Dear Bob ...I'm facing a possible major career dilemma.I was recently offered two jobs out of state, which dictated a relocation, and before I accepted either, I was contacted out of the blue by a third location, also out of state. This was on a Friday. The new contact wanted to set up a personal interview, and disclosed details about the position, especially salary, that made it much more enticing (double both Dear Bob …I’m facing a possible major career dilemma.I was recently offered two jobs out of state, which dictated a relocation, and before I accepted either, I was contacted out of the blue by a third location, also out of state. This was on a Friday. The new contact wanted to set up a personal interview, and disclosed details about the position, especially salary, that made it much more enticing (double both of the other offers), that I consented to the interview. The original offers wanted a decision by the following Monday. The original offers had been on the table for over two weeks, and I didn’t want to string them along any further, and risk losing one or both of the offers. I was informed I was the clear choice in both offers.On that following Monday, I turned down one offer and accepted the other, to make sure I had a definite offer in hand. Both were sent to me in writing. Three days later, on a Thursday, I interviewed for the latest position, and after a very positive interview, was told by the hiring person that she would recommend me for a 2nd interview with the board of directors very soon.I know I was hedging my bet by accepting one of the original offers, knowing I was interviewing for another position. Two days ago, the latest position contacted me about a delay in the hiring process that couldn’t be avoided (personal issue), and told me she’d contact me soon. As stated above, the potential compensation is double the offer I accepted. I know there are ethical and professional considerations, but I need some logical advice on how to proceed. Without a firm offer from the latest position, I’m committed to the original acceptance. I won’t be starting the original offer until early June, 2007, so please help me with your thoughts.– Surrounded by opportunityDear Surrounded … You’ve asked a quite complicated question with no simple, satisfactory answer. Here are some bits and pieces of analysis that might help you reach a decision:Those running businesses have, over the past few decades, rewritten the implied employment contract. Companies are “at-will” employers. Many have been known to do what you’re thinking of doing in reverse: Hiring someone they know won’t work out as a placeholder until the right candidate comes along. This doesn’t make doing so ethical, merely prevalent.Ethics in the workplace is somewhat slippery in the by-definition-amoral world of market-based capitalism. We are all supposed to do what’s best for ourselves. It’s the bedrock assumption that makes our economic system work. By that measure you should do whatever you consider to be in your own best interests.That capitalism is amoral by definition doesn’t mean there is no such thing as business ethics. Codes of conduct are that much more important, as a counterbalance to the natural amorality of the core system. Business isn’t simply about cash flows. It’s also a network of personal relationships. Among the factors you should take into account is the impact each of your alternatives will have on your network of relationships, and on your reputation.The whole question of what is right and what is wrong is slippery – more so than most give it credit for. You aren’t required to be altruistic to act ethically. On the other hand, you aren’t allowed to take only your own interests into account and never mind anyone else, either. You have to find some balance between taking care of yourself and not doing harm to others. This isn’t, that is, a black-and-white question.I’m left with this: You should go forward with the interviewing process for the best opportunity. If you can complete the process before you actually start work with the one whose offer you’ve accepted, I see no problem with calling the company whose offer you accepted to withdraw your acceptance. Just be candid when you do so: You liked the company and were looking forward to working there, but the opportunity you ended up accepting involved so much more compensation that you wouldn’t have been fair to yourself to ignore it.If the process hasn’t completed by June, withdraw your name from consideration, for three reasons. First, there’s a high likelihood they’re stringing you along. Second, once you’ve started work, the ethical challenges are compounded: You’ll have to be absent from work from time to time to continue interviewing and negotiating compensation. You can’t be honest about the reasons, which means you’ll have to lie about why you’re absent – not the best way to work with a new employer. And finally, from the moment you start your new job you’ll be thinking about the desirability of a different job, which will take your focus away from the one you’re supposed to be succeeding at.If you don’t get the new one, you’ll have a hard time recovering an attitude that you want the one you have. And this is a terrible way to go to work every day.– Bob Powered by ScribeFire. Technology Industry