Ethical Practices: Multiple Job Offers
Posted 04/20/2010 3:55 PM
As graduation draws near for the seniors, and summer vacation for the underclassmen, you will likely be presented with job offers over the next month or more. This e-mail discusses the Ethical Obligations you have to employers, and the Implications they have for your future.
Scenario A:
You receive a job offer, but have interviewed with other companies that you have not yet heard from. The job offer has a deadline of 1 week to accept/decline.
Recommended Actions:
- Do not accept the job offer right away.
- Contact the companies you have interviewed with and let them know you received a job offer with a 1-week deadline. Indicate that you are still very interested in them, and are hoping they will be able to let you know your status within a few days.
- Contact the company that gave you the offer. Express gratitude for the offer, but indicate that you have interviewed with a few other companies and want to make sure you make the best decision for both you and your future company. If necessary, request that they extend the deadline by 1-2 weeks if at all possible.
Scenario B:
You accept a job offer, but had previously interviewed with additional companies.
Recommended Actions:
- Contact the additional companies.
- Indicate that you appreciate their time and consideration, but you have accepted an offer.
- Say that you did enjoy learning about their company, and that perhaps an opportunity might exist in the future.
Scenario C:
You have recently accepted a job offer, but another company calls to offer you an interview (or a job with higher salary*).
Recommended Actions:
- Politely decline the interview or job, indicating that you have recently accepted a job offer.
- Say that if you had not already accepted an offer that you would have been interested in their company, and that you hope perhaps an opportunity might exist in the future.
- *Extenuating circumstances and timing affect this scenario. Contact us with any questions.
Your Ethical Obligations:
- Be honest.
- Only accept an offer if you have every intention of honoring the commitment.
- Do not renege on an offer.
- Once you have accepted the offer, promptly decline all other interviews and job offers.
Implications of Unethical Actions:
- Unethical actions burn bridges.
- Recruiting is a small industry - recruiters will change companies, or talk about you to other professionals. Unethical actions close doors at this and other companies.
Contact the Career Placement Office for more information regarding:
- Accepting or Rejecting a job offer.
- Negotiating a job offer.
- Navigating a potentially unethical situation.
Employment Surveys
- If you have already accepted a position for after graduation, or know you will attend graduate school, please complete the online Graduate Survey: http://tinyurl.com/GraduateSurveyMSOE.
- If you have already accepted an internship for the summer, please complete the online Internship Survey: http://tinyurl.com/InternshipSurveyMSOE.
- Either survey will allow us to remove or disable your résumé in Career Net, so additional employers do not think you are still available for employment.
We hope you will take this information into consideration when facing future ethical dilemmas.
MSOE Career Placement Office Staff
3rd Floor Campus Center (CC-370)
414-277-7120
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| Erik Oswald | Mary Spencer | Cathlyn Ferraro |