Rejecting an Offer
If you are fortunate enough to receive more than one offer of employment, the decision making process can be stressful, and rejecting the unaccepted offers may feel uncomfortable. Behaving with tact and professionalism is important, and moving as quickly as possible will make a good impression.
- When you receive an offer of employment (summer or post-graduate), express your enthusiasm and appreciation, and ascertain when the employer needs an answer from you. It is extremely unlikely that any employer will require a response on the spot.
- During the fall interview process, most interviewing employers will abide by the NALP Guidelines for the Timing of Offers and Acceptance, and they will expect you to do so as well. Be sure that you know everything about these guidelines and maintain your responsibilities as defined by the guidelines; you do not want to make a bad impression because of your own failure to abide by the NALP guidelines.
- Confirm that the employer making an offer to you during the fall interview process follows the NALP guidelines and shares the same understanding that you do; never assume that they are aware of or follow the NALP guidelines.
- Outside of the fall interview process, there are not specific guidelines that dictate lengths of time for offers to be left open, but employers will usually still give you time to consider offers. Communication is key, be sure that you and the employer both have the same understanding of the time you will take for consideration of an offer.
- Even if NALP guidelines or a polite employer give you a certain length of time to consider an offer, there is no need to allow that clock to run if you already know you will reject the offer. Let them know as soon as you decide so that they can move to their consideration of other candidates. Remember that an offer you release may go to one of your friends!
- Once you have decided not to accept an offer, you should immediately notify the person who extended the offer to you, by phone if possible. Express to them the difficulty you had in making the decision, be polite. There is no need to share all of your thoughts in making the decision, although they may ask for feedback so you might want to have some tactful points prepared. If you cannot reach the person who extended the offer, reach someone else within the firm with whom you had contact (the Recruiting Administrator or another interviewing attorney) by phone, do not delay the communication.
- Follow up in writing, on paper. Send the letter to the person with whom you had the phone conversation. Be absolutely certain to copy the Recruiting Administrator and/or Hiring Partner or other administrative staff or chairperson handling the recruitment duties. You want to be certain that your rejection is fully recorded.
- The letter will be brief, simply re-stating your conversation rejecting the offer, thanking them once again for the offer, and expressing appreciation for their consideration. Realize that the legal community is a small world and you will cross paths with these people again, so you want to be gracious and professional.
- Keep a copy of your rejection letter for your files.