CAREER

Declining a Job Offer
The following are steps to follow:
• Once you have verbally accepted and/or signed a formal contract with an employer accepting a job offer, write all other
organizations/companies that have made offers, and inform them of your decision.
• Be sure not to burn any bridges—at a future date you may have to work with the organizations professionally, or you may
want to contact them again about employment.
• Be positive when declining an offer.
• If appropriate, advise the employer where you will be going to work or where you have enrolled if you are continuing
your education.
• You need not indicate why you have accepted another position or what the salary is.
• Always express your appreciation for any offers extended and for the interest and confidence the employer has shown.
• There is a difference between declining an offer received and retracting a previous offer acceptance (or reneging); you may
decline an offer of employment you have not yet accepted. Once you have accepted an offer (either verbally or in writing) you
have made a commitment to that employer. Retracting your previous acceptance is considered very unprofessional and should
be avoided at all costs.
The professionalism you exhibit during the negotiation and acceptance process is an indicator to your future co-workers about your
ethics and conduct. Refer to page 78 for more information on evaluating and responding to offers.
Ethics of Negotiating/Accepting/Declining
You should only negotiate with an employer whose offer you plan to accept if the negotiation goes well. It is unethical to negotiate
with an employer whose offer you have no intention of accepting even if your preferred terms are met. If you reach an acceptable compromise,
it is assumed that you will accept the position.
Once you have accepted an offer, it is unethical to continue interviewing with other employers. If you are interviewing with other organizations,
contact them to let them know that you have accepted an offer and are withdrawing from their process.
Giving Notice
If you are currently employed, you will need to give notice to your current employer when you accept a new offer. Two weeks is standard.
Some companies may not want you to stay that long once you have given notice; however, others may allow or prefer a longer
transition of three or four weeks. It is in your best interest to follow your employer’s standards, allowing you to leave on a positive note.
Spend your remaining time wrapping up projects, transitioning your work, and generally making your exit as smooth as possible.
Academic Interviews
When an academic search committee is impressed with the credentials elaborated in your cover letter, CV, and dossier, you may be
invited for an interview. The interview is the most personal part of the job search process and will have a large impact on your success
as a candidate. It is an opportunity to demonstrate how you will interact with faculty, administration, and students at the institution.
Although there are commonalities across disciplines for interviewing in general, there are also differences in the type of preparation
and research you must know for your specific field (whether in the sciences, humanities, or social sciences). Therefore, it is imperative
that you always check with your individual advisor and department for guidance regarding this preparation process. To improve your
general interviewing skills, use CCE’s interview tipsheets, refer to books and online resources on academic interviewing, and/or meet
with a CCE counselor or a faculty member for a mock interview.
Throughout your academic job search, you may find that the interviewing process differs from institution to institution: some
interview very early and quickly; for others the process may entail multiple rounds over a longer period of time. The academic job
market has been highly competitive for many years, and interviewing effectively will help you demonstrate why you are the best fit
for a given position.
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