Consequences of Accepted job offer but not Joined Company

[Maharsh Kapadia]

I have simple but important question which i think mostly of people have faced in their career.

If some one accepts the offer and does not join that company due to some reason (like some good offer or personal reason), then how will it affect to his/her career ?
Will that person be black listed for that company ?
Do you see any other major consequences related to career or Job ?

Please share some real experience that you faced in your/other's life. I am sure many of us in software field has faced such problems in life.

[Ulf Dittmer]

It is a common problem. I wouldn't say it has an impact on one's career, but it certainly has a potential impact on your future with that company. It's possible (but not certain) that you wouldn't be considered for employment there again.

Updated after having read Campbell's post: Oops, I missed the part about having accepted the offer. Now that is really bad style. Why would you not join after having convinced yourself that joining is the right thing to do? That would certainly leave a bad impression that might travel outside of the company.

[Campbell Ritchie]

Varies from company to company. It is quite possible that a personnel director from company A will talk to the HR people from company B over a drink or two and say, "We had this chap Kapadia last week who accepted the offer and didn't turn up." You are breaching the promise you made to company A and may even be in breach of contract.

If you had personal reasons for not taking up an offer, you ought to have withdrawn before the final interview.

[Henry Wong]

Campbell Ritchie wrote:If you had personal reasons for not taking up an offer, you ought to have withdrawn before the final interview.

On the other hand, if it was an honest mistake -- you had a valid reason for the change, then why not simply tell the truth? Personal issues come up. And people understand this.

Henry

[Campbell Ritchie]

Agree, Henry; if (for example) your wife falls seriously ill one week after you accepted the post, the company will probably accept that as a bona fide reason for not taking the job. Or maybe, for a period of leave with or without pay to take care of her.

[Maharsh Kapadia]

All that we discussed are assumptions but not real experience. No one here who faced such problem in their own life ?