limited roles.

Reasons to switch to Company B:

  • More of a personal preference, but I really would like to experience life in Europe.
  • Better work-life balance.
  • Higher disposable income (likely), despite the higher taxes and cost of living in Europe.
  • More opportunities to network in a large company.

If I were to apply for, say, an IB in a few years, which experience would be looked at more favorably (all else being equal)?

I welcome your suggestions, however, I'm far more interested in your reasons why a particular opportunity is more suitable than the other. Even if I wan to choose "B" in the end, I'd still opt to work at "A" a year or so and gamble that a suitable position at "B" will still be available at that time, preserving the relationship along the way.

 

What sort of position will you be getting from Com B? "Relevant" experience is key if you wanna break into IB. From what you are doing in Com A, it sounds to me that the experience you are getting could potentially get you into IB.

 

This is a super old thread, but for anyone who reads this in the future--it is NEVER EVER EVER unethical to f*ck over a company. Take this from someone who has been laid off in the past and has seen dozens of colleagues and friends fired or laid off over the years. The millisecond you become uneconomical to your company is the millisecond they will let you go. DO NOT EVER consider the "ethics" of leaving one company for another. In America we have at-will employment. They can fire you for any reason or no reason at all--and they will.

The ONLY thing you should ever consider when leaving a company is how leaving will negatively or positively impact you in the future. If you f*ck over your boss in a "small" and tight knit industry then you could be leaving yourself in a bad position in the future, for example. How YOU will be impacted is all you should care about. That sounds completely off base and even unethical, but that's how you will be treated by employers. Most employers don't even have the common courtesy to send you an email letting you know you didn't get the job.

 

I will just reiterate what Simple As said. Financial companies don't care about you in the least bit and will throw you under the bus in a second if it would help them out in the least bit. Do what's best for you. Just make sure its best for you in the long run. And in this case, it seems like it may very well be.

“...all truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident.” - Schopenhauer
 

If the recruiter asks me if I am currently working should I be honest about it? I wonder if external employers view it as being disloyal if we pursue other opportunities while already employed.

 
leunggs:
If the recruiter asks me if I am currently working should I be honest about it? I wonder if external employers view it as being disloyal if we pursue other opportunities while already employed.
Take the call. Even if you have no interest in this job, it's good to be 'on the list' of a few good recruiters.

Yes, you should tell him you're employed, that makes you all the more attractive.

 
leunggs:
If the recruiter asks me if I am currently working should I be honest about it? I wonder if external employers view it as being disloyal if we pursue other opportunities while already employed.

You should always be honest.

The interview process is a lot like dating. Firms are more attracted to those who are in demand. Currently having a job shows that you bring enough skills to the table for someone to hire you and hints at a level of competency in your position.

There is no implication of disloyalty in seeking to better your situation. However, answering the question of why you want to leave your current job for said new job correctly in an interview will be important.

[quote=patternfinder]Of course, I would just buy in scales. [/quote] See my WSO Blog | my AMA
 

you should go for it without a doubt! if you have no moral (moral, if you have been with them for long time or they're your cousins or smth) or contract obligations why should u feel bad?! the company that hired you did it not because how nice you were or what qualities as a person you have, they hired you out of your professional qualifications to better serve their goal. which is nothing wrong and nothing personal. the same goes when they don't hire you. so when mutual interests are met by both parties: the employee and the employer you get a job. when not you don't. even if they did hired you because you're a nice person they did it out of their own interest, because it fits their profile; not out of pity. in rough terms they see you as an asset and you should do the same. try and fuck up with smth and see they gona keep you or not. cheers

There are no great men, only great challenges that ordinary men are forced by circumstances to overcome. -William F. Hasley
 

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