re: Moral Puzzle

Company A sounds like my company's dumbass HR department. They issue a req and next thing you know the req is pulled, only to be approved again a short time later. That said, once you're in, you're in.

I wouldn't read too much into how A handled the hiring process...the folks making those determinations aren't the folks in your management chain you're going to be working for.

If you really want to work for A and think it will always be in the back of your mind when you have a bad day at B or get frustrated at B, you've got to look out for number 1 and trust your gut. As far as your buddy, if he can't understand and appreciate your quandary and how you want to handle it, frick it. Unless he's getting a referral bonus through your employment at B, he shouldn't put the needs of "his company" above the needs of his friend. Likewise, whomever he put it in a good word to about you should understand that shite happens and that it's not your buddy's fault.