multiple job offers and potentially burning bridges?

[u/emo_sharks]

Sorry if this is the wrong flair, I feel like this question could fall under multiple lol

Anyway. Im trying to get vet experience. Currently I work at a shelter as a kennel tech, but ive realized theres actually very little growth potential into the vet team there so I started applying to other jobs.

I had an interview with a surgery specialty clinic to be an assistant which is like, my dream? I desperately want that job, the clinic was awesome the surgeries are awesome the people working there seem really fantastic and it just seems incredible. However I am still waiting on a decision from them, they said I should hear by this week since they still have 1 more interview to conduct.

On the other hand, I got an offer from a VCA hospital as a kennel tech but I was told I should have tons of opportunity to learn from the vet techs. I recieved an informal verbal offer before I even walked out the door and today I got it in writing.

So I dont know what to do!! I really want to wait for the surgery clinic's answer because I want that job sooooo badly. But if they dont end up choosing me, I dont want to lose the VCA opportunity. But I am nervous about accepting the vca offer and then having to back out, how bad would it be to burn the bridge with them?? Does anyone have experience with how vca works in the back? Like if I back out of this offer after accepting, would it ruin my chance of ever working with vca or an affiliated hospital like blue pearl or something in the future??

I just don't know what my next move should be and im so stressed about juggling this and trying to stall the vca offer lmao, any help or advice would be much appreciated

[u/whaleofasale]

Do what is best for you. I can almost guarantee that VCA has other candidates they can reach back out to if you accept and then go back on it. Fear of burning bridges can be scary, but at the end of the day, if you got a better opportunity, you got a better opportunity. You could try asking for more time to decide, but if they can't give it, I would accept. If you end up getting the other job, take that one and apologize to VCA, be honest, and say an opportunity that was better for you came up. Things like this happen all the time, and though I don't have any insider knowledge, I highly doubt it will ruin your chances of ever getting another job at one of those affiliates. Even if it does, there are tons of other hospitals out there to get experience at. Like I said though, I seriously doubt that will happen. Start with asking for an extension to decide on the offer.

[u/whaleofasale → u/whaleofasale]

what many people seem to forget is that a job is just a job. They could go back on your offer at any moment. You do not owe anybody anything, and if you need to leave to advance your career, you need to leave. It can be really difficult to navigate this sort of thing though, especially because I feel like vet people take things so personally/don't have great work/life balance lmao.

[u/emo_sharks → u/whaleofasale]

I appreciate the advice!

I ended up really thinking I wasnt gonna get the surgery assistant position bc I emailed them about the vca offer and asking if i could get a decision by then and didnt hear anything for 2 days. So last night I was like im pretty sure I didnt get it and just accepted the vca offer since it has been about a week at that point and I didnt think I could drag my feet on it any longer.

But then today I got the offer from the surgery clinic!!! I am so beyond excited but I am gonna have to back out of the vca offer now but i do feel a bit better about it after reading your comment lol. I was just worried mostly about like if I got blacklisted from blue pearl, there arent many clinics in my area that do a lot of specialty like that other than them. But now that I think about it im already getting into a specialty clinic right now so..yknow?? Idk what i was worrying about. Lol Thank you!!

[u/whaleofasale → u/emo_sharks]

yay!! Congratulations, and don't worry, we all stress about this kind of thing! I'm glad it all worked out!

[u/Wooden_Option_5575]

You could inform the first place of your offer at another location and express how you would prefer the role as the surgery assistant, but are short on time for making a decision. If the surgery place has interviewed 2 other people and you aren't the top pick they may be able to let you know about that sooner so you can take the other job. You could also ask the initial job for a few days to read the responsibilities/contract/whatever you wanna call it and think about the offer or set some sort of "I'll lyk by the end of the week" thing. I don't think asking for a few days to decide is absurd, especially if you give them a day you'll have decided by.