The journey to hire Hawkeyes for internships and full time jobs continues to increase with record numbers of postings and events in Handshake. If you are looking for a job, it is a candidate’s market in many industries. This could lead to receiving multiple job offers. Sounds like a great problem to have, but it can also lead to some difficult decisions.
Check out helpful tips to evaluate and/or negotiate offers.
If you receive an offer but are still waiting for a final round interview or a hiring decision from other employers of interest, it is much better to try and negotiate for more time to make a decision.
Career coaches at the Pomerantz Career Center are happy to assist with what to say and how to approach these conversations.
Avoid Reneging on Offers
You want to avoid accepting an offer but continuing to interview if it means eventually you will renege on your acceptance should a more desirable offer come your way. It is not always feasible for an employer to give you extensive time to decide (several weeks or months) but you can usually negotiate successfully for enough time to know where you stand in simultaneous searches with similar timelines. This often requires a few conversations to understand timelines of competing employers’ processes but in the end, you can make a more informed and enthusiastic decision for all involved.
Reneging on job offers may not seem like a big deal but it does have significant implications. It can leave a very negative impression on the impacted employer.
Employees often move between employers within the same industry. They take both positive and negative impressions of those hired with them as they move. In addition to impacting your professional reputation and integrity, it can also have a negative impact on your university, college or major. If many students from Iowa happen to renege on offers with the same employer in a given year, it may be more difficult to justify returning for future career fairs or campus interviews. Also, it leaves the employer in a difficult space. They’ve closed the search, let other candidates know of their decisions and need to restart the entire process, costing both time and money, perhaps during a time when many of their best candidates have taken jobs elsewhere.
Need help with handling an offer?
If you are feeling stuck or unsure how to handle an offer, please schedule an appointment with a career coach or if urgent, call (319-335-1023) or email our office for assistance. We’re here to equip you with the skills to negotiate difficult decisions and to find and accept employment that excites you!
