Responding to Offers

What to do if you accept an offer

Congratulations!

• You may accept a position on the telephone, but make sure you follow up with a letter.
• Make sure that you clarify starting and ending dates for a summer position, or starting date for a full-time position salary, benefits, parking, etc.
• If you need to take time off during a summer, negotiate this at the time of acceptance. Sometimes students get married during the summer, attend a family reunion or participate in a wedding. Let your employers know up front! Most will be flexible about this.
• Make sure that you contact all the employers that you may still have pending. Other students are waiting in line for offers! If you are ready to accept a position, make sure that you terminate all other offers. Send a brief note to these employers. Keep those relationships open and positive.

DO NOT accept more than one offer. Once you have accepted a position, you should follow through with your decision. Accepting more than one offer is likely to cause problems for you in the future, and is certain to anger at least one employer. If you are feeling pressured about making a decision, ask for more time.