AITA for taking a job even though my step sister wanted it?

A Reddit user shares a tense situation involving her stepsister Maggie. Both were made aware of a job opportunity through Maggie’s father, and after applying, the Reddit user was offered the position.

However, this led to explosive fallout, with Maggie accusing her of taking everything from her, including an ex-boyfriend who is now the user’s long-term partner. Maggie believes the user should have turned down the job to let her have it, while the user feels she’s not obligated to give up the opportunity. Read the full story below.

‘ AITA for taking a job even though my step sister wanted it?’

I (26F) have a stepsister, Maggie (28). We work in similar fields. Recently, my stepdad’s (Maggie’s dad) brother let him know of a job opportunity with a company owned by an old acquaintance of theirs. My stepdad mentioned it to both me and Maggie, and we both sent our resumés in for it. I ended up getting offered the job.

Maggie was ballistic, calling me to scream at me, posting a litany of stuff about me on social media, bashing me to the whole family saying how I am out to “take everything from her”. She says I owed it to her to turn down the job so that she could have it after everything I put her through.

Full disclosure, my boyfriend of two years used to date Maggie. They dated for four months, before she brought him over to introduce to our family. My bf was – in his words – instantly smitten with me, even though we barely spoke over the course of the meal, and he broke up with Maggie two days later.

He pursued me for a year before I agreed to go out with him, we’ve been together two years and we’re getting engaged this winter. I get that Maggie is still mad about that, but I don’t think that one thing should mean that for the rest of my life I have to bend over backwards to give her what she wants.. AITA for taking the job?

Here’s the input from the Reddit crowd:

Sevagara −  You sound kinda smug that you caused your stepsisters boyfriend to d**p her and then started dating him. Since your stepdad mentioned the job to both of you, I’d say you weren’t the a**hole in this situation (you were a better applicant). NTA (in this situation) but you kinda seem like an a**hole in general.

Sunny_Hill_1 −  NTA about the job. Y T A about the boyfriend, though, come on, everybody knows that sisters’ exes are off-limits. ESPECIALLY if he broke it off with her because he wanted to be with you.

Gaimes4me −  NTA for taking the job. YTA for going out with your sister’s ex who dumped her to pursue you.

Travelcat67 −  NTA about the job bc fair enough they offered it to you. If you turn it down there is no guarantee they will offer it to her. That said, I’m glad you’re not my sister. The boyfriend thing was s**age. There are so many fish in the sea.

Right_Bee_9809 −  YTA and you buried the lead. Your stepsister isn’t angry about the job, they choose who they choose for a job. The problem is that you broke the girl code. You dated her boyfriend without her permission.

Safe_Initiative1340 −  NTA … but there is an ick factor with the boyfriend

Fear_The_Rabbit −  NTA for taking the job. Dad told you both. Had she gotten the job, would you have been mad? Only one of you can have it. HOWEVER, as for the boyfriend, unless your sister broke up with him, and then you guys met up again later in life, this wasn’t a great look for you. He broke up with her because of meeting you at family’s house. Even if you waited a year, she knows he broke up with her as soon as he met you.

3Dog_Nitz −  I think your stepfather is a bit of an a**hole for putting both of you in this position. Given your history, giving you the same lead on a job was cruel at best. Unpopular opinion here, but personally, if you had any idea that your stepsister planned to apply, then I think YTA.

You say that your bf “pursued you for a year”….but someone who is any good at shutting down a guy’s advances would not have had the year-long pursuit. They would have called the police to report a stalker. I definitely get the vibes that you were leading him on for a year. You \*have\* taken enough from her. Why would anyone compete with someone they’ve already demoralized?

amek33 −  NTA for taking the job; you were offered it. BUT you have to stop competing with your sister. Some things are definitely off-limits, and you should let her have some space from you.

Long_Squash1762 −  NTA for taking the job but you kind of broke code with the bf. Actually it’s a red flag. If he didn’t to her odds are he’s going to eventually do it to you. Why do people think their situation is going to be different somehow.

Is the user wrong for accepting the job, or is her stepsister being unreasonable by expecting her to step aside? Should personal history and family relationships play a role in career decisions? Share your opinions in the comments!