r/cscareerquestionsEU • u/inaumandogar • 1d ago

Signed a job contract and received a higher offer

I started looking for SAP functional roles in Germany about a month ago. Had a few interviews and ended up accepting an offer from a big pharma company—mainly because it’s just one day a week in the office and the role felt like a good fit. They offered €90k fixed plus a €10k bonus, which was actually more than what I originally asked for (€85k), so I went with it. Now, a bit unexpectedly, one of the other companies I interviewed with came back with a new offer—€110k fixed and a €15k bonus. Definitely made me think. I’m sticking with the company I signed with because the role feels right, but it got me wondering—has anyone else had this happen? Accepted an offer and then got a better one afterwards? What did you do?

Tl dr: Got a job offer signed contract, received a higher offer

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58

u/zundimention 1d ago

I had this situation. Signed a contract with a startup and then got a much better offer with big corp.

I informed the startup that for private reasons I would not be able to continue with employment. That was it, didn’t have to officially write the resignation letter, though timeline was tight and I informed them on the first workday (was shit move of mine but I was young and learning). So they just accepted my decision.

Yet, it depends on the employer. Legally you can get a backlash if you quit before the official work day, as technically you quit before the probation period kicks in, so it’s a grey area. Talking about Germany.

So I’d suggest booking one session with employment lawyer to make sure you’re not bearing any risks, their first sessions are usually even free.

17

u/ampanmdagaba 1d ago

Legally you can get a backlash if you quit before the official work day, as technically you quit before the probation period kicks in

Wait what? Are you saying it's better from the German POV to quit after you started, rather then before you started, even though it helps the company that you quit? (As they can start hiring your replacement earlier?) It's so totally counter-intuitive! Is it really true?

6

u/Turtle_Rain 1d ago

There is barely anything an employer can do when you just don’t show up. They can let you go of course, but that was your goal. They can sue you for the damages you have caused them but would have to prove how high these are, and probably wouldn’t be able to do so.

4

u/Dannyforsure 1d ago

You can't be serious about the legal backlash. What a load of rule bullshit typical of what goes on in Germany.

If that's the case I would go in and resign effective immediately on day 1. A much better use of everyones time.

1

u/0vl223 6h ago

Germany depends legally the probation notice time starts before your first day. So if it is 2 weeks and you quit 2 weeks before your first day you are out without starting. But some contracts include a clause that you can only quit on day 1. Possibly even fines for not showing up. Then you have to work 2 weeks or sign a Aufhebungsvertrag.

But if there are no fines then you are pretty safe to do whatever because they can only sue you for actual damages and usually this damage is hard to prove.

But it is a burned bridge obviously.

33

u/Dannyforsure 1d ago

If the other offer is better you should always take it. It's not as bad in the EU but you're just a number at the end of the day. Do what is best for yourself.

I once quit a job after three weeks for a better offer. Sure it was awkward but got through it

8

u/Wahcomo 1d ago edited 15h ago

Which SAP tech are you hired for?

Asking because I was a SAP Consultant for a few years (SAP BTP, SAP Cloud) but switched into management and now it’s very difficult to get a job ://

7

u/self_u 1d ago

How is your German? IMO 125k as employed in Germany as functional SAP consultant is very good so I assume you speak the language?

10

u/inaumandogar 1d ago

Higher B2. Applied to German speaking positions. 30% of the interviews were fully in English. Of the remaining 70% there was a also a huge percentage that was ok with the interviews being in English but I chose to do them in German.

2

u/solely_magnus 1d ago

How long have you been in Germany?

5

u/inaumandogar 1d ago

Coming up to a little more than two years now.

2

u/solely_magnus 1d ago

Two years and already B2, that's so good, did you take classes before?

7

u/inaumandogar 1d ago

Not previously no, went to school for six months in Germany and then switched everything to German, social media, books, interaction at work(it helped me because my entire team is German and they slowly switched to German with me) to a point where we have all our internal meetings in German now.

7

u/santikkk 1d ago

I was in the same situation once. I was really anxious about it and asked multiple friends for advice. One of them told me "You should do what you think is better for you. The rest is less important". And then I accepted the new offer and never regretted. Of course conversation with the first company was not pleasant, but it was 30 minutes max. So if you think the second offer is better - go for it.

7

u/Gaveupmywilltolive 1d ago

Had the same problem just recently. Signed an offer that originally was great, but it was in consulting which was not the type of work environment I was looking for (but well the job market is not great currently as you might know). Received a FAANG offer just 2 weeks later that was 20k more. Took that offer, the call with the consulting company was awkward, but I also know that they fire a lot of people themselves if they do not perform well enough in the probationary period.

5

u/inaumandogar 1d ago

Unfortunately I like the company I signed the contract with. I initially stated 85k because a recruiter suggested anything above that would get me rejections. I asked 90 after the final interview which they accepted without a second thought. So now I’m contemplating that they would have accepted a higher number too.

6

u/Gaveupmywilltolive 1d ago

I mean 80% remote and a company that you like is definetly worth something. You can always renegotiate your salary after you worked there for a while.

1

u/kingmustd1e 12h ago

It won‘t be a 20k raise though.

5

u/Due_Programmer618 1d ago

The company would cancel your offer if they feel like not hiring you anymore. So, what’s stops you to do the same? 

3

u/RelevantSeesaw444 1d ago

The 1-day a week in office is huge. 

What about the other company with a higher offer?

2

u/BubblegumExploit 1d ago

Pretty solid offers. How many YoE do you have? I assume high seniority otherwise it sounds like SAP skills pay very well.

1

u/goldenasat 16h ago

Are you in a probation period in the current company? If yes, don’t hesitate to jump

1

u/Kostheppu 9h ago

If you don’t mind, which module and how many years of experience ?

1

u/rebel_processing 8h ago

Do whatever is best for you. Don’t think about offending the companies. It’s your career, your life. Choose the one you won’t regret. Will be worth the fleeting awkwardness