What's the approach to accepting from multiple job offers for new grads

[Anonymous]

DS applied and interviewed with many employers as is the case with most students, and may have the good fortune of having more than one offer. They are all very competitive and lucrative with some well known employers. He will only graduate next year, the jobs are all contingent on that. Can he accept more than one offer? not knowing which one he really wants in a year and importantly which employer may still have good posture by then, given a lot changes in the field he's into? any down sides in accepting more than one then deciding to select among the one he wants in a year timeframe?

[Anonymous]

Interesting question to which I have no answer.

The most obvious concern is that the job applicant may burn a future potential relationship with any employer to which he reneges on his acceptance.

Are you willing to share the industry as the prospect of multiple job offers suggests that your son is entering a hot field.

Also, please consider the possible effect that welching on a job offer acceptance may have on your son's school.

[Anonymous]

Never lie. It’s a good rule of thumb.

[Anonymous]

That's a good way to get blackballed early in his desired industry. People talk.

[Anonymous]

Tech field. The only concern is given the industry is very disruptive and prone to fast changes, what if he accepts something now and 10 months later that company is in some sort of trouble or laying off thousands, as happens all the time in that field, then he has an issue.

As to PP at 9:11, how is it a lie, because the employers never ask if you are accepting only their offer? It is a common thing in Tech to have multiple job offers and then go from one place to another, given it is mutually understood the employers could rescind anytime.

[Anonymous]

OP here. None of this is coming from DS, it's just me the parent musing about what people do and what is acceptable. He will make his own decision and he is very level headed, has good networking among his friends and peers, so he won't do anything he thinks is wrong in the end. I may advise him what to do based on what I think is best but that won't hold a lot of value if that won't pass commonsense to him.

[Anonymous]

I think it's more common to accept one offer...but continue to interview the next year and receive offers and then decide if you end up keeping with the first offer.

Companies have no issue rescinding offers at the last minute and screwing the employee, so it's everyone for themselves these days.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think it's more common to accept one offer...but continue to interview the next year and receive offers and then decide if you end up keeping with the first offer.

Companies have no issue rescinding offers at the last minute and screwing the employee, so it's everyone for themselves these days.

yeah that was my thinking, that companies could screw you over, with such a long time frame, and they could make up any reason from downsizing to trend shifts, especially in a volatile industry like tech. In that event someone graduating may need to hold more than one on hand, just so not to get screwed over last minute. As for these employers, they are all mega corps who seems employers moving from one to another commonly, I doubt if they will hold it against a new graduate starting up. They won't know if the other offer came later as they continue to interview or same time, or probably don't care.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

As to PP at 9:11, how is it a lie, because the employers never ask if you are accepting only their offer? It is a common thing in Tech to have multiple job offers and then go from one place to another, given it is mutually understood the employers could rescind anytime.

DP, but accepting an offer is a commitment - a commitment he would not actually be making. Multiple job *offers and a reasonable amount of time for consideration may be the norm, but asking this question indicates you know you're pushing the limit on how an acceptance is viewed. Things happen that nobody plans for, of course - downsizing, changes in project or staffing requirements - so no offer or acceptance is written in stone, but to knowingly enter into an agreement while intending to still play the field is at least a bit dishonest.

How would he feel if they offered and he accepted, but the firm still sought new applications for his position?

[Anonymous]

No, of course he cannot accept more than one offer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Tech field. The only concern is given the industry is very disruptive and prone to fast changes, what if he accepts something now and 10 months later that company is in some sort of trouble or laying off thousands, as happens all the time in that field, then he has an issue.

As to PP at 9:11, how is it a lie, because the employers never ask if you are accepting only their offer? It is a common thing in Tech to have multiple job offers and then go from one place to another, given it is mutually understood the employers could rescind anytime.

It's a lie of omission unless he is going to say outright that he is accepting multiple offers which doesn't seem to be what you are suggesting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DS applied and interviewed with many employers as is the case with most students, and may have the good fortune of having more than one offer. They are all very competitive and lucrative with some well known employers. He will only graduate next year, the jobs are all contingent on that. Can he accept more than one offer? not knowing which one he really wants in a year and importantly which employer may still have good posture by then, given a lot changes in the field he's into? any down sides in accepting more than one then deciding to select among the one he wants in a year timeframe?

Come on OP. What are you teaching your kid? It is NOT okay to accept more than one offer. Think about it. Good lord.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

As to PP at 9:11, how is it a lie, because the employers never ask if you are accepting only their offer? It is a common thing in Tech to have multiple job offers and then go from one place to another, given it is mutually understood the employers could rescind anytime.

DP, but accepting an offer is a commitment - a commitment he would not actually be making. Multiple job *offers and a reasonable amount of time for consideration may be the norm, but asking this question indicates you know you're pushing the limit on how an acceptance is viewed. Things happen that nobody plans for, of course - downsizing, changes in project or staffing requirements - so no offer or acceptance is written in stone, but to knowingly enter into an agreement while intending to still play the field is at least a bit dishonest.

How would he feel if they offered and he accepted, but the firm still sought new applications for his position?

I have no doubt companies may in fact be doing this...they certainly don't make any commitment to you that they are not.

Maybe I am cynical with a recruited athlete where colleges think nothing of de-committing from an athlete in November of their senior year of HS because they found a better player. They also think nothing of telling their committed athletes that they are no longer on the team like 2 weeks before the athlete is to arrive on campus because "they did better than expected" in the transfer portal.

[Anonymous]

I would never advise DC to do this- integrity still matters to me.
If a better job comes up, he can communicate that to the previous company, but to actively accept two knowing you wouldn’t accept one, no way.

[Anonymous]

Hold on a minute. I have never in my life (and I work in tech, although admittedly a somewhat niche area) heard of a tech company offering a job with a start date TEN MONTHS away. This is after undergrad? Am I missing something here? Have other people heard of this? That’s lunacy.