How should I approach an employer after reneging on an accepted job offer with them?

Question

I was recently interviewing and I landed two job offers from Company A and Company B. I had accepted a job offer initially from Company A, but Company B came along and gave me an offer with a better salary, benefits package, PTO, and what I thought would be an entry back to an industry that I wanted to be in again. I decided to go with Company B and I politely turned down Company A's offer. I have not heard back from Company A since then, but that is to be expected.

I started Company B two weeks ago, and I have realized that it is not a good fit for me. I really wanted to try and give it a go, but inside my gut I know that Company B is not going to work out for me long term. I would rather leave Company B gracefully and not put them into too much of a lurch if I were to leave them months or a year from now.

I would like to start a conversation with Company A again since I did see that they are still advertising for the role I interviewed with them for. I know this will be a slice of humble pie to ask them to reconsider me and that I made a wrong choice.

I'm not sure how to approach this, and I was thinking something along the lines of:

I wanted touch base with you to see if the [position] is still open. If it is, I would love to be reconsidered for this role.

Since we last spoke, I have given this opportunity a lot of thought, and I would like another chance to join the team. I thought that a career in [Company B's industry] was going to be a better fit for me, but I have realized that I am better suited to a more dynamic technical role like the one that is at Company A. I know that I would make a great addition to the team after all of the interviews I have had and I would like to the opportunity to discuss the possibility of a second chance.

I know the possibility of me not being considered back after I turned Company A down is a very real possibility, but I would rather say that I tried and failed than wonder What if?

Is there a good way to approach a situation like this or should I even attempt it at all?

Answer 1

Should I even attempt it at all?

Yes of course you should, you miss 100% of the shots you don't take.

But don't count on it, restart your job hunting anyways.

Turning down an offer is not a big problem, but you were turning it down after confirmed acceptation, that's already dipping into certain level of dishonesty. A good number of companies sees dishonesty a serious issue and may have to re-evaluate if you are still a worthy candidate, so don't expect you automatically get the same offer sheet back.

Beside that, the fact you wish to quit a job right after starting also raises a yellow (if not red) flag for not only company A but quite some other potential employers, so do take that into account too, it's the bullet you have to bite if you want to move on.

Is there a good way to approach a situation like this?

I think the line you came up with is a good start. You can always be general or be honest, and either way is double edged sword that you need to consider and decide by yourself which way works better for your potential employer:

Being honest, basically sharing your current situation and your thought with your potential employer, sometimes can raise certain level of sympathy, and if done properly, can better persuade them that you won't be hopping again in their company, but also may (unexpectedly) raise some extra flags for your potential employers.

Being general, basically treating it like any other opportunity as if nothing happened, may trigger certain level of ego if you happens to have to deal with exactly the same recruitment person/team, but sometimes help you avoid raising more flags for yourself while being honest.

And either way you pick, prepare a good answer for question like:

Why are you leaving your current position so shortly after you started?

Answer 2

I think you can always try and the example email you have shown looks fine and honest to me. I however do see a few issues.

1) You say you want to leave company B a few months or a year from now. So you expect company A not only to reconsider you but to also wait some time before you can join. That might be asking too much.

2) You have tried company B only two weeks. That is not a lot of time. As company A I might think you did not give it a proper try and that you might do the same to me (company A)

So if you are really going to send the letter now, you should IMHO explain better why you know for sure that B is not for you and why you wont think that of A after working there for only two weeks.